Love Parade farce..a sad sad day for the North East

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I realise this will fly over the head of many, if not most, on this board but you should listen because today is a very sad day for anyone who loves the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

For the first time in my life I feel acute embarrassment being associated with my hometown. The cancellation of the Love Parade will have a devastating effect on this city's reputation around the world and will filter right through to everything such as jobs and even NUFC will be affected.

The young people of this country are at this moment either livid or laughing their bollocks of at us. In their eyes Newcastle is associated with failure..(something our useless football club has done little to countenance).. and if you dont believe me go and take a look at the Radio 1 website.

Some of you may actually be pleased with today's news but you should think again. The future of any city is in the hands of its young people..and the young people of Newcastle and the North East have delivered suffered a devastating blow..and right now the rest of the country's youngsters are looking at us with disbelief.

Heads at the council must roll for this and what it goes to show is how desperate this region is to be made of marginal constituencies instead of being dominated by a corrupt, bungling Labour run authority which has no threat to its power.

This region is great not because of the likes of Newcastle city council but DESPITE them. Heaven knows what we could achieve without them.

This day will stay with me for as long as I live. I swear to God I will NEVER vote for Labour in this region again.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Answers

Has it deffo been cancelled? This is apalling, the council holds back the city, just look around and we see every deveolpment is held back or cocked up by council interference (just look at NUFC's home). The Quayside is the one successful planned development, not surprisingly, the council were spitting feathers at not being involved.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

It's definitely off. Radio 1 are morose about it at the mo. I am almost in tears thinking what might have been. I'll repeat it - I am ashamed of my city right now and I dont give a fuck what anyone on this board thinks about that. This disaster will effect the region for at least a decade, and the council's bid for European city of culture? Dont make me laugh. I hope those cunts in the council suffer badly for this..hopefully someone will put a contract out on the bastards.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Looks like the Council have cocked up - here's the Radio One notice :-

'On Friday Radio 1 set Newcastle City Council a deadline of 6.00pm Saturday to resolve the outstanding issues required by the City's Police necessary to stage Love Parade 2001. That deadline has now expired and Newcastle City Council have failed to meet the conditions of the Entertainment Licence for Love Parade 2001 in the time remaining to stage a safe event. The Police have turned down revised plans from Newcastle City Council. Therefore the event will not go ahead.

Radio 1 Controller Andy Parfitt said: "On behalf of the dance music community and dance music fans, particularly all those in the North East that have shown us so much support during the past 24 hours I express my sadness. Although I recognise that extraordinary efforts have been made by the Council, I am still very disappointed that they have failed to meet their obligations under the licence at this late stage. Radio 1 have been working on this event for more than 6 months and have met or exceeded all the requirements placed on us to stage an exciting and safe event. I pay tribute to the Live Events team at Radio 1 and our event organisers SFX who have worked flat out on meticulous preparations. I am very sorry that Love Parade cannot take place."

Radio 1 are now in urgent talks with national and local clubs and DJs to see whether, in the time remaining, a programme of smaller indoor events can be mounted in the city.

Andy Parfitt added ; "We are going to pull out all the stops to offer something to keep faith with our audience in the North East. Love Parade may be dead on the streets of Newcastle but we will make every effort to keep its spirit alive on our airwaves and in local clubs and arenas." '

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Hmmmm city of culture indeed, it sounds like the council can shell out for free accomodation for teenage mothers who too bone idle to get a job & too thick to have heard of abortion yet cannot sanction something that will promote the cities image.

The city has relied on some inbred yank telling us that the city was a great party city 20 years ago. You can go out til the ealy hours in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool even bloody Derby & Sheffield yet in party town Newcastle you have to be home by 11.30 or dance til 2.

The council should get a grip, move with the times. It's no coincidence that we have the highest unemployment.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


I agree with you Dave but dont tempt me to get fully involved in a debate about it. At the moment I'm just too depressed to think straight. Your right though..the city is largely run on hype, and that includes NUFC, and we are the mugs who believe it. What a shambles.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


I most sincerely hope I'm wrong, but this could be a storm waiting to explode. There appears to be something of a groundswell building to turn up anyway and extract some kind of retribution.
With 35,000 also at SJP the same night, the Police now could really have their work out.
The following are typical of many similar posts on the Radio1 website:

"6 months of hype, 6 months of pure build up and what happens? a week beforehand it's called off, as a geordie all I call say is I hope the thousands travelling down here stop by the civic centre (from the moor, opposite the uni, just b4 you go into town) and express themselves clearly as to how they feel about the cancelation of the LP."

Neil Barton - 14 Jul 2001 20:56 - (2nd post)
"do the words PI$$ UP and brewery mean anything to any one!"

Trubester - 14 Jul 2001 20:56 - 1st post
"GUTTED!!! NUFF SAID C U all at the town moor 1 P.M. then??? "

Gutted but......... Adam Boros - 14 Jul 2001 20:53 - 2nd post
"I'll still be coming up to Newcastle. Me and 3 mates have got train tickets and after party tickets and its too late to cancel now. Radio 1 and Newcastle City council - you are like my arse!! See you all on the moor."

Utter Carnage Debbie - 14 Jul 2001 20:52 - 1st post
"In the words of my mate Dave...... Instead of organised chaos, there's now going to be UTTER CARNAGE!"

[no title] Imp - 14 Jul 2001 20:26 - 9th post
"BBC news24. Get you lot on overtime in newcastle. BOY is there gonna be a story next weekend!"

NEWS 24!!!! CHRIS MOYALE'S - 14 Jul 2001 20:29 - 7th post
"LET'S GO !!!!!! GIVE THE PEOPLE OF NEWCASTLE A GOOD TIME >>> WOT WE DO DOWN SOUTH !!! GIVE THE POLICE SOME THING TO DO !!! WICKED !!!!!!!! IF U AGREE REPLIE TO THIS !!! C U CLUBBERS ON SATURDAY !!!! ".

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Ananova...and I agree, while I'm sure there's two sides to this story, shame on our city:

Love Parade called off

The BBC Radio1 UK Love Parade dance festival scheduled for next Saturday has been cancelled amid fears over public safety and transport arrangements.

The announcement came at the end of crisis talks between the radio station and Newcastle City Council over an entertainment licence for the event.

