Carolyn Keene reports:  Despite serious health and safety concerns from Festival organisers Solo, the picnic area opposite the Isle of Wight Festival venue, will remain open to the public.

The Isle of Wight Council feel the safety measures they are taking such as CCTV coverage and river patrols, will ensure public safety at the Riverside Park and it will continue to be accessible during the Isle of Wight Festival next week.

IW Council leader David Pugh said:

There have been genuine concerns properly expressed about the number of people using the picnic site during the event and also about damage caused to it.

However while we appreciate these concerns and having listened to representations, I do not believe that restricting public access to a popular open space is fair to the overwhelming majority of law-abiding citizens who wish to relax on the riverbank.

Therefore I believe the site should remain open although there will be steps taken to help ensure the safety and good order of people using it.

We would however urge people to respect their surroundings when using the park at any time. We will monitor carefully the situation and should the park be left in an unacceptable manner then we will have to look again at the policy.

Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse.