Traders attack festival

Around 55 traders, community groups and businesses had stands in three marquees a community one in Island Park, and two more in Monkton Park, near the main stage.

Car firms including Volvo and BMW were also outside, as well as community groups including the Lansdowne Hall committee, from Derry Hill.

Michael Hare, of Abbey Lace Tapestries, in Westbury, said he turned up on Friday, and had to bargain with organisers to get a stall inside one of the business marquees.

He thought he was going to be in a craft marquee, but was put opposite The Whitehall Garden Centre.

"When I turned up I found I was scheduled to be outside, but I said I couldn't do that with all the tapestries, and threatened to go home again," said Mr Hare, who was at the festival all weekend.

"This was extremely badly organised. We have displayed at the West Wilts Show in Trowbridge, which is much, much better.

"There is no way we would come back here until they get their act together and organise it better.

"There is nothing to do during the day and we are not getting enough people coming in.

"We've hardly sold anything, and it's cost us money to be here."

Glen Wood, of Glen Wood Photography, in Elm Grove, Corsham, was also in a business marquee in Monkton Park and said he had not done a lot of business.

"There is nothing here at all. The West Wilts Show is so much better, I suggest the organisers go and have a look at that one," said Mr Wood.

"The volume of people were not here, and it can't be because of the weather, because that's great. A lot of the stalls are unmanned because people cannot be bothered to stay.

"It has cost me a lot of money to be here and unless the organisers buck their ideas up we will not be coming back."

Paul Sparre-Slater, 40, from Salisbury, set up his T-shirt company, Skifertakker, three weeks ago, and the North Wiltshire Festival was his first event.

"It's been dead. We've sold one T-shirt, and we won't be coming back," said Mr Sparre-Slater, who said he was disappointed to be in a marquee next to business exhibitors.

Festival organiser Michael Paul- Williams said he had had good feedback from businesses, but agreed that things could be done differently in future.

"Perhaps there are some things we need to look at," said Mr Paul-Williams, who has a degree in events management, and was brought in six months ago by North Wiltshire District Council to oversee the festival.

"We haven't got it 100 per cent right but my job now is to evaluate the festival."

He said businesses would be sent a feedback form and a business lunch would be held to get responses.

He said a focus group would also be set up of sponsors, festivalgoers, and nearby residents.

Mr Paul-Williams estimated the festival attracted about 100,000 people over the three days, with about 15,000 for Saturday night's concert.

He said he would be presenting a report, with costs, back to councillors as soon as possible.

He said the festival had cost tens of thousands of pounds to put on. A contingency budget was set up but Mr Paul-Williams said it was too early to tell whether it had to be used.

"We were certainly very close to keeping within the budget for the event," he added.

Dennis and Jan Parker, from Southampton, who had a model train stall at the festival in Island Park, just before the bridge over the River Avon, said they were disappointed with the security.

He said he discovered a drunken boy of about 15 on the site, painting graffiti on his van with lipstick and toothpaste.

"The security people were very good and got him off the site as soon as possible, but there simply weren't enough of them for this event," he said.

He said he did not think alcohol should have been allowed on the site.

Mr Paul-Williams said there were six security staff on duty during the day, with 30 on the concert night and he thought the security operation was well organised.

Sandra Brown, from Derry Hill, who helped on the Lansdowne Hall committee stand on Saturday with a prize-darts competition and bowling said: "I expected it to be busier and I thought we would have more people here."

She said she thought that many people simply did not know about the festival.

"I don't think it was well advertised as an event."

District council chairman, Coun Brian Atfield, who was at the festival all weekend, said he thought it had been a success.

However, he conceded the entertainment during the day could have been better.

"Obviously that needs to be looked at," he said. "We could provide more, and that seems to be the impression I am getting at the moment.

"But the people I spoke to seemed quite happy," he added.

"Generally it was a success and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The concert is always popular and there were a lot of opportunities for businesses to interweave."

dvaller@newswilts.co.uk

Sandip Mundel, 17, of Langley Road, Chippenham, a sixth-former at Sheldon School: "There's a good atmosphere but not enough to do. I think it was bigger than this last time, and while there is a good community spirit there's not enough for young people or to keep everyone entertained."

Ian Mapperson, 44, of Westbury: "The West Wilts Show is much bigger and better. This is quite small compared to the one in Trowbridge. In Trowbridge there was so much more to do, and there isn't nearly as much here."

Emily Alner, 19, of Wells Close, Chippenham: "It is good to see all the community at the event, but there needs to be more here. The stands are not as good as last time, there aren't as many people here and there does not seem to be enough to do."

Bobbie Whittaker, who lives in Chippenham: "It seems great and I expect it will get even busier once the music starts. We've only just got here, and won't stay that late, but it seems like a real festival atmosphere."

Matt Fuller, 25, of Gorse Hill, Swindon, who was at the festival with girlfriend Maggie Terry, who lives in Chippenham: "I was under the impression this was a music festival but it's full of people trying to sell stuff and advertise. I would rather sit down and listen to bands, rather than go round the stalls. We will be here for the concert tonight and I hope the atmosphere matches that of two years ago."

Jeff Grundy, 39, of Chippenham, drummer for the town's band, Respect, who performed at the festival on Saturday night said: "I played here at the first festival and the way it has progressed since is brilliant. This is the biggest festival I've played at, plus it's got a proper festival-type stage, and to get someone like Edwin Starr along shows the attraction this festival now has."

Jodie King, ten, from Boreham Wood, in Hertfordshire, who was visiting the festival with her brother Oliver, six, and dad, Paul, 40, who lives in Chippenham: "This is really good, and is bigger than we have in Boreham Wood. I've enjoyed going on some of the rides, and the bouncy castle."

Paul Addey, of Hill Rise, Chippenham, who was at the festival with children Owen, three, Gordon, five, and girlfriend Karen Hunter: "I think the whole thing is brilliant and it's good to see what the companies have to offer. We've been to every one so far and this looks like it's matching up so far," he said.

Sophie Macleod, 11, of Bristol, was at the festival with mum and dad, Pamela and Cameron, and sister Hannah, seven. Her cousins Claire, also 11, and eight-year-old Nicola, who are visiting from Scotland for a week, were also in Chippenham: "The circus tricks were really good and we enjoyed going on the tea cup ride and the big slide. It's brilliant seeing all these people here.''

Frederick Miles, 65, of Swansea, was in Chippenham visiting daughter Claire Farrell, who lives in Oak Road. He said: "This is really good, and there's plenty of opportunity to find out things, and it's good to see all the families out. I've found out about plenty of things from the business stands, plus there seems a lot for the children to do."