No pedestrian zone for music festival

A LARGE section of the A56 at Daresbury, near Warrington is to be designated a “no pedestrians” zone over the August Bank Holiday weekend – while the Creamfields music festival takes place.
This will mean people will not be allowed to walk alongside the road near the festival site before, during or immediately after the event.
Police have pledged to work closely with the event organisers and local communities to minimise disruption.
But they have warned that congestion on local roads can be expected on Friday morning, August 23 and Monday morning, August 26 as music fans arrive and leave the festival.
Cheshire Police say they are working to ensure the good nature of the event, as seen over the past few years, continues and that the local impact is kept to a minimum.
Inspector Sarah Heath, of Warrington South Neighbourhood Policing Unit, and Inspector Barry Brown, of Runcorn Neighbourhood Policing Unit, will be responsible for policing in the local communities surrounding the site throughout the event.
Both inspectors will be on hand over the course of the weekend, along with a dedicated team of community officers, to address the specific concerns of residents and deal with any community policing issues arising directly from the event.
Inspector Brown said: “Local officers will be out in the community with the aim of minimising disruption for local residents over the Bank Holiday weekend.
“As with any large-scale event, some level of disruption is to be expected. However, we want to reassure residents that we will be doing all we can to reduce the impact of the event on the local area.
“We will take robust action against anyone committing crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour and we will work closely alongside other agencies to solve any issues regarding traffic, noise or litter.”
Extra officers will be drafted into the area over the weekend to police the music festival and they will be working shifts. This will enable neighbourhood officers to continue with their normal duties – patrolling the surrounding areas of Warrington South, Runcorn and Widnes.
Ticket holders are being urged to be mindful of the fact that the site lies in a residential area and to be respectful towards neighbouring properties as they enter and leave the site.
Inspector Heath added: “Positive action will be taken against anyone causing disruption to the local community.
“Festival goers are being reminded that the area around the site is an ‘Alcohol Free Zone’ and this means that the drinking of alcohol in the street outside the event will not be tolerated. Police will take positive action against anyone found to be breaking the rules. Alcohol will be confiscated and appropriate action will be taken.”
A detailed traffic management plan has been produced by the organisers of the event in consultation with Cheshire Police to deal with the increased traffic coming into the area. A full, detailed map of the area – including all road closures – can be found on the Cheshire Police website www.cheshire.police.uk
A Creamfields Residents’ phone line will again be set up over the weekend of the festival, and any residents who have issues or concerns arising directly from the event (such as noise, litter, traffic etc) should call 0203 463 4720. This phone line is being staffed by the organisers of the event throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.
Local residents who have any policing issues or concerns arising directly from the event are being asked to call 101 and inform the operator that it is a Creamfields related issue.