The council has been unable to satisfy Northumbria Police about various issues, including transport arrangements, and has had to abandon its hopes of staging the showpiece festival.

The largest free music and dance festival in Europe would have attracted up to 250,000 revellers to Newcastle and an estimated £15 million to the local economy.

Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police and BBC Radio1 representatives had been locked in talks since Friday in a bid to save the festival.

BBC Radio1 controller Andy Parfitt said: "On behalf of the dance and music community and dance music fans, particularly all those in the North East that have shown us so much support during the past 24 hours, I express my sadness.

"We are going to pull out all the stops to offer something to keep faith with our audience in the North East.

"Love Parade may be dead on the streets of Newcastle but we will make every effort to keep its spirit alive on our airwaves and in local clubs and arenas."

Newcastle City Council said it had been unable to guarantee public safety at the festival despite "working around the clock" with police to find a solution.

Story filed: 20:36 Saturday 14th July 2001

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Where did you get this from Clarky?

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

& where did I get this italics thingy?

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Clarky..you are right to be worried.

And I tell you what, I hope there is a reaction to this. The way I feel at the mo I will be the there to put the first brick through the civic centre window.

Over emotive? Perhaps, but if you are relatively young or young at heart you will know how serious this is. I'm not kidding you. Whatever reputation this city had is now in tatters.

I'm praying for a revolution next weekend. Its what this miserable country needs. Maybe us geordies can be part of something special after all...

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001



There's a place on the Radio One site to leave comments.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

...suddenly the italics have gone....is this the start of Love Parade's revenge?

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

DaveleF,
I got the quotes from the Radio 1 web-site (www.bbc.co.uk/Radio1). They have a Love Parade link with a message board.
The italics thing is just an itch I needed to scratch! I just like to use it for direct quotes.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

I know why you had them but I cought them off you & then lost them again. Time to go out now but as someone continuously dismayed about the city council I'm going to bore the pants off people tonight. Christ knows what would happen if we had a regional assembly.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

I'm in Manchester and it took an IRA bomb to sort the council out here - now its pumping loads of effort into tarting up the city for the Commomwealth Games next year - they should be special.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Don't get me started on the bloody Regional Assembly Dave!
Double the local government: triple the cost: quadruple the cock-ups.
Guaranteed.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

As Benton said, there's more than one side to the story and we haven't heard them all. What surprises me (well, OK, not really) is how far this was allowed to go before it got pulled.

This is no the first Love Parade to be held. My lad went to the one in Leeds last year but I dunno if there have been others before that so the expect volumes of young folk it would attract is no surprise. In order for Radio 1 to progress so far with there plans, surely they must have had some agreement from the council? A lot of money will already have been spent, not only by the Beeb but also by many clubs and organisations in and around Newcastle.

Irrespective of what you think about the Love Parade, the fact that it has been pulled at such a late stage is indeed a bad thing for the region. Many of those who would have attended (still might) are students, and despite what we might think of them as a group, many are the businessmen and women of the future. I know from my own days as a student that things like this stick in the mind for a long time, whether rationally thought through or not. So, I suspect that not only will the estimated £15M revenue to the area be lost, but so too might many opportunities for the region in future.

If holding the Love Parade in Newcastle was a bad thing, then that should have been decided long, long ago. To have let it progress so far and pull it at the last minute is a cock up of immense proportions.

Sad to say, but I'm glad I'm not going to be in Toon next Saturday for the match - I fear there might well me an ugly reaction. I hope I'm wromg.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Thank god for that! Bloody dance music is shite anyhow. Most people think that we are backward anyway and this will just back up the arguement.Although i have stated that i do not like dance music it probably is a shame. What odds would you get on a lesbian/gay or any other minority group being cancelled i wonder? (cue homophobic comments!!!!) What we have got to realise is that governments ,both local and national are not run for us,the majority, we merely pay for it to pander to the minorities. sad but true. Obviously if it has a bad effect on nufc then its not all bad;-) Not to sure that i agree with your "this region is great "comments though. Maybe this has underlined the fact that it is not so great after all!

