Several festivals in southern England have been cancelled due to safety concerns caused by strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 79mph in some areas. Events in Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, and the Isle of Wight were affected, including the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, Readipop Festival, and Isle of Wight Pride.
The Met Office had warned of potential damage to temporary structures such as marquees and tents. Winds on Saturday peaked at 79mph at The Needles on the Isle of Wight and 56mph in Southampton.
Dorset's Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, which commemorates agricultural labourers, was cancelled for the first time in its history. Organisers stated that despite improving weather on Sunday, the logistical demands of safely resetting the site made it impossible to continue. Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said: 'Every year we bring thousands of trade unionists across the country to Tolpuddle, but unfortunately this year we've been defeated by the weather.'
Readipop Festival in Reading, which has been running since 1998, was closed on Saturday but planned to reopen on Sunday subject to weather conditions. Festival producer Molly Banbury described the closure as a 'really difficult decision', adding: 'We just can't take that risk, unfortunately. The wind could wreak havoc on the temporary structures we have.'
Southampton Mela, expected to attract 40,000 visitors and 7,000 volunteers, has been postponed until 2024. Producer Matt Sanger called it a 'devastating decision', explaining that it would have been too dangerous to operate the show. Other cancellations included Beaulieu Fete in Hampshire and Garstonbury in Hungerford, Berkshire, while the Stansted Summer Festival was scaled back on Saturday.
