Camp Bestival is returning to Lulworth Castle this coming weekend, (30 & 31 July and 1 August) after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.
Organisers of the popular festival have been working with Dorset Council’s Safety Advisory Group, including partners from Public Health Dorset and Dorset Police, to ensure the event is as safe as possible for festival goers and a traffic management plan will be in place around Lulworth for the duration of the event.
Stringent health and safety measures are in place to ensure the safety of attendees, staff and performers which goes beyond what is expected of organisers since the lifting of COVID restrictions on 19 July.
All ticket holders aged 11 and over (under 11s are exempt) will need to demonstrate their COVID-19 Status before entering through the Camp Bestival gates by providing either:
Proof of full vaccination – both doses received (with the second at least 14 days prior to the festival) OR
Proof of a negative NHS Lateral Flow Test taken prior to travel on the day of arrival at the festival OR
Proof of natural immunity based upon a positive PCR test within 180 days of the festival (including 10 days self-isolation following the result).
11-15 year olds will need to take a lateral flow test if they have no proof of natural immunity as above.
Cllr Laura Miller, Portfolio Holder at Dorset Council for Adult Social Care and Health, and Ward Member for Lulworth said:
“We’re really pleased to able to welcome this popular festival back to Dorset and we hope it’s a success. We’ve been working with the organisers for many months to make sure it is safe and we’re confident that all the proper processes are in place to allow the event to go ahead. The traffic management plan is robust and takes account of resident and visitor access as usual.”
Added to the COVID safety measures, there is a traffic management plan in place which will be active from midnight on Monday 26 July until midnight on Monday 2 August, allowing ticket holders, staff and performing artists to access the Castle grounds safely. See the traffic management plan here.
There will be a one-way system in place on the A and some of the B roads surrounding Lulworth Castle. Residents and people wishing to visit the area are advised that if they are not planning on being at the festival, make sure you are aware of the traffic plan, so your journey is not affected. Delays are to be expected.
There will be warning signs along the diversions and on digital road-side signs on the A35 at Bere Regis and Bakers Arms roundabout, on the A352 at Wareham and on the approaches to the one-way system. Dorset Council and Dorset Police will be raising awareness of the event through social media.
James Offer, Purbeck Neighbourhood Inspector at Dorset Police said:
“The return of Camp Bestival to Lulworth is the culmination of almost 2 years of work by the organisers, Dorset Council and partners. The organisers have been keen to work with us and have instituted a number of measures that will hopefully reduce any impact felt by the local community. Dorset Police officers will be on site to provide reassurance and deal with any problems.”
A Camp Bestival spokesperson said:
“The Camp Bestival team is very excited to be back in the Lulworth Estate’s spacious fields, preparing for our long-awaited movie-themed event. We’d like to extend our thanks to Dorset Council’s Safety Advisory Group, Public Health Dorset and Dorset Police who have worked with us over the past two years to ensure that the festival runs as safely and smoothly as possible.”
