UPDATED: Bayside Festival closes

3:50pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in News

The operators of Bayside Festival have posted the following statement on their website:

“We regret to confirm that Mainsail Ltd went into administration on Friday, August 3.

“Our priority now is naturally the welfare of our employees, who have worked tirelessly over many months to bring the vision for the Olympics in Weymouth alive.

“We are proud of them all and would like to thank them for all they have done. But please go to Weymouth and see the Olympics for yourselves.”Officials have been telling traders that the council will not be taking over the Bayside Festival site and that it will remain closed.

 

 

Following the closure of the Bayside Festival new plans have just been confirmed for musical entertainment.

Max Grayson, business manager at Weymouth Pavilion, said: "We can confirm that following the closure of the Bayside Festival the pavilion, Hourglass Promotions and Atlantic Audio will provide entertainment based at the pavilion each night from 7pm with low entry costs.

There will be national acts playing and it will be fantastic for the town."

Jonathan Lane, who runs Hourglass Promotions, said: "It will be great for the town and the Olympics happening is once in a lifetime.

"We have no bands confirmed at the moment but we will be getting national acts to play for each night during the rest of the Games."

This does not include Funeral for a Friend who were already booked to play at the Pavilion tonight and are subject to normal admission prices

The Bayside Festival in Weymouth has closed.

The company said today: “Due to dire visitor numbers to Weymouth, Bayside Festival organisers have elected to voluntarily liquidate the business and close the site.”

Traders were told this morning that the attraction near Weymouth Pavilion was not financially viable and would close immediately.

But traders who have paid thousands of pounds for pitches at the festival village are demanding that it is reopened immediately so they can continue trading.

There will be musical acts every night in the Pavilion instead of the Bayside Festival.

Tonight Funeral for a Friend are due to play and a host of acts are being lined up for the following week.

The Pavilion has joined forces with Houirglass Promotions and Atlantic Audio to sort out a new line up. It appears that Bayside village will not reopen at all.

No word yet on whether peole who bought tickets for planned acts at Bayside Festival will get their money back.

For live updates, go to our rolling Olympics blog.

A DESPERATE bid earlier in the week to slash entry fees and ticket prices couldn’t keep the Bayside Festival going.

It was set up on a 13,300 square metre site behind the Weymouth Pavilion Theatre and cost organisers around £700,000 to stage.

Organisers Mainsail have worked on the America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and the Fastnet Race and ran a large part of the shoreside programme at Cowes Week.

Festival managing director Joe Hall said the most they had at any one time on the 9,000 people-capacity Bayside Festival site during the Olympics was 3,600 people.

On Monday, he said: “We want to be entertaining a lot more people. It’s been disappointing in terms of numbers.

After evening concert ticket prices were slashed from £10 to £5, Mr Hall said that festival goers who had already bought tickets at full price would be offered additional tickets.

In response to the low turn-out for the festival and traders claiming their takings were down 50 per cent on this time last year, Olympic organisers launched a ‘Come to Weymouth’ strategy.

Tweeters spent much of yesterday posting ‘Come to Weymouth’ tweets on social networking Twitter in a bid to attract people to the resort.

A statement from Bayside Festival organisers on Twitter blames the site closure on 'dire' vistor numbers.

It says: "Due to dire visitor numbers to Weymouth, Bayside Festival organisers have elected to voluntarily liquidate the business and close the site."

 

 

Comments(149)

ManOnTheSilverMountain says...
10:55am Fri 3 Aug 12

With a week to go, perhaps they could put a stage up on the beach in the arena for local bands to play (please no tribute bands...)

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ijwufo68 says...
10:59am Fri 3 Aug 12

This is what happens when u listen to the olympic BS and charge stupid prices for things, so people won't come to weymouth!!!!!!. Well done u have put another nail in weymouth's coffin.

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Tim4wfc says...
11:07am Fri 3 Aug 12

That's really sad. We visited last Sunday and would have returned at the right price. I wonder if any market research was undertaken prior to setting up some of these facilities?
We are in recession and most people are being far more careful with their pennies. It's great having the Olympics in Weymouth, but there's far too much elitism. It needs to be more accessible to everyone, not just the sponsors and VIP's.

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shy talk says...
11:07am Fri 3 Aug 12

For information Weymouth Bayside festival website are still selling tickets. No information on the website that the event has closed down.

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rjimmer says...
11:09am Fri 3 Aug 12

But, the council aren't to blame because they took heed of 'professional advice'!!!!!! Typical council cop-out. Most events have insurances, but can you insure against your own incompetence?

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Weymouth Ex-pat says...
11:10am Fri 3 Aug 12

LOCOG, Dorset County Council and WPBC have got a hell of a lot of questions to answer. The whole Olympics thing (roadworks, congestion warnings etc, etc) has been a right royal c*ck up from start to finish. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put Weymouth on the map has been completely and utterly squandered. Come on, Echo, start asking difficult questions of those who have overseen this humiliating fiasco.

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localgrumble says...
11:12am Fri 3 Aug 12

If they lowered the prices people may be more willing to go. Local people can't necessarily afford to pay those kind of prices when we know a pub or takeaway outlet round the corner that's going to be cheaper.

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AALLEEXX says...
11:23am Fri 3 Aug 12

Council got too greedy and THIS is what happens. Nothing else to be said.

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gurfy says...
11:24am Fri 3 Aug 12

AALLEEXX wrote:
Council got too greedy and THIS is what happens. Nothing else to be said.
The Council were not the organisers here, that would be Mainsail Entertainment.

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mrgoo says...
11:25am Fri 3 Aug 12

Put simply, this boils down to bad management, if they had some headline bands / acts they would have drawn in some decent crowds. No offence to Chesney Hawks, but the fella has had his day. Feel sorry for the traders

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Duckorange says...
11:26am Fri 3 Aug 12

Horribly short-sighted - they could have gone through the weekend first when visitor numbers would have surged before closing the doors. But yes, too many people (both authorities and businesses) tried to gouge visitors for money, and this is what happens.

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rjimmer says...
11:26am Fri 3 Aug 12

One word sums it up: PRICES

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AALLEEXX says...
11:34am Fri 3 Aug 12

gurfy wrote:
AALLEEXX wrote:
Council got too greedy and THIS is what happens. Nothing else to be said.
The Council were not the organisers here, that would be Mainsail Entertainment.
I didn't say they did. The council decided to over charge everything from the park and ride to the ticket prices. ;)

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Emmadale says...
11:34am Fri 3 Aug 12

This is greed and council and LOCOG fault. We have so many free events that are a success, but everyone staying avoid weymouth has just put everyone off coming. I work so was going at the weekend (my husband went down yesterday and said I'd enjoy it). But mostly it's the traders I feel sorry for - they invested on empty promises and are now losing out. It should be kept open until the weekend at least and promoted more throughout the town with free entry. A least give it a chance. It may be inconvenient but what about relocating to the beach and esplanade to get more traffic flow?

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poppy33 says...
11:36am Fri 3 Aug 12

What a shame 4 of us were going tonight didn't think a fiver was a bad price but wouldn't have paid £10.

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vickg1250 says...
11:37am Fri 3 Aug 12

here, here weymouth ex-pat....well said. We returned back to a town we loved after 9 years away but are wondering what the hell we have done! One chance and 7 years to research, consult and establish what was going to work and more importantly how it was going to work for this town and propel it forward. We have been down every night and last night to see the band playing at the Bayside ....put that band and entertainment in any other town in an outside venue at this time of year (and we have seen them in another venue) and it would have been packed out and vibrant. And I'm sorry £5 for a ticket is not expensive, so you can't blame that. Really what will happen to Weymouth after this, will any entertainment ever come to Weymouth when this has now happened? All the staff out of work, all the bad press and general feeling of despondency when Weymouth should have been wallowing in success....this 'legacy' will be hard to heal to hope Weymouth could ever attract anything to come to this town and it be organised to ensure success. Yes, indeed a fiasco!

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ohec says...
11:40am Fri 3 Aug 12

I think the majority of locals could see the writing on the wall a long time ago, they should have listened to locals more and accepted a small slice of the cake on offer instead they chose to be greedy and failed big time which is very sad because in the process they have actually done long term harm to Weymouth and Portland and the surrounding area. The chances of any big investment in the area have gone and Weymouth will now go into further decline until it see's sense and returns to its roots as a quaint old seaside town.