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Wanna know what the rest of the country thinks of Newcastle tonight? Well here is your answer..roll on next week thats all I can say. Gary Wand - 14 Jul 2001 23:43 - 1st post Not being able to get to Ibiza this year the one big party i was looking forward to has been canceled. Thanks loads NCC, you really know how to go about ruining a fantastic event, with spectacular style. Lets face it, its only 25,000 people you have let down and its only a week before the event, and all cause you couldn't organise your buses properly. Never mind though, maybe the drinking session at the local brewery you are organising will be a roaring succes. Then again maybe it won't. re: Annoyed or What STEVEN PRINCE - 14 Jul 2001 20:09 - 1st post HI DJPRINCY HERE I AM SO UPSET ABOUT THIS I HAVE JUST LOST MY MUNNY TO GET UP THERE NOW ALL MY ARENGEMENTS ARE MEST UP YOU KNOW IF THEY PUT SOME THING ELSE ON YOU KNOW YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GO TO IT I THINK THEY SHOULD LET THAT BE FREE re: S M A S H E D!!!!!!! Kat Alleyne - 14 Jul 2001 23:41 - 1st post Like all you dance fans out there i too am totally G U T T E ED!! i went to Leeds for the UK's 1st LP last year and had such an amazing time! So i've bin waitin all yr 4 the nxt 1 especially since i knew i'd B old enough to get into the clubs 4 the after party.Me and 7 of my mates had booked hotel rooms months in advance, bought train tickets since we're from the west midlands and decided to make it a long weekend since the sunday is mine & my friends sis' birthday and basically been on such a high looking forward to such a big event, only to find that our months of planning and saving of money was a COMPLETE WASTE!!! How can the police of newcastle city justify their actions? If WE the public have known about the Love parade so have THEY! and it should have been their duty to organise safe traffic control and security!!! Leaving something like that to the last minute which is what it seems like, and then just cancelling the event is PATHETIC!! Its IRRESPONSIBLE and i don't know how they can sleep at night knowing they've let a quarter of a million people down from all across the nation because of their lack of organisation and communication! i hate to say it but Newcastle's city council have lost a lot of my respect! You were meant to be providing us with one of the biggest most talked about dance parades of 2001..of this decade even! It was certainly gonna put you on the map with flashing lights, but you BLEW IT!!! I Feel For The Employed David Stanley - 14 Jul 2001 23:33 - 1st post I myself do not work saturdays but most of my friends and my girlfriend all had to practically plead for the specific saturday off. My mate only just got the day off yesturday afternoon. All the people that are going to be left sat on their backsides bored as hell because they have nothing better to do, after all this is the north east... the most boring 300 square miles in the world........ im moving down south!!!!!!!! this place is a hell hole and 18 years ofd it is wayyyyy to much. re: UTTER DISCRACE! michael brady - 14 Jul 2001 23:32 - 1st post I think the title of this message shows my feelings towards this un- nessessary disagreement between the police and Newcastle City council. I hope a lesson will be learnt from this and hope it will NEVER happen again! It has disapointed people all over the country, including myself! I am truly shocked at the decision and once again hope it will NEVER EVER happen again! re: up_under Andy - 14 Jul 2001 23:32 - 1st post I can't believe it. The council had ony known about it for like er 6 MONTHS and they can't organise a Park & ride. I think i speak for nearly everyone in newcastle when i say we are slightly p***ed off by the who thing. The love parade was the chance to show the whole world what a Party city us geordies have but lets hope & pray that we still have a rockin weekend tho! ! ! ! ! :-) What do we do now????? karen kaye - 14 Jul 2001 23:29 - 2nd post We have paid our deposit for our coach there is 36 ravin mad heads up for a rockin day out at newcastle and we have been let down. If any one has any ideas on what to do on Saturday seen as the love parade has been fxxxed off could you let us no what you are doing eg : are you still gonna turn up in newcastle or what! Should ave been Bristol!!!! Stacy Woodhouse - 14 Jul 2001 23:24 - 3rd post ALL IM GUNA SAY IS RADIO 1 - U SHOULD AVE HELD IT IN BRISTOL. WOOD AVE BIN ORGANISED VERY WELL, JUST LIKE ONE BIG SUNDAY WAS. Not very Happy Bunnies Rob+Steph - 14 Jul 2001 23:20 - 1st post We are gutted that the LOVE PARADE is cancelled. what was wrong with keeping it in Leeds. it was brilliant last year. their was no trouble. everyone just chilled and had a good time. why on earth did Newcastle offer to have it if they couldnt cope with the number of people coming. Leeds LP had around 1/2 a million people and they coped with it. Newcastle must have known that the same number of people were likely to come to there's. everyone should ring them or write to them complaining about this. on a final note NEWCASTLE SUCKS!!!!! Let's still keep on Jivin'@ Newcy Paul Woods - 14 Jul 2001 23:18 - 1st post Yes I gotta say that I am well peeved off. After building me self up for the past month I am well gutted!! Newcastle police , how dare you spoil our parrty. We wont sit back. Just wait till 21st July 2001!! Let's still parade across Newcastle! Bristol Stacy Woodhouse - 14 Jul 2001 23:15 - 1st post ALL IM GUNA SAY IS RADIO 1 - U SHOULD AVE HELD IT IN BRISTOL. WOOD AVE BIN ORGANISED VERY WELL, JUST LIKE ONE BIG SUNDAY WAS. re: The Proud Geordie Nation Paul T - 14 Jul 2001 23:12 - 1st post I guess Dougie Hall and Freddie Shepherd got it right. Geordies are a bunch of losers with a well inflated sense of their own importance. Good job I, and many others, weren't counting on them to make my Saturday - Mauro should sort that out at Crasher ! The phrase "eyes too big for their belly" springs to mind. Why don't the proud geordie nation just accept their place in the world - the sole of it's shoe.

I accept the fact that Sunderland don't have a brewery but if they did I bet they could organize a pi** up in it !!

FTM Whos gonna compensate us then? eddie riby - 14 Jul 2001 23:10 - 1st post As a Dj myself after atteneding the Leeds Love Parade last year had to be in Newcastle as it was such an amazing experience in leeds. Me and a group of mates have booked all trains up to Newcastel and all hotels!!!it wasnt cheap either, i can seen peoples points saying that we should all go up anyway but without the DJ's it wouldnt be the same, and theres no way that u can fit that amount of people into the pubs and clubs in newcastle!!!....what is the BBC and Radio 1 gonna do about it, cos they are about to have a heck of a lot of stick on monday morning!!!! something needs to be done and very quickly otherwise all hell will break out! Let down again by the geordies Mac Kem - 14 Jul 2001 23:02 - 1st post Can they not get anything right? I plead with everyone still go to Newcastle and jam the City as the bars and clubs have already got their late licences. Well just have our own party. And why did Radio 1 go to a small town North of the tyne? (remember the boat that everyone rants about is noy even in Newcastle its on the Gateshead side of the water. What is the biggest city between Leeds and Edinbrough? Sunderland of course both in size and population. Should have come to Sunderland. Anyway see you all there on Sat should be fun. Newcastle huh!....... flyer boy - 14 Jul 2001 22:56 - 17th post Well do you remember the big events we've had on the Quayside over the last couple years? New Years Eve celebrations how many people did we have in the town for that??. The council seemed to cope with them ok whats their problem with this. Basically the council don't want the LP because they don't understand what it means. From todays outcome has just shown how dated and backward Newcastle is! Anyhow with what the various events all promoters have planned for next weekend its going to be a stormer lets not let this spoil it people have put alot of hard work and money into this so make it a good one. Good luck everyone!! Newcastle won't know what hit it next weekend!!!!!!!! THE LOVE PARADE WILL GO ON!!! darragh o'shea - 14 Jul 2001 22:47 - 2nd post THE CLUBBERS PRAYE "our scene which art in heaven hallowed be thy game thy deejays come thy will be done on dancefloors as it is in heaven give us this day our daily dance and forgive us our over indulgence as we forgive those who over indulge with us lead us not into conformity but deliver us from blandness for thine has the decks and the tunes and the glory forever and ever a-mental" wee wated 2long 4 this U CAN GO! AND THEY CANT STOP US THE TUNES WILL GO ON! re: No kneejerk reactions Keith Wear - 14 Jul 2001 22:33 - 1st post Lets not let all this talk about still coming to Newcastle peter out. Make sure you still come. Someone with the knowledge PLEASE upload a web site. Lets make the arrangements and lets stick to them. The original love parade didnt need park and ride approval from NCC so why do we? Im off to Ibiza on Wed. 25th and I've planned this night as the start of my fun for months now. I will not be out done. BE THERE!!!! re: newcastle here we come RICHARD HODGKINSON - 14 Jul 2001 22:33 - 1st post RICHARD HODGKINSON and a few other lads PEEWEE nameing one of them where looking forword to the loveparade. the newcastle city council don`t now what there in for on saturday because there`s going to be thousands of clubbers still coming to newcastle and where but a few of them. FILL THE MOOR Martin Gordon - 14 Jul 2001 22:29 - 1st post clubbers fill the town moor with the 250,000 of us they were gonna get and will STILL get. be there and keep it real/

