A green tariff could be introduced on Isle of Wight Festival tickets.
It comes as part of the terms agreed in a new five-year land-hire deal with the Isle of Wight Council for staging at Seaclose Park, the home of the event.
As part of the renegotiated terms, organisers will pay £86,700 a year for the use of Seaclose Park and North Fairlee Farm sites, subject to an annual uplift in line with the Consumer Price Index.
Speaking at the council’s cabinet last night (Thursday), Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, leader of the council, said after the original agreement ran out in 2019, negotiations were taking place just weeks before the start of the festival so it was not a good way to operate.
She said through the negotiations, she was meticulous on the detail so the Island got a better deal than before.
What was really exciting about the agreement, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox said, was a tariff-based green fund for Island biosphere projects.
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for the environment, said there was talk of the tariff being 50p to a £1 on ticket price or car parking ticket for those attending via non-sustainable modes of transport.
He said it was a valuable and exciting potential for the Island and the festival as promoters, Live Nation were looking to reduce the carbon footprint of the event.
Cllr Bacon hoped it would be another selling point of the iconic festival and thought it could help the festival move to becoming the ‘greenest’ one in the country, and make it a more attractive event for people.
The funds from the levy would go towards local initiatives like Mission Zero projects but the final details would be subject to further negotiations.
The agreement was not supported by all councillors, as deputy leader Ian Stephens, felt more could have been given by the festival to help the authority in the tough times.
Cllr Stephens said he did not like the five-year deal and while it might save officers’ time, it did not safeguard the financial viability of this area for the event.
The contract also provided a mechanism for relocating the festival should the development of Newport Harbour take place up to 2027.
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