General Discussion

What a big success this was.Everybody from my family that went and to all the people and friends I know had a fantastic weekend. The thousands that watched it on the red button who may not have known where we were certainly do now.Some fantastic aerial shots of the Castle with the estuary and Exmouth in the background. Despite all the moans and groans a fantastic success

There's a big picture of the event on the front page of today's Guardian. 

Are you in the crowd?

Are you asking me or Roberta?

I just wondered if that was why you bought the paper!

Didn't buy it - just saw the picuture on the front page.

(bought the I just in case you are interested). 

Ah, you've clocked where I go for my best support material!

Enjoyed watching Coldplay last night on the box Roberta - and yes in many ways I am very pleased it was a success. The closest I got to the event was on Sunday when about 20 vintage bike enthusiasts and their trusty steeds set off from the event on The Lawn to cop a free earful along Powderham's Estuary Road. Apart from a broken sprocket (and some slightly OTT marshalling) we made it there and back in good time thanks to some pretty good traffic along the way. Most people seemed to be going to Powderham by train or bus - but, just a thought, I wonder whether the dire warnings of traffic chaos prevented people coming to Dawlish to enjoy everything that was going on here at the weekend?

Big Weekend just shows what we have to offer. We went on Saturday and it was fantastic.

Only negative was I think Great Western couldn't have thought a bit more about the timings of the trains afterwards. Trains back to Dawlish were 22:36 on Saturday and with the walk from the main stage to the train station being some distance and then having to queue to get on the train, we decided we would be pushing it. We booked a taxi back, and so glad we did, rather than risk it. There were a few people walking back through the back lanes towards Mamhead that didn't seem too safe.

The buses and shuttles worked well, if a little expensive. I noticed they were saying you could get the shuttle back for £5 whereas it was £11 return if pre-booked!

I am hoping this is the start of more festivals at Powderham (but less 80s revival ones).

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/South-Devon-gets-3-5million-boost-Radio-1-s-Big/story-29342285-detail/story.html

It can't be true Roberta!! It's all a conspiracy, I tell thee. 

It does seem like that figure has been plucked out of the air.

Why do you think that? Did you read the conspiracy article?

Yes, I have read the article and that is why I made the comment.  

It's all rather vague; who calculated the figures and how exactly do they know £1.7million was spent over the bank holiday weekend, have they asked all the businesses in the area for their trading figures?   And what area are they talking about, the whole of Teignbridge and Exeter maybe?  And how does that £1.7m figure compare with the normal late May bank holiday weekend?

As for the legacy prediction, that is just based on pure hope, and utterly meaningless.  I can see why the TDC leader was bigging it up, they spent a huge wedge of council tax funds and obviously now have to justify it.

It's a shame that you fail to see the fantastic benefits that the Big Weekend brought to our area. Though I guess your position on this matter, like your position on so many other matters, is so deeply entrenched that you will never be persuaded. 

To be honest Burneside, what you or I think is irrelevant in the whole scheme of things. The Big Weekend has been confirmed by so many as being a massive success all round. And the opinion of those 50,000+ is all that matters. 

Another 3day festival coming to Powderham at the beginning of September Lockdown Festival, my son has already bought his tickets after enjoying himself so much at Big Weekend

Ultimately it is the opinion of the taxpayer that matters, they, after all, funded this concert.

Yes, and I'm sure that sensible council tax bill payers will realise that their £1.66 has proven to be a great investment in Teignbridge. 

Well I for one do NOT think it was a great investment. It was an utterly shameful waste of taxpayers money. If the BBC want a concert then pay for it from the money we have already paid them through the licence fee! There are so many other worthy things the wasted money could have been spent on. 

.We dont have much to smile about nowadays so anything that makes people happy has got to be worth the £1.66 it cost me.

I bet the disabled person who can no longer go swimming because TDC now insist their carer has to pay and cannot afford to do so wouldn't agree with you. 

I did write  "sensible". 

The money invested by TDC, in my opinion, was neither "shameful" or "wasted". It brought our district to the fore in this kingdom and beyond. I'm sorry that the likes of you and Burneside disagree, as you both seem to about everything, but maybe you should both take time out from sucking your lemons to watch the iPlayer coverage of the event that did so much to present our district in a great light. 

As for the disabled person you referred to, I assume you've written to our MP to rage to her about why her government has fucked our local services. 

Give it a rest Mrs C, you really are a pathetic old bint.

What a typical response from Mrs C! A really very unpleasant person.

Are you two related to each other?  What on earth are you both on about? Can you not accept that other people are allowed a different point of view to you? I apologise to those souls who are upset by my sweariness, however I doubt that neither of you will apologise for your personal vitriol. 

So, I look forward to reading your justifications for both of your trolling posts. Which were no doubt coordinated and also designed to deflect from the fact that you've both been shown up to be wrong about Big Weekend. 

For way too long, Mrs C, users of this forum have had to endure your vile and vicious postings, to the extent that the webmaster has banned you on a number of occasions, but like a fart in a phonebox you continue to linger by registering under numerous different usernames to spread your poison. At one point you even said you were through with this forum, and would never post here again, if only you were true to your word then this site would be a much more pleasant environment.

Radio One's Big Weekend. 

One of the most entertaining side shows at Dawlish's own Big Weekend?

Punch and Judy. Had the audience in tears.

Perhaps you guys could get together to do a stint at the carnival?

That's the way to do it.

Careful though Gary, else you'll be falsely accused by the gruesome twosome of vile and vicious postings. 

Thank you Morty. Would you like to be in charge of the sausage machine?

I rest my case. 

"I bet the disabled person who can no longer go swimming because TDC now insist their carer has to pay and cannot afford to do so wouldn't agree with you."

This has nothing to do with the Big Weekend. There is no guarantee if the Big Weekend didn't take place that the money would have been spent to subsidence this.

This is a separate funding issue that should be addressed with the councils as I agree it is completely wrong.

I merely give just one example of how all that money could have been put to better use. 

But it is a fallacy to believe one would lead to the other. Plus the next person would say the money spent subsidising carer's going swimming would be better spent on X.