Two new sites shortlisted for 2013 Galtres Festival

9:12am Friday 18th January 2013 in News

The Galtres Festival is set to move from its base at Crayke, near Easingwold The Galtres Festival is set to move from its base at Crayke, near Easingwold

ORGANISERS of a family festival staged every summer near York have narrowed their search for a new home to two possible sites.

Galtres Festival is set to move from its Crayke base due to its growing popularity and because the surrounding countryside at the site has led to parking issues in wet weather.

The shortlist for the 2013 festival location has now been cut to Rawcliffe Country Park, York, and Folly Wood at Huby, which is privately-owned by a family connected to the event. Festival director James Houston said talks were being held with local residents before licensing applications are submitted.

He said: “The festival has moved five times in the last eight years. It is not static and we like moving it around to keep it fresh and it is also naturally growing, so a site with larger audience potential would be welcome.

“However, the main reason for moving from Crayke is that although the main festival arena is grassy and lovely, the surrounding fields are arable. Stubble is burned at the end of August, when the festival is held, and the land becomes marshy when it rains, so we’re looking for a site which is more suitable for parking.”

Mr Houston said the Crayke site also did not have internal access for production vehicles, which had to drive through the main arena. He said Folly Wood had potential to stage a “magical woodland festival” which would be “beautiful” at night, while Rawcliffe Country Park, next to a Park&Ride site, would be “ideal in practical terms” and allow closer links with York-based artists.

“It’s an exciting time for us, but first we’re talking to community groups and parish councils to see what they think about our plans, and we’re committed to minimising the impact of the event as far as is possible,” he said.

“Both sites present challenges as they have residents and wildlife in fairly close proximity, so we need to show sensitivity in our planning. It’s a community event and we want to be welcomed back.”

Gill Cooper, City of York Council’s head of arts, culture and heritage, said Galtres was “an excellent festival” and the authority – which owns Rawcliffe Country Park – was interested in the possibility of bringing it to York, saying it would discuss the idea with organisers.

Comments(20)

Woody G Mellor says...
9:55am Fri 18 Jan 13

Excellent festival. Hope it's Rawcliffe.

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speaks99 says...
10:05am Fri 18 Jan 13

Woody G Mellor wrote:
Excellent festival. Hope it's Rawcliffe.
I agree with you there. Fantastic festival, though last year I struggled with it raining almost continuously throughout...

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Davies86 says...
10:44am Fri 18 Jan 13

I've been the last 3 years, and every year (despite the weather) it has been fantastic. One of the best festivals i've been to and right on our doorstep. Hope they sort the new site soon and hopefully some headliners too (hoping for Shed Seven!!).

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Richard Andrew Foster says...
10:49am Fri 18 Jan 13

Wherever the organisers decide to hold it this year, everyone can be assured that Galtres will be safe, respectful, and most importantly - fun!

They do so much to promote local bands, food and drink, and did I mention it's fun?

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Stage Duke says...
1:06pm Fri 18 Jan 13

A fantastic opportunity for the City Council to embrace, assist and promote a festival which is an absolute credit to it's organisers, particularly James Houston at whichever site is chosen. It is recognised as one of THE small festivals in the UK - well run and aimed at families. A magical weekend.

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markymmark says...
2:04pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Great Festival but it's not even a pleasure to walk your dog through Folly Wood since it was aquired by its present owner...............
.Rawcliffe PLEASE!!!!!

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jamesh8827 says...
6:15pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Folly Wood is private property. Dog walkers are welcomed by the owner provided they and their dogs keep to the public footpath. Sadly some dog owners think the woods are a toilet for their dogs. And some of the wildlife in there doesn't get on with dogs.

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Ageing Hippy says...
10:29pm Fri 18 Jan 13

markymmark wrote:
Great Festival but it's not even a pleasure to walk your dog through Folly Wood since it was aquired by its present owner...............

.Rawcliffe PLEASE!!!!!
I have to agree, Folly Wood used to be a pleasure to walk through but the present owner has cleared trees indiscriminately and piled up tree roots and left it looking like ground zero, good luck festival goers, if its held there you will need it!

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south bronx red 2 says...
11:23pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Here's a revolutionary idea.
There's a massive space called the Knavesmire.
Maybe it'll reduce the entrance fee and make it more accessable to all.