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katzeye299 says...
11:46am Fri 3 Aug 12

Why didn't they wait and see how the weekend went. Local people have more time then. Went on Motown Night and it was great.

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jcrwey says...
11:46am Fri 3 Aug 12

AALLEEXX.....the council have no say in the Park & Ride. LOCOG took over the sites and set the prices. It is the council who did actually bang LOCOGs table and get the free Park & Ride deal this week.

They also had no part in the ticket prices for Bayside or the Nothe...again this was out of their hands. The only events they have organised directly related to the Olympics is the FREE Sports Arena - which is fantastic, if you have not been around have a look, and the FREE Live Site which is getting more popular by the day and was full on Friday and Saturday.

So for once this is not entirely the councils fault, especially regarding ticket prices for olympic related events

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paulst says...
11:46am Fri 3 Aug 12

i think everyone is reading a bit too much into this. bayside festival was rubbish. we had free tickets & popped in over the weekend, but in theory you were meant to pay for the privilege of being able to buy stuff from rubbish stalls. not surprised it closed down.
there are stunning pictures of Weymouth & Portland being beamed all over the world, which is hardly going to hurt tourism in the long term.

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Cromy says...
11:51am Fri 3 Aug 12

Personally I think that the actual things going on in town are fine. So what, the council and other orgranisers over estimated. Rather that the under-estimate surely? With regards to bayside festival (which this article is about), I wasn't willing to pay £5 to enter, just to find that its full of things made to extract more money. I suspect they got thier pricing wrong - it should have been free entry, free-reentries and perhaps £10 for evening concerts.

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vickg1250 says...
11:55am Fri 3 Aug 12

Agree with Paulst that tourism will continue and the caravan sites full again next summer of people willing to spend their time (and money) in pubs and amusement arcades but may not care too much that Weymouth has lost it's quaint seaside town feel!.... but wasn't the idea of this to also attract a bigger audience to this area?

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Channelyacht says...
12:03pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Hopefully people will come back next year - unless they've gone somewhere else this year and find they like it better!
The council have majorly (as always) cocked up on this, it's no good saying LOCOG were at fault, the Bayside is on Council land and the contract to the organisers should have specified a bond to ensure there was enough money to complete the contract. The concept was wrong though, the whole thing should have been free with traders and sponsors paying for it, paying to get in then having to pay again on the "attractions" and for little more that a set of commercial stands was daft - it should have been run on the same principle as the seafood festival - free to go round. In fact, if the seafood festival, folk festival, etc had all been moved into the two weeks, we would have had an incredible buzz. And where are the sailing related events? Free try a sail in the bay, that sort of thing. Golden opportunities missed. What a good job Condor have moved away for this year only to give the council the space...of course, that couldn't possibly have been prearranged, could it....

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dynarob says...
12:14pm Fri 3 Aug 12

http://www.mainsail.
co.uk/news_weymouth.
html

W&P may not be directly responsible for the festival but you have to wonder who MailSail made their bid to and whether any of the other tenderers expected to run an event costing £700,000 were worth more than £-1,713 ?

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valleygirl78 says...
12:18pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Yet again, bad publicity for Weymouth and Portland. We are very quick to blame but no one commenting on how to make improvements. To get a band to play would cost, which would in turn increase ticket prices to around the £45/50 per person mark. Are we suggesting enough people would be Willing to pay that each?

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monkeydog says...
12:26pm Fri 3 Aug 12

valleygirl78 wrote:
Yet again, bad publicity for Weymouth and Portland. We are very quick to blame but no one commenting on how to make improvements. To get a band to play would cost, which would in turn increase ticket prices to around the £45/50 per person mark. Are we suggesting enough people would be Willing to pay that each?
It doesn't always cost that much but plenty of people go to Bournemouth and Poole from Weymouth to see established bands and are willing to pay that. Weymouth needs to try harder in getting recognised or up and coming bands to play here. At the very least give local groups the occasional opportunity.Unfortun
ately Weymouth has got a reputation as being a tribute band graveyard and Paul Daniels' second home.

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saildorset says...
12:29pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I think ohec is spot on. To add, this time of year the harbour would be heaving, boats rafted out 6-7 deep. W+PBC said they'd make a killing, well they have nigh on murdered the place. As for all the superyachts that were supposed to have been anchored out in the bay, what time do they arrive? GREED !!

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Crabber says...
12:41pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Here's how I see it, The Sailing Events are traditional for the rich people in this Country so therefore it follows that supporters of it are naturally rich. The Rupert & Rodney Set we use to call them. What all the organiser's failed to take into account here is that the locals are NOT Rich. A fiver is not a lot of money if your getting £90 a fortnight dole money to spend on 3 nights out. But if your a working chap with a family and a mortgage to support then a fiver is quite a substantial amount.. Tourist's that have come to Weymouth for years during these two /Three weeks are not here they have gone elsewhere for their Summer hols, god help the town if they have gone some place with better facilities, and they won't be back. I would have liked to have gone but I will not book a Parking Space for my Car because I have a Blue Badge and also it is far to far for my wife to walk and help push my wheelchair. Finally here is very very good point, that may answer a few questions My Neighbour is a Regional Manager for SW Trains, their figures for travellers for last week 8% yes EIGHT PERCENT of what they were told to expect actually traveled on SW Trains,and that is from the whole of the South West of England to Weymouth. So perhaps there's your answer.

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Channelyacht says...
12:50pm Fri 3 Aug 12

"The sailing events are for the rich"

What a lot of class nonsense. Look at some of this country's greatest sailors - Ellen MacArthur, Tracy Edwards - from normal backgrounds. Thousands of kids and adults dinghy sail with clubs for very little money - even if you want your own boat, you can get afloat for a couple of hundred quid. The only people to assume sailing fans are rich is LOCOG, hence the ridiculous prices at the Nothe. The council should not have rolled over and given them the site to charge what they like. Most people who sail pay a lot less per year than your average football club season ticket!
These events should have been about making it all inclusive, not a vanity project for Coe, Bliar and Cameron.

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valleygirl78 says...
12:53pm Fri 3 Aug 12

monkeydog wrote:
valleygirl78 wrote:
Yet again, bad publicity for Weymouth and Portland. We are very quick to blame but no one commenting on how to make improvements. To get a band to play would cost, which would in turn increase ticket prices to around the £45/50 per person mark. Are we suggesting enough people would be Willing to pay that each?
It doesn't always cost that much but plenty of people go to Bournemouth and Poole from Weymouth to see established bands and are willing to pay that. Weymouth needs to try harder in getting recognised or up and coming bands to play here. At the very least give local groups the occasional opportunity.Unfortun

ately Weymouth has got a reputation as being a tribute band graveyard and Paul Daniels' second home.
I totally agree and maybe the bayside festival could have got a headline act for one night and people would have paid the money required for entry. This being for the one night the could afford it. But one night does not a festival make. I think people just don't have the money. The council included. And that is the real issue.

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Weymouth & Portland Borough Council says...
12:53pm Fri 3 Aug 12

"The borough council is very disappointed for the company behind the Bayside Festival. The decision to close this single part of what is on offer in Weymouth at the moment is entirely a matter for the commercial operator of that site.

"People still have ten days to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience - the Olympics by the sea in Weymouth & Portland.

"Ben Ainslie and the most successful sailing team in Olympic history will be sailing for gold from this weekend and into next week.

"Our free live site on Weymouth's golden sands will be showing all the sailing and other Olympics action and the sports arena on the beach is getting rave reviews from people who are trying their hand at everything from rugby and kayaking to volleyball and sailing on Weymouth Beach.

"The live music and cultural events as part of the acclaimed Maritime Mix - London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea and amazing panoramic screenings in the ICCI360 Dome all continue.

"For all the information go to www.dorsetforyou.com
/sailing2012 or follow us on twitter @sailing_2012"

Enquiries about tickets and refunds should be directed to Bayside Festival organisers: www.weymouthbaysidef
estival.co.uk

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jcrwey says...
12:54pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Channelyacht ...."And where are the sailing related events? Free try a sail in the bay, that sort of thing"

While I agree with a lot of what you say you can actually try a range of watersports on Weymouth Beach during the olympics, such as Sailing, Kayaking and windsurfing for free which is proving immensly popular with people of all ages, alongside numerous other sports in the free beach arena - which has been at full capacity on many days.

