05/06/2007 00:00:00
UK: Fun of the fair turns into party nightmare (Strawberry Fair)
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hordes of binge-drinking revellers caused mayhem as they partied through
the night after Strawberry Fair.
And festival organisers and police have been accused of "passing the
buck" in dealing with the problem.
Chris Parr, a builder who lives in Abbey Road, Cambridge, said this
year's fair was worse than ever for residents living near Midsummer Common.
He saw loutish revellers, who had parked illegally in Abbey Road and
neighbouring Walnut Tree Avenue, scaring off traffic wardens by being
abusive when they arrived to issue tickets.
He said: "A large group of professional festival-goers turned up in
their vans, packed with amplification and heavy speakers, and played
ridiculously loud music for hours on end.
"They parked illegally, on double yellow lines or on the kerb, and when
traffic wardens came on Saturday morning they verbally abused them until
they scuttled away.
"On Saturday night they set up a 1,000 watt public-address system and
had a rave under Elizabeth Way, playing punk rock music until 6.30am.
"At some point a security camera on the bridge was torn down, and
because Strawberry Fair organisers refuse to take any responsibility for
these people, and don't provide toilets, they urinated all over the place.
"It is disgusting, but when you call the festival organisers they say it
is nothing to do with them, it is a matter for the police, and when you
call the police they say it is a matter for the Strawberry Fair.
"They are passing the buck, and it can't go on - if the festival is to
continue it has to be properly organised.
"My son is 16 and had a maths GCSE exam on Monday - but he didn't sleep
on the Saturday night because of the noise."
Martin Twiss, chairman of Strawberry Fair committee, said: "This is a
very difficult issue, but the area involved, where people often set up
camp, is not one where the fair has any jurisdiction.
"We have been talking with police and the council about how to
discourage camping. We are thinking about what we can do differently
next year.
"Clearly police were on site throughout the event and were made aware of
this situation, and although I did not see a rave I do agree that there
was loud music and some people probably behaved in an anti-social manner."
A police spokesman said: "We were told in the early hours of Sunday
morning that a large group of people was making noise and disturbing
residents in Abbey Road.
"Officers attended and the crowd was monitored to ensure order was
maintained.
"However, a number of other incidents, including a sexual assault which
warranted more urgent attention, were ongoing and police were not in a
position to disperse those creating the disturbance."
Coun Ben Bradnack, who lives in Riverside, said: "There was loud music
between the hours of 3 and 8am, but this is not anything new - it has
been going on for the last 10 years.
"But I don't think the way it was dealt with was anyone's finest hour."
Police took a stand against drug use at the fair. They made 21 arrests
and recorded 200 seizures of illegal substances, including cannabis,
cocaine, Ecstasy and ketamine.
A further three people received £80 fines for public order offences.
British Transport Police arrested a further 70 people on suspicion of
offences, including possessing drugs and weapons, at Cambridge station.
In one incident at the fair a singer with a band was arrested following
complaints about racist lyrics in his songs.
The 28-year-old, from London, was arrested on Saturday evening and
cautioned for racially aggravated threatening behaviour.
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12589
Author:
Cambridge Evening News via UKCIA
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