The Isle of Wight Council is set to decide whether the Isle of Wight Festival can continue to be hosted at Seaclose Park into the 2030s.
The Council’s Environment and Community Protection Committee (ECPC) will meet later today (Thursday) to decide whether to agree terms for a 7-year extension to the Isle of Wight Festival Agreement (IOWFA), covering the period 2026-2033.
The recommendation in the officers’ report comprises a ‘further 3-year option’ to extend the license up to and including 2036.
The land license between the Isle of Wight Festival (IOWF) and County Hall was approved by an Isle of Wight Council cabinet in 2023 and includes environmental obligations to protect the festival area and ‘promote sustainable practices’, according to a council officers’ report due to be presented.
IOWF cannot cause damage to trees inside the festival area and is required to manage the total removal of litter, waste and ‘any equipment or materials’ brought into the space, to be completed before the festival period finishes.
There is also a compulsory restoration process after each festival, with joint inspections involving IOWF and the council before and following the festival period to evaluate ground conditions.
It says:
“The Isle of Wight Festival is considered to have had a major economic benefit to the Island and has been staged annually since 2002 (except the pandemic in 2020).
Article continues below this advertisement “It provides worldwide profile for the Island as both a tourism destination and place to invest which if lost would be difficult to replicate.
“The event is estimated to be worth over £15m a year to the Island economy and introduces a new demographic of visitors to the Island many of whom will then continue to return both as festival goers but also long-term visitors with their family’s friends and relatives.
“Whilst the staging of the IW Festival is not necessarily supported by everyone, any adverse impacts on the local community have been mitigated over the years and a new long-term relationship will ensure that these plans will continue to be delivered and refreshed where necessary to ensure it continues to be a great event which benefits us all.”
The extended license would have several ‘minor alterations’, including bringing together under the same umbrella the festival’s use of the tennis courts at Seaclose and land at Newport Quay. Their usage has previously been permitted under separate agreements.
Considerations? You mean the Festival didn’t make enough bribes so they have to think about it more
Are the car park fields included in the clean up. Some are still full of rubbish, Harris fence panels, the rubber blocks that hold them, old trolleys, green bins, and even a complete tent. These can be found in the fields close to Island Harbour.
Probably not,. as AFAIK, that is private land & not council owned land.
This agreement relates to ‘Seaclose Park’ & other council owned property used by the IOWF
If there needs to be a festival then please, at least, hold it in August – so as not to effect our children’s education!
Holding it next to a high school in exam times is madness.
Let alone trying to get children to and from other schools.
Maybe wonder the Isle of Wight is at the bottom of the schools league?
There won’t be a festival around in 2030 let alone 2036. It has had it’s day.
Give them the go ahead it’s great for the island
After 2030 will such events be allowed to take place.
The New World Order will / may be in place, make the most of
the next 4 festivals, may be the last!
For me the festival is one of the highlight of the year. Yes the lineup is usually a bit rubbish compared to other “big” festivals but it is an event to be enjoyed by everyone – even some of the miserable posters on here! It makes a lot of money for the island and I for one hope it continues for many years to come – just with a bit better acts please!!!
The only decision is brown envelopes of cash to council officials. Nothing to do with anything else.