21 07 2001 <------ re: It don't matter........... Terry Moran - 14 Jul 2001 22:26 - 4th post I'm gutted about the whole thing. I know its not your fault Radio 1 but well thats life, but we shouldn't let this stop us going you there and having it large. Whats the police gonna do with us all? They can't tell us to go. I have tickets for The Essential Mix Live and still hope this goes ahead. I hope citys learn from this if they are hoping to stage such an event. Anyway hope you can sort something out Radio 1 you would make alot of people very happy. Terry @ Preston Typical Newcastle Council Man of Science - 14 Jul 2001 22:24 - 1st post Typical ... if the Queen was coming to open the Love Parade, by god i bet Newcastle Council would have sorted the parking arrangements then ... Newcastle/reality Michael Atkin - 14 Jul 2001 22:18 - 1st post It seems like deja-vu to us living up here who have to put up with the geordies claims of beilliance. We are constantly bombarded with how brilliant it is to be from the"toon". Well now we know they couldnt organise the proverbial. Typical of their arrogance. Sorry to all those planning to come> Just remember Newcastle isnt the whole north east only asking alan shearer - 14 Jul 2001 21:48 - 2nd post what has Newcastle ever staged or been host to that made anyone think it could or would stage the love parade? they got a lot of publicity tho!... re: only asking Leanne de Main - 14 Jul 2001 21:52 - 6th post THE GREAT NORTH RUN !!!! (I did that too and it was organised quite fine) The old 'youth of today' expression springs to mind. They will wish they never cancelled it! re: only asking Julie Turnbull - 14 Jul 2001 21:57 - 6th post Great North Run, New Years Eve, Newcastle promotion to Premiership, Tall ships Race, if NCC really want to organise something they can, the whole thing has just made us more determined to enjoy ourselves, there are enough bars in the town anyway! re: only asking washington dc - 14 Jul 2001 22:07 - 17th post drink for free, yippee



-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Before even getting to your post, Screach, I was going to say the same thing. It boggles my mind that something like this was allowed to be promoted so heavily before all necessary arrangements were made with the city. Wouldn't public transportation and traffic control be one of the first things to be planned out before giving the go-ahead?

It's understandable that people would be tempted to protest in a less than peaceful manner...especially young people who have been wronged by a bunch of dithering old farts, but I hope things don't get too out of hand. They could run the risk of proving the nay-sayers right in thinking a gathering of young people will cause problems, and thus risk an event of this type ever being held anywhere else.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001


Ciara you are so right! If even a small proportion of the intended party-goers arrive anyway to vent their anger, the council will use any disorder to support their case for cancelling it!

It is utterly disgraceful that they have taken this decision so close to the event. If they are using the fact that it clashes with the home leg of the Intertotototo, then let`s be fair, the Love Parade has been on the calendar for much longer, and the match should have been scheduled a day or two before or after!

Sorry Newcastle Council, but you have just proved, yet again, how out of touch with reality you all are, this is a bad decision, and I have a very bad feeling about the consequences.

I just wonder if there is a hidden agenda? I`m thinking along the lines of the awful problems they are having in Bradford, Stoke etc., at the moment. Do you think this may be having a knock-on effect and making the police particularly twitchy? I know that nationally Government has an appalling habit of lumping a huge area of the country into the `the North` category, but surely at local level it`s possible to differentiate.

I think they could very well rue the day when the blithely made 240,000 young (and not so young) folk feel disassociated and stoked the antiestablishment fires.

Andy W, just a small point - don`t fall into the trap of assuming that everyone over the age of 30 doesn`t care, understand or empathise. (:o)

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


Galaxy...apologies if thats the way it sounds but there is no doubt in my mind that this issue is not being taken seriously enough by the older generations. At this moment in time I would spit in the face of each and every bungling beaurocrat on the council and Northumbria police, and as for that bitch from Jesmond - Lisa Chambers? - well I just wish I knew where she lived.

I just wanna wake up and realise that I had the worst nightmare of my life. I have'nt though. It's real and its happened on my own doorstep. I will say it till I am blue in the face..this weekend will have a momentous, detrimental effect on the future of this city and you should do well to not feel disaffected by it.

I hope and pray that Newcastle is swamped by tens - hundreds hopefully - of thousands of people from around the country next week. Moves are already being made to ensure this. We need chaos - not violence - in this city next week to make sure the establishment are in no doubt about the depth of feeling about it.

This has profoundly affected me and many of my friends. Each and every one us feels embarrassed to be a Geordie this morning. Those wankers have given anyone with a predjudice against the North East all the ammunition they need..and I fear we will never bounce back from it.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


Up until last night I thought Radio 1 were just applying pressure to get the Council to get their fingers out and it was just a threat to pull the plug.

What I'd like to know is what is the problem? We get more people xmas shopping than that. This is embarrassing, but I cannot see how any council anywhere could guarantee the safety of so many, I mean you can plan all you like but a dodgy batch of E's could take out half a dozen kids. What kind of guarantees do Radio 1 need?

Now that the official organisers had pulled out it will be left to our heavy handed Northumbria police to pull the strings, cue sporadic fighting & full cells.

At Wembley last year our the local coppers let the fans drink outside the bars and soak up the pre match atmosphere then Northumbria police showed up and broke it up, telling one bar owner to stop selling alchohol. I fear the worst, this could have lasting repercussions.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


Just had another look at the R1 website. Something major is definitely gonna happen in this city next weekend..

