AP was in charge of safety and stewarding throughout entire site for both events. The site featured three stages with a 'Golden Circle' in front of the main stage for Madstock and two stages (but no Golden Circle) for Lovebox. Both also featured the usual array of concessions stands, alternative entertainment and sponsored areas.
"The planning started, as usual, many months in advance," says Chris Hollands, AP's southern operations manager, who managed the planning and operation at the events.
"There is always a great deal of liaison with the relevant bodies - licensing authority, festival organisers and police. We draw up comprehensive crowd management plans and also did a number of site visits because, although we regularly work at Victoria Park and have done Lovebox for several years, this was the first time that Madstock had taken place there.
"The key, as always, was to ensure we had the right people in the right places, ensuring everyone was fully briefed, emergency procedures in place and being able to quickly and effectively re-deploy staff as required."
(Jim Evans)