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shy talk says...
12:55pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Weymouth Bayside Festival website has now stopped selling tickets. No mention that the festival has been cancelled on the website.

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Karen1972 says...
12:56pm Fri 3 Aug 12

What a shame... they could have carried on until Sunday to see if numbers increase. A little annoying as pre-booked and paid for 30 tickets. I can kiss goodbye to my £300. Really happy to take everyone into the free arena but no food or drink so a logistical nightmare to carry in so much for 30 people !... Would they consider moving the bar.

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Channelyacht says...
1:00pm Fri 3 Aug 12

jcrwey wrote:
Channelyacht ...."And where are the sailing related events? Free try a sail in the bay, that sort of thing"

While I agree with a lot of what you say you can actually try a range of watersports on Weymouth Beach during the olympics, such as Sailing, Kayaking and windsurfing for free which is proving immensly popular with people of all ages, alongside numerous other sports in the free beach arena - which has been at full capacity on many days.
Excellent - the advertising can't be up to much though!

There was very little "maritime" flavour to the Bayside though...

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Duckorange says...
1:02pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I'm not in Weymouth today, but I'm hearing the town is absolutely rammed for the second day in a row. The organisers look like they packed up too soon.

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Channelyacht says...
1:02pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council wrote:
"The borough council is very disappointed for the company behind the Bayside Festival. The decision to close this single part of what is on offer in Weymouth at the moment is entirely a matter for the commercial operator of that site.

"People still have ten days to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience - the Olympics by the sea in Weymouth & Portland.

"Ben Ainslie and the most successful sailing team in Olympic history will be sailing for gold from this weekend and into next week.

"Our free live site on Weymouth's golden sands will be showing all the sailing and other Olympics action and the sports arena on the beach is getting rave reviews from people who are trying their hand at everything from rugby and kayaking to volleyball and sailing on Weymouth Beach.

"The live music and cultural events as part of the acclaimed Maritime Mix - London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea and amazing panoramic screenings in the ICCI360 Dome all continue.

"For all the information go to www.dorsetforyou.com

/sailing2012 or follow us on twitter @sailing_2012"

Enquiries about tickets and refunds should be directed to Bayside Festival organisers: www.weymouthbaysidef

estival.co.uk
In that case, could the Council answer (1) who let the contract to the organisers, and (2) if it was the Council, why was a completion bond not in place?

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mr w says...
1:19pm Fri 3 Aug 12

This was a 42 day event not just for the duration of the Olympics! Closing it after just 7 days how embarrassing for everyone involved! Just as well tell condor they can come back now as there is plenty of room for them!

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circumspect reader says...
1:20pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Has anyone been to any of the other events around the country? We've been to four so far and local councils (Surrey notably) and traders have been enterprising and set up free big screens, fairs and stalls to keep visitors and spectators entertained, fed and watered. And no increased car parking either!!

It's just a shame that LOCOG (remember, they're a private company out to make a profit for shareholders) saw this as a way to make money and not necessarily celebrate gold, silver and bronze (whatever the sport - after all, the big screen on the beach will show athletics, rowing, cycling, swimming etc. too)...

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maximan says...
1:21pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Duckorange wrote:
I'm not in Weymouth today, but I'm hearing the town is absolutely rammed for the second day in a row. The organisers look like they packed up too soon.
sort of premature evacuation...

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Laughing gnome says...
1:24pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Disaster ! But, I smell something fishy about this. & it aint mackrell baps !

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shy talk says...
1:46pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Why not allow the stalls and traders to make the individual decision to stay or go?

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bluedots says...
1:55pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I have been really enjoying the Olympics in Weymouth and have been to many of the events, yesterday I paid £50 for advance tickets to the festival and can probably wave goodbye to that however I am not going to let it spoil my enjoyment of what is a fantastic once in a lifetime event.

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Akita_Abigail says...
2:01pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I think that the stalls should be allowed to open or allow them to move along the sea front... with the blue "London 2012" signs which are not where we are that block views of the beach with the deckchairs maybe this would be a hive of activity particularly over the weekend and the traders can recoop some of their losses...

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jcrwey says...
2:06pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Yes if traders want to move and stay let them go along the seafront since it is closed to traffic.

Also, for those who have mentioned the reason there are no food or drink facilities in the Live Site was purposefully done to encourage people to use the nearby facilities on the Seafront and the Town Centre. As has been mentioned elsewhere some of the seafront traders have reported excellent sales which they say is directly due to the Live Site.

Any bar / food in the live site would have undoubtably meant these nearby businesses missed out on trade - so there is a sensible reason behind it.

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Gridseeeeey says...
2:08pm Fri 3 Aug 12

All this bad news aside. Weymouth looks great on the beeb right now.

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Gridseeeeey says...
2:08pm Fri 3 Aug 12

All this bad news aside. Weymouth looks great on the beeb right now.

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Jello Biafra says...
2:09pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I totally agree with Akita_Abigail & jcrwey

Come on Weymouth Council do something POSITIVE!!!!!!! -














NOW!!!!!

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Yam350raptor says...
2:10pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Why they did not choose to combine the food festival with Bayside is a mystery to me...this was a great event and free!! who wants to pay to enter somewhere to buy food??

What a let down........

On a positive note....at least we have had great weather so far and BBC are doing a great job of showcasing what a beautiful place we live in...

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Jello Biafra says...
2:15pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Gridseeeeey wrote:
All this bad news aside. Weymouth looks great on the beeb right now.
Kill your television!

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-Wingl- says...
2:24pm Fri 3 Aug 12

"cost organisers around £700,000 to stage"...£700,000! "Festival managing director Joe Hall said the most they had at any one time on the 9,000 people-capacity Bayside Festival site during the Olympics was 3,600 people". During... aren't the Olympics still on? So, I've been to a few major concerts and festivals over the years...100's of world famous band etc... This was aimed at the wrong market and in the wrong part of town. I bet the business case for this is interesting reading.

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sjh789 says...
2:25pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Why is no-one saying what happens to people who have already paid out money for tickets for future dates. I have paid out £50 for Tues 07th and Sat 11th Augs. I cannot get through to the organisers at all!!

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Vince Elliott says...
2:28pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I visited the Bayside area yesterday afternoon. I have to say that it wasn't even worth the £1.00 I was charged. Aside from the music (which was good, but if you live in Dorset you get the opportunity to see a lot of good music for free), it was just a poor quality trade show, the food and drink was over-priced and there was little to amuse the children. It is no loss to Weymouth - in fact, it was an embarrassment. Instead, go and visit the Sports Arena and the beach area - these are great fun and really catch the spirit of the Olympics!

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cricketgirl says...
2:28pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I was down there yesterday and talked to a few of the stall holders. They told me they were given the impression that the stalls would be right by the sailing action, that they would have a "captive audience". They were bitterly disappointed to end up in a car park where there were entry charges - not what they were expecting at all. It's a shame they can't keep it open for the weekend, or move the stalls onto the esplanade.....

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AALLEEXX says...
2:33pm Fri 3 Aug 12

You can surely get a refund for £300 LOL?!

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seventhchild says...
2:37pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I went to the Bayside Festival yesterday lunch time and it was packed, couldn't get a seat, but enjoyed the music. Very surprised that they have decided to close the site. Does this mean we can have our car park back? As I have recently injured my foot, wanted to park not too far away. Went to park in the Brewers Quay car park yesterday and was disgusted to see that it is £6 to park for up to 3 hours and £25 to park for over three hours.Pure greed. Needless to say I didn't park there. Drove a little out of town and caught the bus and hobbled to the Festival site.

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sjh789 says...
3:23pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Their website is now saying that mainsale have gone into administration, does this mean that we wont be getting out money back now?

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roger goss says...
3:41pm Fri 3 Aug 12

pure greed by the management I expect

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gurfy says...
3:42pm Fri 3 Aug 12

http://www.dorsetfor
you.com/sailing2012/
events/bayside-festi
val

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Duckorange says...
4:22pm Fri 3 Aug 12

seventhchild wrote:
I went to the Bayside Festival yesterday lunch time and it was packed, couldn't get a seat, but enjoyed the music. Very surprised that they have decided to close the site. Does this mean we can have our car park back? As I have recently injured my foot, wanted to park not too far away. Went to park in the Brewers Quay car park yesterday and was disgusted to see that it is £6 to park for up to 3 hours and £25 to park for over three hours.Pure greed. Needless to say I didn't park there. Drove a little out of town and caught the bus and hobbled to the Festival site.
Parking tip! The station car park (the car park next door to B&Q that's not the B&Q car park) is only £2 after 10am, and only a light hobble into town. An utter bargain when LOCOG are trying to gouge you for a tenner on the park and ride.

