War of words over failure of Weymouth Bayside Festival during Olympics (From Thisisdorset)
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War of words over failure of Weymouth Bayside Festival during Olympics
11:30am Saturday 15th September 2012 in Latest By Catherine Bolado
THE SHOW IS OVER: Police at the entrance to the Bayside Festival after it was closed
A BLAME game row has erupted over who was responsible for the failure of the Weymouth Bayside Festival, which closed with debts of more than £800,000.
The festival village had been part of the attractions in Weymouth during the Olympic fortnight and was shut down after a week with organisers blaming poor visitor numbers.
Now a war of words has broken out over who was responsible with festival organisers Mainsail Ltd, which has gone into liquidation, laying the blame of the event’s collapse at the door of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council claiming lower than expected visitor numbers to the area was a major reason the event folded.
The council has hit back, stating Olympic visitor number estimates came from research by organisations.
It said Mainsail decided to charge people and closed the day before an estimated 100,000 visitors came to the resort for a weekend of sailing medal races, including ‘super sailing Sunday’ when Ben Ainslie won his fourth historic gold medal.
It comes as it is revealed administrators for the liquidation of Mainsail Ltd have published the director’s estimate of what the company owes as £804,895.
Of this Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is owed £97,000 for the development of the festival area – a car park Weymouth Pavilion – and rent.
Other creditors include traders, entertainers, staff, employee claims, advanced ticket sales, trade and expense accounts and a bank.
The festival, which included music, displays and food, set up to coincide with 2012 sailing events, closed 10 days prematurely on August 3.
The company went into liquidation on August 30, and as part of the liquidation process the administrators Portland Business and Financial Solutions Ltd produced a report on Mainsail’s affairs and creditors.
In a director’s report, Mainsail managing director Joe Hall said he had been told by the borough council they expected visitor numbers of 50,000 a day and they intended to attract 10 per cent of those.
Figures were reassessed following research commissioned by the Olympic Delivery Authority in May 2012 stated they expected 60,000 visitors for most days, 90,000 on four days and 117,000 in the middle weekend. Mr Hall said these forecasted numbers had a ‘direct impact’ on the costs associated with Bayside as it meant they needed extra toilets, security staff and visitor management.
Mr Hall said the Bayside business model was based on the two ‘key drivers’, first that there would be enough people coming to Weymouth and second that they would be willing to pay to enter the site. In the first few days the festival was attracting just over a third of its 9,000 capacity. When the visitors ‘did not materialise’ he spoke to the borough council and LOCOG on August 1 to request financial support to allow the festival to continue until the end of the Olympics , but he said: “Unfortunately both parties were unable to provide any further support.”
He added that other factors like negative transport messages warning of possible transport problems and a hike in the price of the park and rides ‘may have put people off coming’.
Mr Hall attributed Mainsail’s failure to the following reasons: “The costs associated with building the infrastructure based on the increased expected footfall provided by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.
“The dramatically lower attendance to the Weymouth area during the Olympic fortnight than estimated by the borough council and other organisations, resulting in an inability to recover costs.”
He added: “I never doubted the forecasted attendance figures and due to the nature of the event there was no possibility of a ‘Plan B’ should they not materialise.”
Administrators Portland Business and Financial Solutions Ltd said that the liquidation process was underway and they would be looking at the assets and creditors to Mainsail Ltd.
Case manager Stewart Goldsmith said the director’s estimate of company liabilities came to £804,895. He said: “Until the work of liquidation is underway and certain assets are realised, it’s difficult to say how much will be recouped, if at all.”
COUNCIL HITS BACK
BOROUGH council bosses have hit back stating they never gave guarantees of visitor numbers during the Olympics.
Chief Executive of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council David Clarke , left, said the borough council took ‘no role in operating the Bayside Festival or the decision to end it early’.
He added the borough council had not received any rent for the site and was pursuing the legal process for the £97,000 which it was owed.
