Police are confident communities surrounding the T in the Park festival site will not be largely affected by the mammoth event.
This year’s music feast, which takes place at Balado, Kinross-shire, between July 6 and July 8, will feature acts including Snow Patrol, Kasabian, The Stone Roses and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Around 85,000 people are expected to attend T in the Park each day and this will lead to thousands of people descending on the surrounding villages. However, police say all eventualities will be catered for.
Community Sergeant Sandra Williams told The Courier she is the ‘single point of contact’ and acknowledged that lessons have been learned since the ”disaster” of 2007.
At that time, a combination of traffic problems and atrocious weather led to Kinross-shire residents venting their anger at some anti-social behaviour by revellers, which included some urinating in people’s gardens.
Many revellers will have nightmares about the chaos of 2007, when some motorists had to endure 10-mile queues due to a combination of bad weather and the volume of traffic that led to long delays. Problems were exacerbated by the car parks at the site turning into mud.
However, Sergeant Williams said lessons had been learned.
”My post was created in 2008, following the roads disaster of 2007,” she said. ”This caused a lot of concern in the community and had a major impact on them. Although I have decided not to hold dedicated public meetings, I will ensure police attendance at the community council meetings prior to T in the Park.
”Big Day Out also organises a community forum, which will be held in Kinross on May 22. It is not a public meeting but all the community councils are invited and are given the opportunity to present any concerns raised by their respective local communities. These are attended by members from all the community councils involved.”
Ms Williams said plans are put in place at an early stage and these include looking at traffic implications on both the A977 and A91.
”I have set up a team of three who will work in Carnbo, Powmill and Crook of Devon,” she added. ”I’ve been in the role since 2010 and we have three dedicated officers who will work from the Thursday to the Sunday when T in the Park takes place. They are dedicated to that area.
”Part of this planning will look at trafficking on the A91 in trying to reduce queues there. I am looking after the community policing in Kinross at the time and there will be a considerable police presence to ensure the event runs smoothly. However, our emergency planning team have measures in place for all eventualities at the event.
”I also hand-pick local officers based on their knowledge of the area and they are, basically, like tourist information officers. In addition, we have our special constables, who are well thought of.”
Ms Williams is optimistic that this year’s T in the Park will run well.
”I’m confident it will go well as long as we keep informing the local residents and listen to what they say,” she said. ”Things should go smoothly the only thing we can’t control is the weather. We plan for every sort of eventuality and every contingency is looked at.”