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sweetdreamgirl says...
4:30pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Personally I was cheesed off late at night listening to the thump of bass drum whilst trying to sleep as were many around me,some with small children who say they could not get to sleep cos of the row, never think of us locals ,so if it going to be in the pavilion from now on... goody,

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marklespark says...
4:31pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Weymouth and Portland Council contracted Mainsail Ltd to deliver
this festival. I wonder what checks were made to see if they could deliver the entertainment and pay the artists.

When we were there we saw performers from America, Canada and all over this country. I wonder what impression they will have now.

As they contracted Mainsail it would seem that Weymouth Council has a moral responsibility to sort out this mess.

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bradley red 1 says...
4:31pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Most definately more than meets the eye to this company going into administration! blaming "dire numbers" seems a bit drastic in my opinion,it will all come out in the end as most things do in failing busineses!!!paying £750,000 quoted and then announce this? i smell a rat,feel sorry for traders who would of paid a big outlay to trade there but seeing some of the prices they wanted for food etc they only have themselves to blame! very gullible and perhaps desperate to make money at a very small spectator sport as sailing!!! shame,what really makes me sick is the government papering over the cracks that are evident all over this country,portraying this country as some kind of super power nation trying to promote the olympics! as my elderly father says great britain is not great anymore due to these so called high powered people who have caused mayhem with the economy!

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bradley red 1 says...
4:36pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Not what i have seen! FROM LOCAL RESIDENT.

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sjh789 says...
4:36pm Fri 3 Aug 12

WPBC definitely do have a moral obligation. They should hire the same live Acts for the pavilion and let us that have tickets paid for in for nothing or at least try an refund us. There is definitely something more to this than low numbers as at the weekend it was bound to pick up!

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John New says...
4:37pm Fri 3 Aug 12

So a commercial firm take a gamble, get it very, very wrong and go bust, and the Council get blamed. Very sorry for those who lost money and now won't get paid but having been let in free last week it was a rip-off unless you wanted to see a specific band.

Flawed business plan from day one. Why on earth would you pay an entry fee to go shopping or into a food/drink venue when you are in a town full of shops, pubs and cafes? The free stuff is good and I enjoyed my day on the beach in the free zone with the big screen. Weymouth proving again it does free beach entertainment fantastically well and can organise big events. Commerce discovering that people are not mugs you can fleece at will when there is a better alternative available up the road!

Once again sorry for those who've lost out but that was one rip off too far

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Saund65 says...
4:48pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear? This is such an embarrassment for Weymouth and PORTLAND. Why didn't the powers that be cater for the local community when scheduling and planning events? Why did they focus on 'forcasted' (and I use the term lightly) numbers of visitors expected to arrive in the borough? As a local returning to Dorset a week before the games commenced - I came across numerous electronic notices warning of traffic congestion due to the Olympics - even the link road from Merley to Poole / Bournemouth would be closed during the events - Why? It is such a shame. Went to the Bayside Festival yesterday and I don't want to sound as if I am negative towards the games - I am addicted - but I paid £1.00 to get in, I was there a whole five minutes before I decided to leave. Food was overpriced, the stands were geared towards the yachting fraternity (expensive), however the band was good, just nowhere to sit. We have had 7 years to plan - yet it hasnt worked. Such a shame.

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jcrwey says...
4:50pm Fri 3 Aug 12

sjh789....Surely WPBC should not pick up the financial pieces from a commercial venture and commercial decision? It is terrible though for those who have lost money, and especially those who have lost jobs and paid work.

We are now going to probably return to seeing an eyesore there during the Olympics - least Bayside hid away some of the area.

One thing Bayside has shown is that if something nice was done with that area, with the right things and a mix of public and private spaces then that area has the potential to be a great area of the town. It was good to see the area being well used by people, rather than its usual empty, run down state appearance.

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CoogarUK.com says...
4:51pm Fri 3 Aug 12

The council ARE to blame for the low visitor numbers to Weymouth during the festivities though, evidence of which is borne out by their own desperate measures by slashing the cost of their ill-fated Park & Ride scheme.

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dynarob says...
4:52pm Fri 3 Aug 12

John New wrote:
So a commercial firm take a gamble, get it very, very wrong and go bust, and the Council get blamed. Very sorry for those who lost money and now won't get paid but having been let in free last week it was a rip-off unless you wanted to see a specific band.

Flawed business plan from day one. Why on earth would you pay an entry fee to go shopping or into a food/drink venue when you are in a town full of shops, pubs and cafes? The free stuff is good and I enjoyed my day on the beach in the free zone with the big screen. Weymouth proving again it does free beach entertainment fantastically well and can organise big events. Commerce discovering that people are not mugs you can fleece at will when there is a better alternative available up the road!

Once again sorry for those who've lost out but that was one rip off too far
I'm struggling to find information but it seems that MainSail Ltd was one of 9 companies who tendered for the opportunity to host the festival. Presumably the 'winner' was chosen by by somebody at the council so I don't think people should be so easily fobbed off by W&PBC.

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mjhawkins says...
4:53pm Fri 3 Aug 12

please,please,please bring in some professionals to sort it out,not the amateurs from the pavilion.they cant make that place pay so god knows what a mess they will make of this and we will all end up paying higher taxes next year

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CoogarUK.com says...
4:55pm Fri 3 Aug 12

The council ARE to blame for the low visitor numbers to Weymouth during the festivities though, evidence of which is borne out by their own desperate measures in slashing the cost of their ill-fated Park & Ride scheme.

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weylin says...
5:02pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I am also saddened that my tickets are wasted but also for the traders. I went there yesterday (free) and felt that the whole site had a lovely vibe bringing Weymouth into the 21st century. I loved the stalls with such great choices from American pancakes to Welsh lava bread with lobster!
I am disabled on a scooter so the whole site was accessible unlike a lot of other entertainment areas inc. the Pavilion and the pier cafe. It brought colour and fun to the much needed miserable pier. Somebody, please don't let it go!!!

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sjh789 says...
5:05pm Fri 3 Aug 12

JCRWEY.....Maybe asking them to accept the full financial liability is a big ask but they appointed this company as I believe under a tendering process. Surely they should be apportioned some blame. The live site is brilliiant and you definitely cannot fault them in anyway for that along with the opening ceremony but this is poor that this company that were appointed and now cannot fulfill their obligations. Letting so many people down! Just some support from the council advising people who to contact with regards to refunds would be a start.

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joni56 says...
5:13pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Remember every cloud has a silver lining, why not come and listen to one of the many local bands in our local pubs over the weekend, we always have a great time in town, check Echo's gig guide.

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sjh789 says...
5:15pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Hehe ok will do joni56 :)

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MASK & SNORKEL says...
5:33pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Next years seafront special offers:

1. Sands & swim = £5
2. Seafront shuffle = £3
3. Lazer looking = £2
4. Fairy light festival = PRICELESS!

Then NOBODY will turn up!!

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SILVERMAN says...
5:54pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Perhaps we can have our beach back now

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bollywood says...
5:58pm Fri 3 Aug 12

PLEASE P[LEASEtake down that awful blue screening and remove the barriers to the beach at least then people can see the lovely beach that we have. We were going to sit in those nice new deckchairs but who wants to look at a blue screen. No wonder the deckchairs are empty. And open the roads back up. I had to laugh at 17.00 coming in from Portland at the traffic sign in Wyke which said Congestion on road leaving Weymouth. Would the last person please switch off the lights.

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maximan says...
6:02pm Fri 3 Aug 12

SILVERMAN wrote:
Perhaps we can have our beach back now
Why, was the festival on the beach? I went past the screen enclosure today and it was packed. So why get rid of something that's working? And yes Weymouth was buzzing today. Still cant work out why the Esplanade has to be shut all the way down.

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weylin says...
6:04pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Interestingly the Isle of Wight where Mainsail come from (and organise Cowes week), are already in discussion with another company to do this year's festival. The IOW council are expecting to find another company within the next 48 hours!! How come they already knew this?