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

No need to apologise Andy W. - I just don`t want you to think that people of my age (50) aren`t in touch. It is so difficult to be heard in this day and age - whichever generation you belong to. The real frustration is that you are in a no-win situation. They certainly aren`t going to change their minds, and vandalism and inevitably violence will only strengthen their case that their decision was the right one! The whole thing sucks!

I can understand you wishing for a demonstration to show your justifiable anger, but please bear in mind that there are lots of opportunist organisations out there, The National Front for instance, who will jump at the opportunity to capitalise on a ready made `situation`. I truly fear the possible consequences.(:o(

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


I hope they destroy the carbuncle that called the civic centre.

On an NUFC point, here's an excuse for the FA to pull future internationals from St James on the basis that the city has a record of being unable to host large national events. They can get their finger out for the Great North Run but not this.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


The saddest thing about this is that, because the event would have been such a resounding success, Newcastle could have had a realistic chance of hosting it regularly if not every year. There are very few cities which have the unique layout to support this kind of event - if any. It could have been known as the Newcastle Love Parade as opposed to the Berlin version in Germany.

The chance of a lifetime for this city is gone. I feel positively murderous. Anyone want to earn some good money?

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


If there's a chance to make money out of something, the council will stop it somehow, Andy.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

I really hope things don't get violent. It may make the people engaging in it feel better and feel they've 'gotten back' at the city of Newcastle. But it won't solve a thing and will only harden the opinion that large gatherings of 'kids' can't be trusted. Better if thousands of people showed up and just hung around the grounds of the city hall in a peaceful manner. No law against walking around or having a picnic on the grounds, is there? ;-) It would show that a large gathering of young people is not the evil thing some people would make it out to be.

Though as has also been pointed out, the coppers may wind up causing more problems. Too bad they can't bring in the London coppers in Trafalgar Square and Wembley who just stood back making sure things didn't get out of hand as hundreds of Geordies took the place over when we played at Wembley. That's the way to handle large exuberant crowds.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


The other side of the coin? Newcastle City Council is very disappointed that Radio 1 has called off the Love Parade.

The Council has done everything possible to bring this prestigious event to the city.

We have explored every avenue to try and make it happen in conjunction with Radio 1, the police, the health authorities and various other organisations.

An event of this nature inevitably brings a huge number of logistical problems and, along with the other parties, we have resolved the vast majority of these.

However, public safety has to be paramount, and the final hurdle of traffic congestion which could lead to public safety problems proved insurmountable by the deadline set by Radio 1 despite the best efforts of all concerned.

The police and city council officers have worked around the clock to try and meet that deadline but public safety must be paramount and we were not willing to gamble with the safety of the public.

The city council is the final arbiter on public safety and having taken the best advice available we decided that public safety could not be guaranteed by that deadline and therefore we could not issue the licence.

Coun Tony Flynn, the Leader of Newcastle City Council said: "Obviously I am extremely disappointed that Radio 1 have cancelled the Love Parade. Everyone involved has been working around the clock to make this work but the logistical difficulties of bringing 250,000 people into the city safely in a very concentrated time frame proved insurmountable by the deadline Radio 1 set.

"I know that this news will disappoint thousands of people who were looking forward to the event and I share that disappointment."

There will still be a number of pre-planned events taking place across the city on the evening of July 21 and that there will be plenty of entertainment available for those who still plan on visiting Newcastle.

Late licences previously granted to pubs and nightclubs in the city centre will remain unaffected I dunno. Some might say "They would say that, wouldn't they". Perhaps there are faults on both sides. So, if there's still lot's of things going on over the w/e, what exaclty has been cancelled? A big do on the Moor with various of stages, I guess.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


See, I told you there was another slant :-(

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Hmm - looked OK from here :-(

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Not a very good attempt at explaining themselves, IMHO. What is a radio station supposed to do about organizing public transport/parking/etc? Isn't that down to the council and police? Hasn't the city ever had a quarter million people turn up for an event before? And why on earth were Radio1 allowed to think this event was a go all this time? On the other hand, if Radio1 only assumed it was a go, then they must share a part of the blame for building up an event that was not yet approved.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

It's an enormous balls up by all parties, but by the council in particular. However, why could'nt Radio 1 have issued their deadline a few weeks earlier. Surely it could all have been sorted by then? It smacks of a severe lack of communication on all sides.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Well, using the Metty, Washinton services & team valley car parks, there's enough parking places to the south, try Tesco's, Morrisons, Asda etc, there are enough parking spaces to the north for all the park & ride places required. Surely we get more people christmas shopping & the bliddy council can cope then.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

I read somewhere that the 'agreement' for the Entertainment Licence called for NCC to provide 50,000 Park 'n Ride spaces, but were only able to come up with 43,000.

Can't believe this was the only issue - in fact I suspect there were 'issues' that have not been disclosed.

Nevertheless, it is a world-class screw-up by all concerned - however, violence on the streets will only make a bad situation even worse, and I only hope wise heads prevail when the dust settles on the present ugly rhetoric.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001


Good point D.le F. There are hints of bluff calling that went wrong in this. Somebody on their high horse going a bit too far. If something like that emerges as being even partly the case, somebody should swing.

Whatever we as individuals thought about the event as such - I (predictably ?) couldn't have cared less - the implications of the cancellation will have a devastating effect on the chances of staging anything even remotely similar in future. What a bunch of tossers.

City of Culture ? Nee chance now.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001


wow, trawling through here it seems there IS a thin line between love and hate!

I can tell you this Andy, Europe isn't looking at England saying they can't organise a parade. It's seeing England (is that Northern England?) as a hate filled Nazi war zone. Thats an irony not lost on Berlin...

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001


still, i'm sorry for you andy, you seem gutted

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

These people don't know glossy info

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

It looks like all the free gigs are cancelled but, surprise, the paid for events will continue. All we need is rain then the place will be gridlocked on a pedestrian scale, if that's possible.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

As an old fart who actually pays his council tax on Tyneside, I am delighted that the City Council are refusing to be blackmailed into bankrolling a logistical nightmare like providing park and ride facilities for 50,000 cars. They don't own the Metro, they don't own the buses, they don't own the car parks: all of these would have to be paid for. The organisers of the event don't want to know about it and are leaving it up to the council.

