Reading festival goers to get a new bridge

Festival Republic, the organisers of Reading festival which takes place at Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire on the bank holiday weekend, from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August are putting a temporary footbridge over the River Thames so festival goers can get to and from the white campsite, and car parking in Mapledurham more easily.

Melvin Benn, the festival organiser, who was on site when eFestivals spoke to him exclusively said that the bridge was being constructed by ESS Staging, the company which built the stages for Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour, and that building work on the bridge which did not need planning permission has already started.

Melvin Benn added that the bridge would be 10ft wide and 240ft long, and will be ramped at both ends to make it easy to access. He added, "The bridge will never close, it will be open from the moment we open to the point that we close. This is to replace the ferries. The ferry from Cow Lane to Tescos will be unaffected by this and running as normal, this is just to replace all the little boats that would ferry people across the river."

The bridge which will connect the Brown Campsite to the White Campsite, is also there in case of adverse weather with the festival able to utilise the land in Mapledurham.

Melvin Benn continued, "The bridge opens up the possibility of some extra land, north of the river in the event of it being really terrible weather. That's the entire purpose of the bridge. There's unlimited access north of the river for car parking and camping."

The head of Festival Republic, added that he expected 30,000 people to use the bridge, which will not be covered but will have high sides.

The line-up at both festivals includes over 150 acts during the weekend on six stages. The Main Stage sees Rage Against The Machine, The Killers, and Metallica headlining. Plus Queens Of The Stone Age, The Fratellis, The Enemy, Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party, The Raconteurs, Editors, Tenacious D, Slipknot, Feeder, Avenged Sevenfold, Dropkick Murphys, Babyshambles, The Wombats, Vampire Weekend, Manic Street Preachers, Bullet For My Valentine, The Cribs, and Pendulum. For the line-up details, stage splits and latest rumours, click here.

Tickets have sold out. The price for a ticket was £155 for the 3 days with camping, day tickets are £65, campervans £10, lockers £15, and early entry tickets £10.

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