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maximan says...
6:09pm Fri 3 Aug 12

monkeydog wrote:
valleygirl78 wrote:
Yet again, bad publicity for Weymouth and Portland. We are very quick to blame but no one commenting on how to make improvements. To get a band to play would cost, which would in turn increase ticket prices to around the £45/50 per person mark. Are we suggesting enough people would be Willing to pay that each?
It doesn't always cost that much but plenty of people go to Bournemouth and Poole from Weymouth to see established bands and are willing to pay that. Weymouth needs to try harder in getting recognised or up and coming bands to play here. At the very least give local groups the occasional opportunity.Unfortun

ately Weymouth has got a reputation as being a tribute band graveyard and Paul Daniels' second home.
Totally agree - Mr Kypps, The Old Fire Station, The Electric Palace are all small venues but still manage to promote decent acts at reasonable prices

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John New says...
6:09pm Fri 3 Aug 12

sjh789 wrote:
JCRWEY.....Maybe asking them to accept the full financial liability is a big ask but they appointed this company as I believe under a tendering process. Surely they should be apportioned some blame. The live site is brilliiant and you definitely cannot fault them in anyway for that along with the opening ceremony but this is poor that this company that were appointed and now cannot fulfill their obligations. Letting so many people down! Just some support from the council advising people who to contact with regards to refunds would be a start.
A tender process means an opportunity is advertised, companies read the terms and assess the business opportunity to them and they bid accordingly. Hardly fair to blame the site holder if the tenderer misreads the market place and gets it wrong.

The concept idea for a food court, trade area and music festival during the games was actually not bad and Weymouth has other events like it that work but they are locally run and free to enter. WPBC does know how to organise or facilitate events and has a **** good track record in doing so over many years, most of this event is outside their direct control and it seems to be those parts that have gone wrong.

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sweetdreamgirl says...
6:14pm Fri 3 Aug 12

cannot wait til 2013 hopefully we will have our weymouth back, am wondering if those large palms near King George`s statue will be removed as I have got used to them, think they look great ,I as told that they have been buried in tubs!! and will be removed, shame. Talked to a few shop keepers today, many are fed up and some in particular as they have seen street traders coming into the town and selling what they in their shops sell,I think that is wrong,

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Merrittpr says...
6:27pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Let's forget about this doomed venture and get some decent entertainment in town, at a reasonable price. However, I do feel sorry for:

All the people that bought tickets in advance that will probably not get a penny back.

All the staff who will not get paid for their efforts.

Local traders who have invested large sums of money that they will not get back.

All that really needed to be done to host the games was to keep things as normal as possible. So many changes have alienated the town lets just get it back to normal. Great to see so many people on the Stone Pier today and on the beach, exactly what is needed with the medal races on their way. Who was the muppet responsible for the no public access sign on the beach near the fort? So glad someone has already ripped it off the posts. For heavens sake you can walk on the Cob at Lyme Regis and there is more chance there of injury. Common sense is all you need....and that brings us back to the beginning of this article!!

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seventhchild says...
6:31pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Duckorange wrote:
seventhchild wrote:
I went to the Bayside Festival yesterday lunch time and it was packed, couldn't get a seat, but enjoyed the music. Very surprised that they have decided to close the site. Does this mean we can have our car park back? As I have recently injured my foot, wanted to park not too far away. Went to park in the Brewers Quay car park yesterday and was disgusted to see that it is £6 to park for up to 3 hours and £25 to park for over three hours.Pure greed. Needless to say I didn't park there. Drove a little out of town and caught the bus and hobbled to the Festival site.
Parking tip! The station car park (the car park next door to B&Q that's not the B&Q car park) is only £2 after 10am, and only a light hobble into town. An utter bargain when LOCOG are trying to gouge you for a tenner on the park and ride.
Thanks for the tip Duckorange. Will try that tomorrow

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thornton34ukuk says...
6:34pm Fri 3 Aug 12

This is from a friend who has hit it on the head hope u don't mine me posting it

So the Dorset Evening Echo is joining forces with olympic organisers to spread the word that down here in Weymouth and Portland is the place to be?! Funny that because the Echo have done nothing but produce negative headlines from the start! The Echo is a disgrace and no wonder people aren't coming down because potential visitors are googling olympic sailing and finding your shambolic headlines! You should be encouraging people, not scaring them off! As for certain hoteliers who are struggling.....well maybe you shouldn't have been so greedy by putting prices up by double in some cases and waiting for your big corporate bookings which blatantly wasn't going to materialise! Also the signs in other counties saying "long delays etc" was ridiculous! Why put them up when we had a new road to deal with the supposed influx of holiday makers! Get down to Weymouth if you can and forget about the negative comments coming from some locals! There's plenty to do!

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delped says...
6:39pm Fri 3 Aug 12

We need national acts here, tribute bands are ok, not everyone wants rock music....

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thornton34ukuk says...
6:40pm Fri 3 Aug 12

What supries they put it down to no people comein down to weymouth if they did not put up prices and avertice it better and not tel every one not to use the cars we would have the people down here plus the people do have jobs so it's not easy to have time off we do work in the week cancel not doing nothing but happy to spend money where it did not need hope Wessex fm can pull it out the bag

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ManOnTheSilverMountain says...
6:45pm Fri 3 Aug 12

maximan wrote:
monkeydog wrote:
valleygirl78 wrote:
Yet again, bad publicity for Weymouth and Portland. We are very quick to blame but no one commenting on how to make improvements. To get a band to play would cost, which would in turn increase ticket prices to around the £45/50 per person mark. Are we suggesting enough people would be Willing to pay that each?
It doesn't always cost that much but plenty of people go to Bournemouth and Poole from Weymouth to see established bands and are willing to pay that. Weymouth needs to try harder in getting recognised or up and coming bands to play here. At the very least give local groups the occasional opportunity.Unfortun


ately Weymouth has got a reputation as being a tribute band graveyard and Paul Daniels' second home.
Totally agree - Mr Kypps, The Old Fire Station, The Electric Palace are all small venues but still manage to promote decent acts at reasonable prices
Indeed. Olympic week, Weymouth should have easily been able to achieve the sort of music that these venues host all year round.

The 700k budget could have been spent more wisely and paid for high quality bands from the outset (not tribute acts), with low door charges that would have been made up at the bar... It's not rocket science....

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marypa says...
7:00pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Re Headline acts at Bayside. No mention of how brilliant the Military band was! World class musicians! The tribute to Motown was as good as seeing some of the real acts. The Olympic events at Weymouth have been amazing and the organisation first class - litter being collected, friendly police/security, brilliant Ambassadors, etc etc.etc etc. Am proud of our ability in this country to organise superb events.

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UsernameWithheld says...
7:36pm Fri 3 Aug 12

BREAKING NEWS: THIS ISN'T BREAKING NEWS

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Get a grip says...
7:53pm Fri 3 Aug 12

The question I want know is, did Weymouth & Portland get the rent before they allowed them to move, in or are the ratepayers also out of pocket?

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PEJ says...
8:00pm Fri 3 Aug 12

From the beginning of summer I was intending to go to Weymouth for the Olympic festival every other day for the duration. That was until I found out there was no parking for locals at my usual park and ride by Morrisons. Ah not to worry I thought I will park in the Swannery. No such luck closed. Ah again I thought not to worry park at Bincleaves and walk the rest of the way no chance change of use no parking allowed. I am not prepared to go all the way to Monkey Jump or Kingston Maurward just to come back to Weymouth when I live in Portland. At that point I gave up as I am not prepared to pay £3.90 for just three hours as wanted to enjoy the whole day. I have suggested to the council make parking similar to Dorchester where one can park from 9am until 6pm every day except market day for £2. If you cannot alter the machines once a ticket is purchased for £3.90 allow the public to stay for that day up until midnight. I was informed that this would have to go before various committee's. To late for boosting the economy of the town. This is where the Chief Executive should do his job and over-ride the committee's and councillors and whoever needs to be informed of change. perhaps then for the last remaining days this would at least bring in the much needed locals and tourist. Perhaps the Council could consider £2 parking to boost the economy of the town for the next few years. We may then keep a few shops open and not become a huge charity shop carbuncle.

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spangler says...
8:06pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I wonder if Mainsail was a subsidiary of Lapland New Forest

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Get a grip says...
8:22pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Is the Viewing Tower busy and has the council got the rent?