We pay our council tax up front towards an extremely tight budget, not topping up some enormous pot from all the times of plenty you no doubt noticed over the last 25 years. If the argument is that Newcastle should foot the bill for all the policing, security of car parks, overtime for bus drivers, hire of buses, hire of car parks and cleaning up all because we somehow gain prestige from it or that businesses will get some extra trade then you need to also consider some other points:

1) Local businesses don't pay more council tax when they do well.

2) The Love Parade is not a source of sustained income but a one-off event.

3) The concert organizers rake in all the cash from the food and drink stalls, promoters, tee shirts etc.

4) The council owe it to the local rate payers to stick within their budget which comes from our hard-earned cash.

5) The 250,000 party goers wouldn't give a flying f*ck about the job losses and higher bills next year when we had to balance the books.

Sorry your party has been ruined, but ask the guys who stood to make the profit ("free" my arse) why they didn't think the costs were their responsibility.

Anyway, what the Hell would anyone be doing wigging out on the Town Moor when the Lads are playing? Get yourself a ticket for the match and crack a few cold ones before and after the game and you won't go far wrong.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001


And to continue softie's theme....the council also shouldn't provide fireworks or xmas decorations either....Bah Humbug....

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

agree 100% softie.... although i saw the light in supporting sunderland newcastle is my home town and i feel that the majority were being asked to cough up for the minority most of who are from chuffin miles away and never have been to newcastle and would never come again...

this has got chuff all to do with inward investment or external image but the fact that a handful of drugged up, dance crazed, garage/house music liking, pretentious trendies cant handle having someone else take their teddies off them.....

rattles out of the pram well and truly but who gives a toss...

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001


So it's fine cos it's not something your interested in then?

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Don't know the pros and cons of this issue so don't have any strong views one way or another. I do wonder why a Love Parade is needed when we have Bigg Market. :-)

Whether the thing should be staged here or not is not something I want to comment on but it does seem incredible that this cancellation should come so late in the day. This was to have been a huge event and would have considerable economic impact. I find it extraordinary that issues such as parking and safety etc were not resolved weeks ago. There will be those I daresay, who have taken an entrepreneurial risk in preparation for this and have lost out due to what appears to be simple incompetence. They are entitled to feel very angry.



-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Gav, Christmas decorations are the perfect illustration. The council put them up to tart the whole place up every year and the people who stand to gain the most from it, the high street retailers, all make a hefty donation towards the cost. The guys staging the Love Parade don't feel that providing parking is anything to do with them and that the local council tax payers should foot the bill for the x million quid this will cost. Balls to them. Hope they've got a big lock-up for all the flourescent necklaces, bottles of fizzy piss, whistles and cheap tee-shirts they were expecting to flog.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

"...bottles of fizzy piss..." ..... wonderful couldnt have put it better mesell... lol

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

miserable sod...

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Sods....

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

The advantage to the city is an instant tourism boost, the multiplier effect throughout the economy would make a real difference. The City makes a big play of it’s nightlife economy, 9th best night out in the world every guide never fails to point out. Reality is, we don’t even have the 9th best nightlife in Britain and in the North we’ve been overtaken by Leeds (Since Love parade last year), Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and even Liverpool in the best night out stakes. The Love parade was an opportunity to put us back on the map, a chance for the city to get up with the times & open beyond the hour of 11pm. If 200 000 turned up, had a good time & came back again I doubt we’d have so many work-shy charvers in the City in years to come.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

DLF, best night out for whom? You are assuming that "good night out" means clubbing. Not true for the vast majority.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

More of a Durham Big Meeting man mesel but did notice that little ol Irvine in Ayrshire hosted Radio ones "one big Sunday" at the week-end 60.000 at the gig , and all the punters at T in the Park, Balado in the mud caused no problem, jes an observation

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Geordie but it DOES equate to a good night out for the majority of the people in the north east....

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Don't think so Gav. Majority?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Sigh...ok then, the majority of young people out on a friday and saturday night....

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

These 200,000 weren't coming to visit Newcastle, they were coming to attend a one-off event. Next year they would have gone to Bristol or wherever, the promoters would have flogged their tat and made a fortune, and the local council tax payers would all be paying an extra tenner a month to meet the cost.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Maybe my perspective is different. Living on the South Coast, I am used to vast portions of our rates being spent on flowerbeds and fireworks - tourism is our biggest money-earner and anything which encourages people to visit tends to be seen as a good thing.

Bournemouth has a Festival of Light running right through the summer. Illuminations in the Pleasure Gardens and firework displays every Friday. The Grand Finale attracts thousands and thousands of people. If you know Bournemouth and its geography, traffic congestion, etc., you will understand when I say that `gridlocked` doesn`t even begin to cover it! It is a very popular event. The locals seem happy to pay up and put up with it, and the visitors leave (eventually) feeling that they have had a wonderful `free` night out.

Newcastle and the surrounding area is a beautiful place, and tourism must now surely be pretty high on the list of local industries. I really don`t see that financing the odd `free` event is such a bad thing. OK the street traders may make a killing, but so too would local businesses. People remember and return to places where they had a good time.(:o)

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Hey! any more sensible stuff out of you mum and i'll see if I can get you barred from the BBS!

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

It's a balls up however you look at it. Yes, it would have been a good advert for the city but equally if I lived in the town I would not be happy to see 100s of geezah's (cockney TM) having in large in my front garden.

Until I find gainful employment near my home I work in Ladbroke Grove where there's the annual crush and pickpocketing extravenganza for the Notting Hill Carnival. People I work with live nearby and their tales of unsocial behaviour (New Labour TM) would make the Toon Army On Tour blush.

The only solution is to ban people holding glow sticks, cheap whistles tied to a pseudo-Jamaican coloured string, fishing hats and daft outfits. Perhaps a similar £5 inner London car tax for the 'cheesy quavers' lovin' it, lovin' it, lovin' it anywhere near residential areas would help. It would pay for all the crap the "luve- dup" crew leave at their arses.

It's about time these tossers were told that they are not too bootylicious for Newcastle and f**k off back to their student bedsits.

