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The Reading festival will definitely go ahead this year
Despite rumours circling that the Reading Festival might be cancelled due to the recent outburst of Foot & Mouth, the organisers have been given permission by local authorities to go ahead, even if the disease spreads to the area.
Council Emergency Planning Officer Arthur Rabjohn told nme.com: "Reading at present is not known to be a disease-exposed area. The nearest cases are at Oxford and to the west of Hungerford. The origin of these cases is known and investigations have not pointed in our direction."
"In addition, the [Reading Festival and Womad] events - are four to five months away and the disease control strategy of close down and catch up should have had a marked effect within that time-scale. "
"I hope this reassures everyone that there is a high probability that they will be unaffected by the current foot-and-mouth crisis."
Melvin Benn, a MD for promoters Mean Fiddler responded, "Obviously, I am making significant contingency plans to ensure that come what may, the festival will take place, even if I have to move locations. But this news is fantastic."