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Gladys says...
8:34pm Fri 3 Aug 12

The carnival might be in trouble now:- "...Weymouth Bayside Festival was the official sponsor of this summers' Weymouth Carnival's air events..."

http://www.weymouthb
aysidefestival.co.uk
/news/article/Aerost
ars

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Merrittpr says...
8:34pm Fri 3 Aug 12

spangler wrote:
I wonder if Mainsail was a subsidiary of Lapland New Forest
Nice one Spangler, I thought that too!

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sjh789 says...
8:39pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Merrittpr wrote:
spangler wrote:
I wonder if Mainsail was a subsidiary of Lapland New Forest
Nice one Spangler, I thought that too!
Me too!!!!

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Merrittpr says...
8:41pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Perhaps we should organise a Christmas market on the Bayside site? I could get some fairy lights in, sure to attract the locals?

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sjh789 says...
8:47pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Merrittpr wrote:
Perhaps we should organise a Christmas market on the Bayside site? I could get some fairy lights in, sure to attract the locals?
I think WPBC may have some fairy lights kicking around somewhere we could use !!!!

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blobby96 says...
8:56pm Fri 3 Aug 12

max grayson at the pavillion can do more to arrange decent music acts than all the rest put toghether, he has loads of contacts in the music industry and if they weren,t tied up with paying over inflated wages on the present pavillion staff and they were payed the going rate then he alone would make the pavillion viable, though paul daniels is crap

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Billy1mate says...
9:06pm Fri 3 Aug 12

AALLEEXX wrote:
Council got too greedy and THIS is what happens. Nothing else to be said.
As far as I am aware, LOCOG set the park & ride price.

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portland rebel says...
9:07pm Fri 3 Aug 12

like everything to do with the olympics that isnt actually the event, a total f***up that we will be paying for years to come, just watch your council tax go up next year to pay for this farce.

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Is it me or is everything rubbish? says...
9:14pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I have just viewed the credit report for Mainsail Ltd and they have been in trouble for some time. Lots of liabilities, lots of debtors and limited assets.

Also, why will the Pavilion be charging people to view the acts? Does anyone at the Council learn from experience?

Also, LOCOG/ODA run the Park and Ride sites.

THE COUNCIL HAVE NO CONTROL OR INVOLVEMENT.

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Ashers 5 says...
9:27pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Need to face facts here chaps...
The whole organisation of the games in Weymouth and Portland has been a farce.Years of misery prior to and not the numbers of visitors promised.
We live,rightly or wrongly in a society where people are not willing to walk anywhere!
Those that have come from afar,the thousands and thousands of them we were told (laughable) were told to park miles away,pay extortionate parking fees which should be free as we've all already paid already via our taxes and,when they get into town,have to walk miles through town to get to their selected venue.
Really feel sorry for the organisers of the festival,I'm sure they based their bid/costings on numbers going through the turnstiles ?
If the numbers aren't going through the turnstiles then what did people expect ? That said however,why would people pay £5/£10 to go shopping and watch tribute acts?
Just for the record went down to the festival twice,wonder how many commenting actually went ? Last Sunday which was free entry with friends and Thursday £1 entry with the family,Sunday was obviously busier and Thursday fairly quiet.
For those moaning about food and dring I didn't think,for a festival,prices were too bad,£4.50/£5 for food and £3.50/£4 for a beer is cheaper the most other festivals I've been to.
Feel for the stall holders,a couple I know personally,who have lost thousands of pounds.
Lessons must be learnt and someone who,LOCOG and COUNCIL,must be made accountable for this fiasco and what it's done to the businesses and ordinary people of this town over the last few years.

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VaguelyPurple says...
9:32pm Fri 3 Aug 12

PEJ wrote:
From the beginning of summer I was intending to go to Weymouth for the Olympic festival every other day for the duration. That was until I found out there was no parking for locals at my usual park and ride by Morrisons. Ah not to worry I thought I will park in the Swannery. No such luck closed. Ah again I thought not to worry park at Bincleaves and walk the rest of the way no chance change of use no parking allowed. I am not prepared to go all the way to Monkey Jump or Kingston Maurward just to come back to Weymouth when I live in Portland. At that point I gave up as I am not prepared to pay £3.90 for just three hours as wanted to enjoy the whole day. I have suggested to the council make parking similar to Dorchester where one can park from 9am until 6pm every day except market day for £2. If you cannot alter the machines once a ticket is purchased for £3.90 allow the public to stay for that day up until midnight. I was informed that this would have to go before various committee's. To late for boosting the economy of the town. This is where the Chief Executive should do his job and over-ride the committee's and councillors and whoever needs to be informed of change. perhaps then for the last remaining days this would at least bring in the much needed locals and tourist. Perhaps the Council could consider £2 parking to boost the economy of the town for the next few years. We may then keep a few shops open and not become a huge charity shop carbuncle.
If you're coming from Portland, have you thought of getting the Bus? A Weymouth & Portland day ticket is only £4, I believe, for all day, if you wish.

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Is it me or is everything rubbish? says...
9:34pm Fri 3 Aug 12

"Lessons must be learnt and someone who,LOCOG and COUNCIL,must be made accountable for this fiasco and what it's done to the businesses and ordinary people of this town over the last few years"

If you had use of a time machine and used it to travel from January 2010 to July 2012, made notes as to what went wrong and the returned to January 2010 to warn everyone, no one would have listened.

Countless public consultations on a wide range of matters have simply paid lip service to the views of local residents- Councils, committees etc have an agenda and a plan and are very unlikely to change.

Many people mock the Government for their "u turns" but at least it shows they listen.

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thornton34ukuk says...
10:06pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Hey guys and dolls do u really think they care about what we say it's all to do with money all this will be deleted in am even Lyme Regis done a better job for the lifeboat week this is people who saves lifes and they try and get rid of the costgaurd hellocopter and for the cancel all money was put in to this because it was olympics witch even Portland don't even get pics or mentioned and it's are salling club stuiped prices to sit on your bum at the nothe the echo given bad comments on the traffic and busses witch was dam crap prices it was a complet bulls up do they really think I'm going to be my vote don't think so pmsl sorry about spelling

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thecomment says...
10:20pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Anyone else remember when we had the Weymouth Carnival and the Radio 1 Road Show on the same day - Now THAT was a busy Weymouth. It should have been twice that this weekend but sadly I fear it will be worse than ever. Shutting the car-parks and closing the roads was the single worst decision made by the awful, awful Council that have utterly ruined our town. This profiteering company was also bound to go bankrupt - they should have had some of the biggest names in the world performing not some crappy tribute bands and dodgy side shows from County fairs. If I were from outside I can guarntee I wouldn't have come into Weymouth during the Olympics - I would have done the exact same as everyone else and gone somewhere where you can park, stay for a reasonable price and watch decent entertainment for a reasonable price. The whole sorry mess is nothing but the Councils continuing failure to provide any service for the local people even though we have amongst the highest tax in the Country. I can't even imagine how the people on Portland must feel - they didn't even get a failed event!

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sue@wyke says...
10:20pm Fri 3 Aug 12

i supported the Bayside .it was superb, excellent bands acts and motown ..lack of support from locals many of whom have critised everything and have not bothered to go into town and see what has been on offer for little cost or for the children Free .yes we have as a town suffered for many months and have to tolerate that micky mouse junction (hope that is put back to a roundabout soon ) as for the seafront being closed i for one think it is about time would be good to see it closed every summer from king statue to alexander gardens .my hat goes off to all those that worked so hard to make Bayside work such a shame .

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Merrittpr says...
10:20pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Merrittpr wrote:
Perhaps we should organise a Christmas market on the Bayside site? I could get some fairy lights in, sure to attract the locals?
Hang on a minute we could be missing an opportunity here..... I've just been on the phone to Danny Boyle, he's prepared to let us have 5 gold rings at a knocked down rate. If we can get the fairy lights for free there's every chance we can put on a great light show for the Christmas market. Now all we need to do is make up some over inflated attendance figures, run it by the council, and bingo!! Reindeer burgers £5, too much?

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marypa says...
10:50pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Sue@Wyke: Well said!!

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Ashers 5 says...
11:10pm Fri 3 Aug 12

sue@wyke wrote:
i supported the Bayside .it was superb, excellent bands acts and motown ..lack of support from locals many of whom have critised everything and have not bothered to go into town and see what has been on offer for little cost or for the children Free .yes we have as a town suffered for many months and have to tolerate that micky mouse junction (hope that is put back to a roundabout soon ) as for the seafront being closed i for one think it is about time would be good to see it closed every summer from king statue to alexander gardens .my hat goes off to all those that worked so hard to make Bayside work such a shame .
Sue,I commented on a post last week and mentioned about how good it could be if the Esplanade was closed for a few weeks in the summer.
However....we have a council who whilst say they would encourage "cafe culture" make businesses take in their tables and chairs of an evening. Can you just imagine that happening in any European resort.
Oh and If and when condor return......

