READING (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Organizers of this weekend’s Reading Festival are trying to remain upbeat, despite having to close some parking lots and campsites due to flooding from the nearby river Thames.
Festival Republic managing director Melvin Benn wrote an open letter to festival goers on the event website, outlining in detail the extent of the problems with the site, including some camping areas facing waist-high water levels last month.
“It has been a very difficult month,” writes Benn. “We have recovered to a large extent but not fully.”
Benn mentions that several areas will be unusable, but reassures ticketholders to the 80,000-capacity festival that it will “get better” by Friday. The weather forecast for the weekend is looking to be clear of any additional rains.
Benn admits in his letter that this year’s three-day fest has been a “challenge,” and credits the efforts of Reading Borough Council and the Environment Agency in reducing the river levels.
“We will be able to stage the world’s greatest rock festival despite what climate change and the weather have thrown at us,” Benn writes.
This year’s event features headliners Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Smashing Pumpkins. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
