Festival-goers say access issues 'dehumanising'

Festival attendees say accessibility issues left them feeling "dehumanised".

Kendal Calling, the biggest festival in Cumbria, took place at the weekend at Lowther Deer Park.

Attendees said an entrance to the accessible viewing platform was closed during some performances, with one saying paramedics were initially not allowed through to help someone needing medical assistance.

Kendal Calling organisers said a side gate to the platform was closed at peak times to prevent crowd crushes, with another gate with accessible provision open at all times. They were also aware of a miscommunication that delayed paramedics' access through the side gate.

Nick Auty, 36, from Hartlepool, attended the festival as a party of two personal assistants and two people who used wheelchairs.

His friend had a medical emergency while on the accessible viewing platform on the Sunday evening, and paramedics were initially stopped from going through the entrance by security, he said.

"They eventually let us out after a very, very heated discussion," Mr Auty said.

"[My friend] feels the weekend was probably the most dehumanising event she's had to physically go through. It got sorted out and she's fine within herself, but it's the principle of it."

Mr Auty said closing the gate was a "huge disconnect to common sense".

Kendal Calling said it was aware of a "miscommunication" that delayed paramedics' access through the side gate.

"Medics notified event control immediately, and security were rebriefed to ensure emergency access at all times," a statement from the organisers said.

Other attendees have also spoken about accessibility issues.

When the accessible side gate was closed, people with accessibility needs were told to use the main arena gate, which had been made with an additional track way.

But attendees said the route was unusable because it required them to go up a long hill among the crowd.

Nick Copson, 51, from Eaglescliffe, is disabled and has used a wheelchair for six years.

He said: "There's no way was I attempting that hill, avoiding revellers, potholes, vehicles.

"This is my sixth and final year, they have treated me and my care team like third-class citizens. I've never been made to feel more disabled in my six years of being a wheelchair user."

Mr Copson described how his colostomy bag had burst as he tried to leave the platform to get to toilets that would fit his wheelchair and care team.

"I needed to get out. And they would not let me out," he said.

Richard Foster, who co-created a Facebook group for accessibility attendees at the Kendal Calling festival, said he spoke to numerous people with accessibility needs who had complained about the festival.

He added there were a number of issues that were "downright dangerous".

A statement from Kendal Calling Festival said independent health and safety consultants recommended it closed the side gate during peak times to prevent crowd crushes or surges caused by non-access festival goers attempting to use the side entrance en masse.

It added: "Each year, we listen and make improvements to better the experience of the festival for all our guests with the best of intentions at heart. This is something the team will continue to do as we make preparations for the festival's return in 2025."

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