Roll another fat one and I'll shove it up yer arse

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Bobby, you're sounding like an old fart like the rest of them! maybe all Def Leppard or AC/DC concerts should be banned as well.....miserable sods...

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Throwing another 'old fart' spanner in the works - as for being a top party City, I find Newcastle on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday night to be largely an embarrassment of drunken oafs, and lacking any semblance of sophistication.

It projects itself as world-class Uglyville, and something I personally take no pride in whatsoever.

Ducks for cover.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


If this wasn't in connection with Radio 1 i might be more dismayed. It's a crap station. Two minutes listening to cockney largin's cooki´n' it special for the crew in Bournemouth pushin it LARGE is an insult to the apes we have evolved from. I've no pity for Radio 1 and their Hoxton square luvvie party set. I have though for Andy, i don't like to hear people missing out on their pleasures. Why should Newcastle be embarrassed? I have no shame in where i come from. Whatever happens-ish.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

I suppose it depends on your perspective. I can`t really comment because I`m not there on a regular basis. If you are talking about `lad` and worse still `ladette` behaviour, then I think it`s pretty universal, be it Ibiza or Sloane Square, and no worse in Newcastle than anywhere else.

I only dropped Yelli off in town, but the impression I got was that the people looked no different to the `night` crowd in Bournemouth except that there were lots more of them, and they actually seemed to be enjoying themselves!

Yelli would describe Bournemouth nightlife as boring, cliquey, unfriendly and overrated. The people tediously self absorbed and image conscious. Newcastle she described as having a `party` atmosphere, non-threatening and welcoming. The people unpretentious and very friendly.(:o)

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Gav, I like to have fun just like the next feller - just so long as it finishes before 10.00pm and the organisers make a quick clear up of the paper plates and orange squash.

What I object to is the pseudo-cockney-isation of alleged 'club culture'. I despise Radio 1 being polluted with DJs promoting 'shout- outs' (which in another lifetime was just called 'can I say hello to me mates') to 'everyone who knows me', larging it up (what the hell does that mean?), rolling fat ones (or should that be 'phat'?) and generally making an excuse for this bilge.

Now, I love music and maybe I am a bit of a sound fascist but I see no or little talent involved in playing other people's records and making sure the tempo is maintained by slowing / speeding up the play speed. The fact that a culture has arisen around who can play other people's records in a suitable fashion is laughable. The fact that it appears to be mainly followed by dim witted 18 yr olds forming the next generation of Kwik Save shelf stackers speaks volumes.

These people are responsible for popular radio's evening output being reduced to Oxide and Neutrino, and Destiny's Child. Never forget, never forgive. Take the airwaves back for the sake of the children...

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


My last posting was in reply to Clarky, not Swift.(:o)

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

spot on Bob. --- q, why LOVE parade?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

and,

why dance music?

a positive idea would be to have a 'free-love' parade and put lots of different types of music together and see what original sounds can be born?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Not sure if the dance culture you describe is entirely a London influenced thing. Surely the Manchester scene is heavily responsible, ever since the early Hacienda days, via 'Madchester', acid house etc. (are you really qualified to comment on such matters or just talking out of your hat? - Ed). Hey, get off my thread...

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Hypocrite that I am, I still can't take the attitude that the likes of the Love Parade should be discouraged, but everything possible should be done to ensure that the RSC keep coming back.

If the 2bob 2nd leg hadn't been on Saturday, and the LP hadn't been cancelled, I'd have just stayed away from the town and let them get on with it without me.

As for health and safety, I reckon most of the pubs, at least on the quayside, are death traps at the weekend, anyway. I'd hate to be in one of them if a fire broke out. If the flames didn't get you, the stampede probably would. Letting places get that crowded can't be safe IMO.

Softie made the point that the costs of the LP would have been over and above the already formulated budget, but surely they knew long enough in advance to have fitted these costs into the budget. I don't disagree that it could be argued the rate payers shouldn't have to bear these costs, but I think that's the problem with any event like the LP.

By the nature of the way it works you either accept that the possible benefits are worth it or they aren't. I'd have thought that those who were likely to make the killings already pay exhorbitant rates anyway, and it wouldn't have taken the intellect of an Einstein to have come up with some sort of sliding scale for sharing the costs so that those likely to get the biggest return carried an appropriate share.

If that isn't the way it works then it should be, and it's maybe this we should be arguing about, rather than the merits or otherwise of events like the LP.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Swift, you have the different types of music thing everytime there's a concert in town....maybe these shouldn't be allowed either cos i'm certain some of Bobby's "shelf stackers" go to them as well....

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

i don't want to sound ignorant but what is the love parade, what happens?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

i don't want to sound ignorant

Well shut up then!!

Sorry Swift - you were wide open there. :-)

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

shame that jonno, i thought i'd meet your mind. without wishing too.

:-)

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


They haven't "banned" the Love Parade because they disagree with the choice of music, the Council aren't prepared to sign a blank cheque to allow someone else to take a heap of cash out of the area at our expense. That's all about being responsible for Public Money, something I have to do in my job every day.

If your folks were ever stupid enough to let you have a party then they understood that they would be unpopular with the neighbours, lots of damage was likely to be inflicted on their property and they owed it to themselves to make sure some security arrangements were put in place. I bet you they didn't agree to pay for all the booze. food and drive every b*gger home again afterwards, did they? They offset the inconvenience to themselves with the pleasure it would bring the kids but all nibbles, booze and clearing up was provided by the kids. Exactly the same problem now but on a larger scale. Dad doesn't think he should spend a fortune driving all your mates home after they trash the house and nor does he want to be up all night clearing up after you.

Reading Rock festival was an annual event which brought plenty of trade to the local off-licenses and purveyors of king size rizlas and junk food, but the organizers were expected to do what was necessary to gain a safety certificate and they sure as hell didn't used to ask Reading to provide the car parking facilities as though the extra demand had nothing to do with them. When those silly bastards fell off the lighting rig and died, the promoters got sued, not Reading Council.

Galaxy makes some good points about public money being spent on flowerbeds to encourage tourism etc, but this again attracts people all year round to a picturesque town, not a large group of people for a one-off event. The difference between paying for sustained income and blowing it all on a big bash should be clear to everyone. Why give Newcastle City Council such a hard time about protecting the interests of the people whose money they spend?