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marypa says...
11:17pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Article Aug 3rd 2011 From the Independent Paper

"The town, so far, has been luke-warm about hosting the Olympic Games. There are notable exceptions but local residents have been complaining bitterly about life, and dog walking, being disrupted by creating a spectator area, and attempts to screen any nearby houses from enjoying a free view."

etc etc!

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stanichardie says...
11:20pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Unfortunately bayside was not worth the money. You had to pay to get in, then pay for most things inside and alot of stalls not even open. The food did look reasonably priced compared to LOCOQ's Nothe prices. If it was free to get in, then people may have spent more freely?

On the positive side many are enjoying the free beach site and sports arena, the weather is great and the coverage of Weymouth is fantastic. The sport has been pretty good too and good luck to the sailors in the last few days.

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PEJ says...
11:21pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Comment intended for PEJ. Am I correct in thinking the last bus is around 11.15 to Portland. I am well aware I can get a bus but on many occassions wish to remain in the town spend my money and return at my leisure which could be after the last bus departs. Plus if I am shopping in the town wish to have the convenience of my car rather than heavy bags on a packed bus.

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cordless says...
11:28pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Is it me or is everything rubbish? says...
9:14pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I have just viewed the credit report for Mainsail Ltd and they have been in trouble for some time. Lots of liabilities, lots of debtors and limited assets.

Also, why will the Pavilion be charging people to view the acts? Does anyone at the Council learn from experience?

Also, LOCOG/ODA run the Park and Ride sites.

THE COUNCIL HAVE NO CONTROL OR INVOLVEMENT.”

Whats this then and at what cost to us.
Mainsail secures contract

Specialist marine event management company, Mainsail has been appointed by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, to run the Weymouth Bayside Festival. With more than twelve years event management experience, gleaned from involvement with Olympic sailing teams, America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and the World’s largest regatta, Cowes Week; Mainsail headed the 8 strong fleet of companies vying for this exciting project

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thornton34ukuk says...
11:37pm Fri 3 Aug 12

I total agree bayside was good shame about the over priced clothses stalls o well nev mind we had a wicked time at the sports arena lol I'm off to country fare and blandford steam fair the cancel have had a lod of blame and echo o my got thanks, hope u all sort it out and put a better performents on or u going to have a boycot on your hand lol

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mikejt67 says...
12:20am Sat 4 Aug 12

Ive just come back fro ma weeks holiday in Weymouth,had a lovely time and my daughter loved it, however ,who couldnt see that noone was going to pahy 310 to see Chesney Hawkes? Who was going to pay even a £1 to get in just to wander round a handful of stalls selling stuff, why wasnt it free during the day or even why wasnt it put on the road which was closed anyway so the people going to the sailing had to walk through it? Couldve built a stage on the beach maybe and made it a focal point.

All the local people and shop owners i spoke all seemed very angry about what had been going on, for the record ill be booking for another week next year, absolurtely smashing place for a family holiday and a big hand to everyone down there who made me feel so welcome, and also big thankd to the punch and judy man who was immense!!

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donearunner says...
4:07am Sat 4 Aug 12

If you charged people £50 to sit somewhere 5 miles from the velodrome to watch the cycling, then advertised it was going to be a nightmare getting there why would you be surprised if nobody turned up?.

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donearunner says...
4:24am Sat 4 Aug 12

The sailing is based in a secure site on Portland. You are not invited.

The Weymouth site is glorified busking.

The towns normal business has been sacrificed in order to ensure that the sailing event took place unhindered by visitors & locals alike. Sacrificed over 2 years to be precise.

The revenue stream for LOCOG from ticketing was never going to contribute anything to the costs of the sailing element of the games. Consequently all the planning & communications efforts were focused on ensuring fortress Portland had its communications links & could operate unhindered by the population.

Apart from the awful PR, its all worked out perfectly.

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donearunner says...
4:46am Sat 4 Aug 12

Sailing as an Olympic event should have its wings clipped.

Short course only around tight buoy patterns in smaller dinghys within sight of a suitable venue viewing point. Plymouth springs to mind.

Or, take it out of the programme. It is quite capable of continuing its development without the Olympics.

The rowing & the canoeing are perfect examples of sports which are at least as difficult to sell to the public. Impecably carried out at these games.

Sailing has done itself no favours here. It looks & feels exclusive & elitist.

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VaguelyPurple says...
7:42am Sat 4 Aug 12

Closing the roads, which everyone keeps whinging about, was the single worst thing the idiot Council did? It's about the best thing they';ve done, it's lovely without horrible polluting Cars clogging everything up and being a menace to everyone. Indeed, I think it would be a very good idea to close the esplanade to Cars (& make King Street access only) during the Summer on a regular basis. I think there was a nice atmosphere down there yesterday along the Harbour, seemed plenty of people about, and everyone seemed quite cheerful, even the Police stopped to tickle a small Dog. Do stop whining & moaning, people, if there's not so many as were expected enjoy the peace & quiet and traffic free environment.

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VaguelyPurple says...
7:45am Sat 4 Aug 12

PEJ wrote:
Comment intended for PEJ. Am I correct in thinking the last bus is around 11.15 to Portland. I am well aware I can get a bus but on many occassions wish to remain in the town spend my money and return at my leisure which could be after the last bus departs. Plus if I am shopping in the town wish to have the convenience of my car rather than heavy bags on a packed bus.
The quote from the Independent quoted above seems very appropriate; "Local residents have been complaining bitterly about life". Too darn right they do. :D

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VaguelyPurple says...
7:50am Sat 4 Aug 12

^ Sorry, I didn't mean that include the quote in the above, it wasn't directed at the person quoted.

:)

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sweetdreamgirl says...
7:51am Sat 4 Aug 12

W\ell one week of Olympics nearly done,there was me stocking up on food as I thought I`d never get into town with the hoards of people around, on Monday I thought be brave and venture in and have a look see... it was so quiet! I was stunned I wandered round all the usual shops with ease,no queues ,well only at WIlko`s and its always busy there,even chatted to the staff all of whom said business was not good. Who were those people selling balloons on the street not locals as I asked them where they were from the answer was "Birmingham" .....I was spechless which is unheard of for me, and so the local shops who were selling balloons too could not compete for price ,somethings wrong somewhere,I thought you had to have a licence to sell on the street,didn`t see one policeman the who time I was around the shops, but there were three manning a road that had been closed off up near Prince Regent Hotel ,they were pointing a group of people in the direction of the town ,phew now thats hard work.

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sweetdreamgirl says...
7:51am Sat 4 Aug 12

W\ell one week of Olympics nearly done,there was me stocking up on food as I thought I`d never get into town with the hoards of people around, on Monday I thought be brave and venture in and have a look see... it was so quiet! I was stunned I wandered round all the usual shops with ease,no queues ,well only at WIlko`s and its always busy there,even chatted to the staff all of whom said business was not good. Who were those people selling balloons on the street not locals as I asked them where they were from the answer was "Birmingham" .....I was spechless which is unheard of for me, and so the local shops who were selling balloons too could not compete for price ,somethings wrong somewhere,I thought you had to have a licence to sell on the street,didn`t see one policeman the who time I was around the shops, but there were three manning a road that had been closed off up near Prince Regent Hotel ,they were pointing a group of people in the direction of the town ,phew now thats hard work.

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islandman says...
8:09am Sat 4 Aug 12

We are not alone it seems.Something of a similar nature in London has followed the same route:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-england-lon
don-19114930

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FooWoo says...
8:57am Sat 4 Aug 12

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council wrote:
"The borough council is very disappointed for the company behind the Bayside Festival. The decision to close this single part of what is on offer in Weymouth at the moment is entirely a matter for the commercial operator of that site.

"People still have ten days to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience - the Olympics by the sea in Weymouth & Portland.

"Ben Ainslie and the most successful sailing team in Olympic history will be sailing for gold from this weekend and into next week.

"Our free live site on Weymouth's golden sands will be showing all the sailing and other Olympics action and the sports arena on the beach is getting rave reviews from people who are trying their hand at everything from rugby and kayaking to volleyball and sailing on Weymouth Beach.

