The annual Reading Festival arrives in the town this week and the leader of Reading Borough Council has written to residents and visitors with practical advice on travel, safety and how the council is supporting the event.
Plan journeys and avoid Richfield Avenue
In her letter, the council leader stresses that local people should allow extra time for travel, particularly on Thursday – when the bulk of festivalgoers arrive – and on the Bank Holiday Monday morning, when many leave. Residents are urged to avoid straying near Richfield Avenue and surrounding roads during peak arrival and departure times.
The council plays an active role in delivering the festival, coordinating traffic management, travel arrangements and parking restrictions to try to limit disruption for local communities and emergency services. It also maintains oversight of other operational areas that affect those living nearby.
Welfare provision and looking out for each other
The letter highlights the importance of personal safety for many who will be attending a major music event for the first time. The council says it will work with festival organisers to ensure additional welfare support is available across the site.
- AIR Hubs (Assistance, Information & Response) will operate across campsites and the arena, providing a 24-hour facility above and beyond security and stewarding.
- Festival staff and local charities will help run AIR Hubs and signposting will be included on the official festival map and app.
- Attendees are advised to save or screenshot the festival map on arrival to find AIR Hub locations and other key points.
"A music festival can be a pretty frightening place if you are feeling unsure, unwell, or unsafe, so a key message this year is asking groups of friends and young festival-goers to look out for each other."
Public health, food safety and noise
The council will be active in routine enforcement and monitoring roles during the event. Measures listed in the leader’s letter include checks on authorised taxis, food safety inspections and monitoring of noise levels to ensure statutory limits and local conditions are observed.
These roles are intended to protect residents’ day-to-day lives while enabling the festival to run. The council emphasises that these functions complement the festival’s own security and stewarding arrangements rather than replacing them.
Wildfire risk and camping rules
With a long, hot and dry summer heightening the risk of wildfires, the council reiterates existing rules for campers. Disposable barbecues and campfires are not permitted on site. This is to reduce the risk of accidental fires in camping areas and to protect both festivalgoers and neighbouring homes and green spaces.
| Council activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Traffic management | Reduce congestion and ensure emergency access |
| Parking restrictions | Prevent local disruption and unsafe parking |
| Food and taxi checks | Protect public health and consumer safety |
| Noise monitoring | Limit disturbance to nearby residents |
The council’s message is both practical and community-minded: enjoy the festival, but be mindful of how it affects others. For residents who live close to the site, the emphasis is on planning journeys around the busiest times and reporting any issues through the usual council channels.
For festivalgoers, the letter underlines taking simple precautions: stick with friends, know where welfare points are, and follow the event rules on open flames. These measures, the council says, are designed to keep both visitors and local communities safe while the festival is in town.
