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T In The Park gets licence for 2016
By Chris Cooke | Published on Tuesday 3 May 2016
T In The Park is ‘go’ everybody, and not subject to the whims of any osprey this time either. Despite Perth & Kinross Council being very critical of the way the music festival was staged at its new home on the Strathallan Estate last year, the local authority has green-lighted the 2016 edition of the event.
As previously reported, before Perth & Kinross Council even published its damning report about the 2015 edition, the festival’s promoter – Live Nation subsidiary DF Concerts – had already announced a number of organisational changes for T2016, including hiring former police officers to oversee security and traffic arrangements. Its subsequent licensing application ran to hundreds of pages.
Councillors considered that application for over five hours last week, as well as hearing from local residents who continue to oppose the festival taking place on the Strathallan Estate. DF boss Geoff Ellis was joined by Melvin Benn – seemingly now Live Nation UK’s angry-resident-placator-in-chief – to run through the series of logistical changes that are planned this year, including a larger site, lower capacity, extra car parks and a free bus service.
After much debate, councillors voted unanimously to allow this year’s festival to proceed, but only provided a one year licence, rather than the three-year approval promoters were seeking, meaning approval for 2017’s edition will be subject to the various changes working this time round. But Benn said he was “comfortable” with the one-year arrangement.
He is quoted by STV as saying: “We’re delighted to have received our licence for 2016 and we’ll be happy to be judged on this year’s event. We’ve robustly addressed the shortcomings from 2015, we have a brand new team in place with a huge amount of expertise and the council has recognised the sheer volume of work that has gone into this year’s planning”.
He went on: “T In The Park is Scotland’s national festival and fans will be able to book their tickets safe in the knowledge that their biggest issue this year will be choosing who they want to see. The changes we’ve made to the management structure, arena, security, campsite and travel will make for a positive festival experience”.