"The live music and cultural events as part of the acclaimed Maritime Mix - London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea and amazing panoramic screenings in the ICCI360 Dome all continue.

"For all the information go to www.dorsetforyou.com

/sailing2012 or follow us on twitter @sailing_2012"

Enquiries about tickets and refunds should be directed to Bayside Festival organisers: www.weymouthbaysidef

estival.co.uk
You have messed up. You should never have got a company in that could do this. It would have been better to not have something there than put something there that failed.

I know lots of people who were coming to that event over the weekend and coming week. They will not be impressed and may not bother coming back to weymouth.

If you couldn't sort this out properly as a council then I would be taking a big look at what you people are paying yourselves for. From what I can see you are not worth it. Don't blame the company blame yourselves for allowing them to be there.

Well done chaps.

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Laughing gnome says...
9:31am Sat 4 Aug 12

How on earth could they have known that Mainsail would go into administration you Div ! Stop the moaning & lets get on with it. It's not the end of the world.

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VaguelyPurple says...
9:42am Sat 4 Aug 12

I wouldn't be at all surprised if people (bearing in mind that this can be seen all over the world, it's not just a local whinging board for local people), seeing all the vast catalogue of moaning, think that the whole Olympic thing altogether has been cancelled and so don't bother coming down. Heavens, it's just the funfair that's gone bust, do try to get a sense of proportion, people.

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Hardy Lass says...
9:58am Sat 4 Aug 12

The recent Lulworth Bestival was a sell out . Tickets were a lot of money. It was a super family affair, novel accommodation , superb atmosphere, and decent nosh .

A few combined that with clearing off to the sailing venues for a few hours- Who wants to stay in a grotty Weymouth B/B where there is no parking for the family 4x4?

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Hotelgirl says...
10:26am Sat 4 Aug 12

Laughing gnome wrote:
How on earth could they have known that Mainsail would go into administration you Div ! Stop the moaning & lets get on with it. It's not the end of the world.
No its not the end of the world !

But what about people who have spent hard earned money on tickets, for a family treat.

With little chance of getting that back i would think.

Don't they have a slight right to moan .

I myself have lost £60.00 , something that i can ill afford at the moment

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Hotelgirl says...
10:30am Sat 4 Aug 12

By the way has anyone heard anything about possible refunds etc yet /

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islandman says...
11:05am Sat 4 Aug 12

Wanna two week program ? no use for it now

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sjh789 says...
11:30am Sat 4 Aug 12

Hotelgirl wrote:
Laughing gnome wrote:
How on earth could they have known that Mainsail would go into administration you Div ! Stop the moaning & lets get on with it. It's not the end of the world.
No its not the end of the world !

But what about people who have spent hard earned money on tickets, for a family treat.

With little chance of getting that back i would think.

Don't they have a slight right to moan .

I myself have lost £60.00 , something that i can ill afford at the moment
I have also lost £50.00 for two planned days out over the summer as I cannot afford a holiday this year. I think I am entitled to moan just a little bit!!

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John New says...
11:31am Sat 4 Aug 12

Just seen on bbc website similar closure on one of the London sites, again due to LOCOG getting footfall figures totally wrong for a trading site

I guess some of these errors in crowd estimate projections go right back to the original bid document and from then on were fait accompli .

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pd7 says...
11:50am Sat 4 Aug 12

Could this be a repeat of the xmas wonderland from a few years ago ?

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ETV says...
12:57pm Sat 4 Aug 12

VaguelyPurple wrote:
I wouldn't be at all surprised if people (bearing in mind that this can be seen all over the world, it's not just a local whinging board for local people), seeing all the vast catalogue of moaning, think that the whole Olympic thing altogether has been cancelled and so don't bother coming down. Heavens, it's just the funfair that's gone bust, do try to get a sense of proportion, people.
Hardly fair of you to blame disgruntled locals for the lack of footfall.
.
The reason the turn out is so poor is because the Olympic fortnight was hyped up so much that people have decided to stay away.
.
Bayside would have had more chance of success if they'd run it during a normal (non Olympic) July/August when the town is (usually) packed with holiday makers.

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Desk24 says...
5:22pm Sat 4 Aug 12

Its only rock and roll.

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stanichardie says...
7:26pm Sat 4 Aug 12

For those who bought by credit card you may be entitled to a full refund. Contact your credit card company. Section 75 I think it is. I used it a couple of years ago and got a full refund. The sum of money was much greater, but the credit card company paid up with no quibbles and did not even chase the company I bought the goods from as they also went bust.

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Jello Biafra says...
9:30am Sun 5 Aug 12

It's back on

They've just hired one of the UK's finest Tribute Crowds

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rjimmer says...
10:55am Sun 5 Aug 12

Let's face it, when the prices were set for attending Olympic events, locals were not the target. W&PBC are not interested in local people when prices are set for amenities within their monopolistic area. Just look at how locals have been priced out of having a boat moored in the harbour.

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PEJ says...
12:01pm Sun 5 Aug 12

I have just read the comments from Councillor Ian Bruce and I quote if people are that desperate I will go down there and sing to them myself. What an arrogant statement when people have paid good money to be entertained. In my opinion Mr Bruce you have shown a total disdain for the locals and tourists and you are brief holder for Tourism and culture. I now wonder how much of a part you had in the organisation of the Olympics in Weymouth and Portland. This to me says it all for the future of our town.

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ianplambert says...
3:07pm Sun 5 Aug 12

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council wrote:
"The borough council is very disappointed for the company behind the Bayside Festival. The decision to close this single part of what is on offer in Weymouth at the moment is entirely a matter for the commercial operator of that site.

"People still have ten days to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience - the Olympics by the sea in Weymouth & Portland.

"Ben Ainslie and the most successful sailing team in Olympic history will be sailing for gold from this weekend and into next week.

"Our free live site on Weymouth's golden sands will be showing all the sailing and other Olympics action and the sports arena on the beach is getting rave reviews from people who are trying their hand at everything from rugby and kayaking to volleyball and sailing on Weymouth Beach.

"The live music and cultural events as part of the acclaimed Maritime Mix - London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea and amazing panoramic screenings in the ICCI360 Dome all continue.

"For all the information go to www.dorsetforyou.com

/sailing2012 or follow us on twitter @sailing_2012"

Enquiries about tickets and refunds should be directed to Bayside Festival organisers: www.weymouthbaysidef

estival.co.uk
What kind of compensation scheme do you have in place for those businesses that have lost money becaus of how you have handled this event.

Is it true in the bid you told central government Weymouth could handle 500,000 visitors?

Was this ruse just to get the funding for the spending spree?

Who are the people responsible and what is going to happen?

Will those responsible for this fiasco be made to take full responsibility?

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weymouthfox says...
6:50pm Sun 5 Aug 12

"I have just read the comments from Councillor Ian Bruce and I quote if people are that desperate I will go down there and sing to them myself. What an arrogant statement when people have paid good money to be entertained. In my opinion Mr Bruce you have shown a total disdain for the locals and tourists and you are brief holder for Tourism and culture. I now wonder how much of a part you had in the organisation of the Olympics in Weymouth and Portland. This to me says it all for the future of our town.”

Ian Bruce is another incompetent to add to the list of council incompetents. Next years mayoress Julie Storey will find it difficult after managing the Mainsail site. There must be some people out there who are not incompetent?

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thecomment says...
12:20pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Laughing gnome wrote:
How on earth could they have known that Mainsail would go into administration you Div ! Stop the moaning & lets get on with it. It's not the end of the world.
Have you seen their credit report? Have you seen their finances? They're all posted online. It took me about 3 mins to get it all for free. Anyone with a brain-stem would have know they were going into administration if the numbers were low - this was all of their eggs in a basket that no-one wanted.

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Rockgod says...
1:01pm Mon 6 Aug 12

I cannot believe the comments from Ian Bruce. He has shown utter contempt for the council tax payers of this borough and he perports to be the Tourism officer! What a complete buffoon! I've never trusted him since he was the Tory MP for this area and he didn't vote against the closure of the Naval dockyard, and it was in his constituency! He voted with the government and his one vote probably wouldn't have made any difference but at least he would have supported local jobs in his constituency. I am mystified at to what he and his wife believe they have to offer the local populace. Please go away Mr Bruce, we don't need you.

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