The Isle of Wight Festival has spent £10,000 on installing a bridge in Newport to secure the backstage area, according to insiders. The move is aimed at keeping festival-goers from accessing restricted zones near Sea Close Park during the event.
Festival organisers are keen to prevent attendees from roaming backstage, but some local residents believe the measure is excessive. One source commented, “It seems a bit petty – they’re just trying to stop a handful of people sitting on the grass and riverbank.” Instead of opening Hillside Road to improve access, the organisers opted for the more expensive solution of building a bridge.
The bridge, costing £10,000, allows service users of the Riverside Centre to continue moving freely while effectively blocking backstage access. This investment is part of the festival’s broader security measures as it prepares for a significant milestone.
The Isle of Wight Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has secured major headliners including Depeche Mode, The Killers, Kasabian, and Liam Gallagher. With such prominent acts, the organisers appear willing to invest heavily to ensure the event runs smoothly, even if it means spending £10,000 on infrastructure to maintain backstage security.
Originally published by UKNIP.
