“Major headache” averted for festival boss

Dec 10 2010 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

T IN THE PARK chief Geoff Ellis yesterday admitted that a “major headache” had been avoided following the council’s dismissal of claims that festival-goers lives were being put at risk by a pipeline.

Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee were informed on Wednesday by members of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that there was the real potential for a massive fireball to kill “a significant number” of people in the event of the failure of BP’s pipeline, which runs through the site at Balado Park.

Addressing the council, a spokesperson for HSE did concede that such incidents were rare, but said that if the pipe was to malfunction then the consequences could be “disastrous” with people killed and badly burned.

The land, which is owned by Douglas Alexander, has been used for leisure activities for several years through temporary planning approvals.

The committee were asked to approve a permanent alteration to the use of the land.

Despite the HSE labelling the pressurised line, which measures 3ft in diameter and lies about two-and-a-half-feet below the surface, as a “major hazard”, councillors opposed their recommendation and green-lighted Mr Alexander’s request.

Claiming the chance of such a disaster was “one in 100 million”, a relieved Mr Ellis, the CEO of DF Concerts, explained that although Scotland’s biggest music festival, which attracts 85,000 music fans, was never in doubt, the refusal of the application could have cost the music promoters a six-figure sum.

“It (the refusal) would have long-term meant moving away from a certain area of the site,” he said.

“It would have caused us a major headache especially because we have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the site, such as investment in drainage.

“I’m glad common sense has prevailed.”

Citing a report prepared by a separate body of experts for the council and a supportive letter from BP themselves, frustrated councillors questioned the HSE officials over their decision, with Conservative Ian Campbell branding the probability of such an explosion as “infinitesimal”.

Led by convenor Willie Wilson, a motion was moved, and unanimously supported by councillors, to allow Mr Alexander’s proposal to move forward, which could allow events such as motorsports, microlight flying and fun fairs to be run on the site all year round.

The committee’s judgement will now be considered by Scottish Ministers, who will make the final decision.