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Mark Brayshaw says...
11:49pm Fri 18 Jan 13

south bronx red 2 wrote:
Here's a revolutionary idea.
There's a massive space called the Knavesmire.
Maybe it'll reduce the entrance fee and make it more accessable to all.
By 'the Knavesmire' I presume you actually mean soulless Bustardthorpe as that is the licensed event space; therefore a good analogy for your 'revolutionary idea' would be to say you can go to Bora Bora beach but there's loads more sand in the Sahara.

Rawcliffe Country Park is actually capable of accommodating many more attendees than Bustardthorpe and is equidistant from York Minster. The transport links to RCP are far superior so I would call into question your 'accessible to all' statement.

By any measure, RCP is the best event space in York. Kaboom proved that point last November but by all means don't let facts obscure your twisted perceptions

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Woody G Mellor says...
12:04am Sat 19 Jan 13

Mark Brayshaw wrote:
south bronx red 2 wrote:
Here's a revolutionary idea.
There's a massive space called the Knavesmire.
Maybe it'll reduce the entrance fee and make it more accessable to all.
By 'the Knavesmire' I presume you actually mean soulless Bustardthorpe as that is the licensed event space; therefore a good analogy for your 'revolutionary idea' would be to say you can go to Bora Bora beach but there's loads more sand in the Sahara.

Rawcliffe Country Park is actually capable of accommodating many more attendees than Bustardthorpe and is equidistant from York Minster. The transport links to RCP are far superior so I would call into question your 'accessible to all' statement.

By any measure, RCP is the best event space in York. Kaboom proved that point last November but by all means don't let facts obscure your twisted perceptions
Bit of a nasty reply Mr Bradshaw!.

south bronx red 2 was only making a suggestion.

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Mark Brayshaw says...
12:28am Sat 19 Jan 13

Hey Woody, I'm not being nasty.

Do you really only see an innocent suggestion in the comment from South Bronx Red 2?

Maybe twisted perception was a bit harsh but I truly believe RCP is the best event space in York and if people think that 'the Knavesmire' is better in any way then they are deluded and my guess is that they have either never been to RCP or perhaps it's a way of hiding NIMBY-ism

Given that I am one of the few who use my own name to comment on this forum, I will forgive you the typo.

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PatPat says...
8:34pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Why I wonder has James Houston stated publicly that the 1000 car parking spaces which are available attracted him to the site? Everyone knows it is a functioning Park and Ride which is for tourists and others getting in and out if York and is therefore used by day and cannot provide , especially during the busy Bank Holiday weekend , a 3 day and night permanent free car park for festival goers intending to camp on the park?

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jamesh8827 says...
8:38pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Good car parking arrangements are of course attractive to a festival organiser. Our information about Rawcliffe P&R, which led us to investigate the opportunity to use the adjacent park, was that no more than 250 of the 1000+ spaces were used last August bank holiday - so naturally we are interested in using the vacant spaces for festival parking. We have other parking space in mind also, and will ensure that our plans enable sufficient parking, without affecting the P&R service.

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PatPat says...
8:40pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Why I wonder has James Houston stated publicly that the 1000 car parking spaces which are available attracted him to the site? Everyone knows it is a functioning Park and Ride which is for tourists and others getting in and out if York and is therefore used by day and cannot provide , especially during the busy Bank Holiday weekend , a 3 day and night permanent free car park for festival goers intending to camp on the park?

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jamesh8827 says...
8:44pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Er, you already posted that, and got a reply ...

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PatPat says...
8:58pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Oops touch phones with small keys are a bit sensitive....but who gave you the data as locals tell me they had to queue for the buses?
Where else might you be putting permanent three day and night parking then during the Bank Holiday weekend? Clearly a big issue for any festival organiser.

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jamesh8827 says...
9:24pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Locals may have queued for buses, but that doesn't mean the car parks were full - many locals would walk from their home the P&R bus stop. We counted the cars ourselves several time over the weekend because we we were told the P&R operator does not register or record this data.
Our plans are evolving as we prepare the licence application. We respectfully suggest that you take the trouble to consider them when they are submitted before jumping to conclusions or prematurely adopting a position of opposition.

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PatPat says...
9:51pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Er, if you counted them last year then surely by now you know where else you will be expecting families to park before they buy tickets
I would respectfully suggest that my query is a clear unambiguous question that can be answered so I see no conclusion that I am jumping too.
Who told you then that the operator doesn't register or record these figures? Did you ask the operator or manager of the site in the office?

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NatWard says...
7:45pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Had an excellent time last year and looking forward to this year! Anyone who hasn't been yet, I very much recommend!

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