Festival Fun vs. Local Frustration: Balancing Boardmasters with Newquay's Businesses

As festival season continues to unfold, the annual Boardmasters festival in Newquay has once again drawn large crowds, but not without its share of logistical headaches. Reports emerged of chaotic queues as festival-goers found themselves stuck in traffic, leading to frustration among attendees eager to enjoy the music and festivities. To help mitigate the congestion, organizers implemented a Park and Ride service located at fair fields off the A3059. This initiative aimed to encourage greener travel options and ease the burden on local roads by allowing festival-goers to park their vehicles and take a shuttle directly to the festival gates. However, despite these efforts, many attendees still faced long waits, prompting criticism from local businesses. Business owners in the area expressed their discontent, claiming that the police had essentially "shipped" festival visitors straight to the music venue, which in turn deterred regular customers and holidaymakers from frequenting their shops. Mark Warren, the manager of Newquay's Business Improvement District, acknowledged the mixed feelings surrounding the festival, citing the considerable economic impact it has on the surrounding area, estimated to be over £40 million. Warren emphasized the importance of the event, highlighting that it not only brings additional revenue but also supports local tradesmen and workers who are involved in the festival's setup and teardown. He noted that while the festival does provide significant benefits, there is an ongoing need for improved interaction between the event organizers and local businesses. "There’s still work to be done with Boardmasters on how we can better involve local businesses," Warren stated. "Once festival-goers are in and settled, we need to think about ways to guide them back into the town centre for a more integrated experience." With this year's Boardmasters festival serving as a reminder of the delicate balance between celebrating large-scale events and maintaining the vibrancy of local commerce, it remains clear that as Newquay moves forward, collaboration between festival organizers and local businesses will be key to ensuring that both parties can thrive. The challenge remains to create a seamless experience for festival-goers while also highlighting the charm and offerings of the surrounding area.