Remote Island

In the County Press this week, we were given a break from the usual drivel of Charlotte Hofton by the self-styled, red squirrel teaser that is Alex Dyke, an Isle of Wight Radio DJ. One of his side bar snippets contained a quick article referencing the Isle of Wight Festival and the ‘Freeloaders’ who gather the other side of the River Medina to listen to the Festival.

It appears the rumours may be true and the Isle of Wight Council are proposing to close down the public right of way by the river over the festival period. This means the Freeloaders won’t be setting up camp and allegedly trashing the place as Alex describes it. I was planning to pop down to the river this year as I hadn’t bothered to get a ticket for 2008. The atmosphere down by the river is relaxed and cheerful and I think it’s great for families too – last year in Seaclose Park I had to explain to my teenage daughter what the guy in front of us was sticking up his nose just before Muse played their set.

Alex stated that Council Tax payers’ money is used to tidy up the desecration caused by the Freeloaders. I find that a little hard to believe, the site down by the river on the Monday following the weekend Festival was clear – most people tidy up after them and there were a number of people making the site tidy and restoring it to it’s former glory as the following photo proves.

As for Freeloaders, I wonder if Alex forked out from his own pocket for his ticket this year.