Bosses at Boomtown Festival have today issued a huge safety warning to those attending after the UK has been hit with an extremely rare amber ‘extreme heat’ warning
Boomtown Festival bosses have shared a warning amid the UK heatwave. The annual music and theatre event, also called Boomtown Fair, is a five-day event on the Matterley Estate near Winchester, Hampshire. It starts today and runs until Sunday.
Rare amber “extreme heat” warnings have been issued by the forecaster for London and parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday.
The Met Office predicts that temperatures could reach as high as 38°C on Thursday. Those attending Boomtown have been warned to be extra cautious due to the hot weather and dry grasslands, which could pose a fire risk.
Disposable barbecues, open flames and camping stoves are prohibited at Boomtown, while smoking is also banned in the car parks. This year, Kneecap, Scissor Sisters and Madness will headline the festival.
While the likes of Skrillex, Faithless, Scooter, Shagy, Eve, DJ EZ, Shy FX, Skindred, Songer and Less Than Jake will also be taking to the stages. Taking to Facebook, bosses said in a statement: “The site is dry grassland, and the consequences are serious.”
Those who smoke are encouraged to use pocket ashtrays, which can be collected from information and welfare points throughout the festival site. Across campsites, hot water urns will also be provided as an alternative to using stoves.
Drivers, meanwhile, have been instructed not to leave engines idling in car parks or while queuing to access them. Their full statement said: “Dry conditions mean there will be dust, especially near roads and high-traffic areas.
“Our teams will be actively working to manage the conditions, but it’s important to bring a face mask or face covering for protection. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. If asthmatic, keep your inhaler on you at all times.
“Hot weather is forecast for Boomtown this year, and as it is dry grassland, there is risk of fire. For this reason, you exercise caution and take responsibility for preventing a fire.”
Those in attendance have also been limited in how much alcohol they can bring into the festival. This includes 16 x 440ml cans of lager/cider/beer, or 18 x 250ml cans of pre-mixed spirits, or a 3-litre box of wine, or 7 litres of cider/lager/beer in a sealed plastic bottle or can.
Following the recent warmer weather, Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday in response to extreme heat, which has caused widespread wildfires and plunged many parts of the country into drought.
The PM will meet with ministers, officials and agencies as high temperatures continue across the UK on Wednesday afternoon, with 33C forecast and up to 38C on Thursday.
Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Home Office, and Department for Health will attend. The Environment Agency will also be present.
It will be the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves, following one held amid high temperatures in June. A Downing Street spokesperson said the Government understood firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing challenges connected to the weather.
On Tuesday, a firefighter union chief warned the country faces a “national emergency” amid ongoing wildfires. The Met Office said the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record, as parts of the country face their fifth heatwave this summer.
Mr Burnham has also stated he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues due to the risk of further wildfires.
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