I have nothing but sympathy for Alan and the rest of the folks who were looking forward to a big day, but don't assume that the blame is ours.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Gav mate, they're not my shelf stackers. If they were I'd sack the lot of them :-) Ok, patronising comments about some "Luv'dup" types maybe, but why is any time I see any of these "Ibiza Uninteresting" programmes most of the lads are in Hackett polo shirts, crew cut hair and vomiting into a gutter, while the girls wear outfits that leave little to the imagination, expose themselves at the hint of a tv camera and again are to be found being sick in a bin.

F**k me, I'm banning the Bigg Market!

OK, solution is to only allow 'clubbers' into the community when they have sufficiently answered (in writing) the question "what does 'having it large' mean?" without using the words, geezah, innit, y'nawotimeen, fat-one, rolling and havinalarffwivmemates.

Perhaps a music quiz too - q1. do you like Destiny's Child?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Softie my comments about the type of music were directed to Swift and Bobby who were saying that it should be banned or not allowed because of the type of music, i realise this isn't the reason why it hasn't gone ahead. I also can't shake off the feeling that your opposition to this event is also based on the type of music...i'm certain I haven't heard you complaining about hot dog stands making money or the poor street cleaners having to work when there's a pink floyd/Barry Manilow concert on....

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

q2. Do you like Barry Manilow?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

I don't like that music Gavin, but its's my opinion. I certainly wouldn't want genuine fans of it to be deprived of it.

Just a thought, what are you like at Dancing Gav?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Gav, the problem with the vending stands at these events is that they are all lisenced by the organisers who basically rake in about a 500% markup. This to my mind destroys the idea that they are a non-profit- making setup and that we should give them a handout. The vast majority of money from the Love Parade would have been spent at the organizers stalls, not the local businesses and that is why I think that they should have to pay for the parking facilities. I object to the prices of all official stalls at concerts but Pink Floyd don't ask the council tax payers of Wembley to pay for parking so that their fans can attend their concerts - the Love Parade people seem to think that that is an acceptable demand.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

as i saw it the problem was that there were 7 000 parking spaces still to be found. They could have got around this by banning all Novas with body kits at the gates. They could have then easily parked all paraders with space to spare.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Maybe things are done differently over there? I thought when a big event is organized somewhere, the city hosting it gets a cut through fees paid for clean-up, policing, parking, permissions to set up stalls, etc. That's in addition to the revenue generated by large numbers of people turning up and spending money at local shops and eateries..which goes 100% back into the local economy. At least that's the way it tends to work here. And there would be no way a promoter could go out and promote an event without having all necessary licenses and permissions in place. Though there are times when an event gets out of hand and problems occur. that's part of the risk in hosting large events. Generally the benefits far outweigh the risks, though.

Still think this was a major fook up by both sides. Deadlines should not have been so close to the event, nor should it have been promoted so heavily without necessary permissions in place.

As for the behaviour of the people going to this festival, how is it any different to the celebrations when NUFC win a trophy? Newcastle will be turned upside down. The only difference is the choice of music and age of the people acting like loonies(as opposed to Loony who is currently wrestling sea otters in SA).

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Ciara - I think this event was free (I'm guessing but I think tickets needed to be applied for through Radio 1 to get into the main events on the Town Moor). So the City's cut would be either whatever Radio 1 contributed or from any commercial sponsorship. Again, I guess that this would be far short of covering the costs of policing, security, first aid, administration etc.

Whatever my own prejudices over certain types of music and those who follow it, the whole thing is a serious f**k up. R1 and the City are reponsible.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Wow! This has become some thread aint it..I suppose I should be happy that so many of you have taken an interest in the subject.

I am still, and always will be, absolutely devastated by what happeened at the weekend but after allowing myself to cool off and reflect closely on the circumstances surrounding this debacle I actually feel that the council have been a tad harshly treated.

Dont get me wrong, there is still no doubt in my mind that they are a bunch of incompetent bumbling eejits but I now believe that radio 1 must take a significant share of the blame. As some of you have said, to promote an event so heavily with the knowledge that a crucial entertainments licence has not been obtained is shocking. Also though, I cannot understand why R1 left it so late to issue the deadline to get things sorted, and then only give 36 hours to do so.

Something fishy is definetely going on here that R1 do not want us to know about. Take a look at their website and you will see that people are wising up to the events surrounding this shocking situation.

Mind you, I find some of the narrow minded comments from some on this board regarding attracting people from around the country as absolutely appalling. No wonder the North East struggles to rid itself of the old stereotype shackles.

For my mind NCC should be doing all they can to try and get th LP back next year. After all, no one has a better idea now of the difficulties faced in handling such a huge project. And besides, the city..and R1.. owes it to the young people of this region to mend the hearts that have been desperately broken this weekend.

We, the young people of this good city, will not forget these events otherwise.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


IT WILL HEAL OVER TIME, Lovey

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

Another aspect is whether Radio 1 (aka the BBC) should get involved in politics. The love parade is to celebrate the fall of the Berlin wall. Thus the BBC are saying that the partitioning of Germany was a bad thing. What has happened to the former Eastern block nations has been an unmitigated disaster both economically and socialogically since the wall came down. The BBC should remain neutral and stay out of politics.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

That's what Maggie Thatcher said. The media is a political animal, publicly accountable but still political. I prefer to see out and out bias rather than any pretence at neutrality. Take the Today programme - they take anyone and give them a hard time for the sake of balanced broadcasting. The result is negativity and cynicism and very little of anything useful emerges in a 2 minute interview.

Even though I hate this supposed club culture (give me The Pixies Sub Culture any day) this shindig would have been a good thing for Newcastle. If you want to be angry at public money being wasted moan at the London Millenium Bridge (due for completion sometime 2002!) or the millions spent each week maintaining the site of the Dome in Greenwich. It's a shame that an opportunity to advertise Newcastle as a town that's got its act together has been missed.

I still would like an explanation for the phrase "largin' it up big style".

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001


Hmm, I suspect a certain amount of complaining when it suits the council. When we won the league & failed to win the cup, the council made arrangements for 300,000 fans to swamp the streets with three days notice.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

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