Mr Clarke said: “Figures of as many as 60,000 visitors to Weymouth and Portland were based on the estimate of approximately 30,000 staying visitors in the area, together with planning by the Olympic Delivery Authority for additional park and ride facilities for up to a potential 30,000 day visitors.”
He said this was based on research carried out by Transport for London and the Olympic Delivery Authority to help plan for the delivery of the Games, including transport and crowd management and evacuation planning.
He added: “No guarantees of visitor number were, or indeed could be given.”
He added that Mainsail and not the borough council decided on the ‘scale and scope’ of the festival and Mainsail changed the operation from the originally proposed ‘free to enter’ site to a paid for attraction.
Mr Clarke said: “Mainsail made the decision themselves to close the site, the very day before there were an estimated 100,000 visitors in the town over the weekend.”
Mr Clarke added promotional assistance had been given to Bayside but that financial help would have been ‘inappropriate’.
Mr Clarke added that it had ‘always’ been known that the number of visitors per day to the Nothe was only 4,600 and there was ‘no certainty’ about the number of general day visitors that might come for the Games.
He said: “The plans of the council, other public agencies and the emergency services demonstrated our preparedness by the delivery of a very successful games and the estimated visitor numbers were used in preparing these successful plans.”
Comments(47)
LB5
says...
1:16pm Sat 15 Sep 12
ijwufo68
says...
1:48pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Presstostop
says...
2:45pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Chesilmaster
says...
2:49pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Made some money there!
Hotelgirl
says...
3:12pm Sat 15 Sep 12
I got my moeny back by going on The Martin Lewis Website and going on a article called Visa Debit Chargeback- where if you have paid by debit card you write to your bank to ask them to get the money back through the suppliers bank - there is a template letter to fill in to send on site - you just need to send proof as well that you purcahse tickets and that the site closed ( echo article ) by money was refunded a week after i sent letter - don't suppose they got any back from mainsale bank but my bank refunded me while they invesigate probably as a bank gesture of goodwill - try it
Wykeite
says...
3:41pm Sat 15 Sep 12
malckam
says...
4:45pm Sat 15 Sep 12
explains it all,
WPBC have no concept of "potential"
John New
says...
6:20pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Iona
says...
7:28pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Wykeite wrote:The councillors as a whole (a few exceptions) know nothing about financial risk, business and investment(their expertise is getting votes from us). They rely entirely on what the officers (salaried employees) say. Those officers include financial specialists. However, even they are not expert in a free market world but rely on others being expert, diligent and honest such as LOCOG and Mainsail. It seems they made a mistake.
I bet these numpty councillors are not so blasé with their personal rental properties! Reckless and irresponsible spring to mind.
Dylanfan
says...
7:37pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Crabber
says...
7:38pm Sat 15 Sep 12
ferdy505
says...
7:58pm Sat 15 Sep 12
series.co.uk/your_lo
cal_areas/9865249.LE
YTON__Contractors_ro
w_with_council_over_
_disastrous__Olympic
_market/
Iona
says...
8:07pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Dylanfan
says...
8:36pm Sat 15 Sep 12
JamesYoung
says...
9:03pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Dylanfan wrote:Or maybe the "moaners" and "doom mongers" we're actually those who were right and are struggling hard not to say we told you so. Don't forget, many of the "moaning" comments on here referenced past experiences and academic research to point out that the event was being hyped for all it was worth. No other sailing events at other Olympics attracted more than 10% of the numbers these idiots predicted.
friends and family living and working abroad have told me that all they saw reported by the UK national and local press was how bad everything would be in Weymouth during the Olympics. Maybe the moaners and doom mongers had something to do with putting people off? Can't see how the road signs could have been to blame, people would have had to come here to see them. Final thought, the Olympics are absolutely not about providing an opportunity for commerce to make a killing. People come to watch the sport, not to go shopping.
We told you so.
Dylanfan
says...
9:23pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Get a grip
says...
9:23pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Whoever it was should loss their job.
wessex-andy
says...
9:45pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Luckily, we were in many instances proved to be wrong. In this case we just happened to be correct.
The failure of the Bayside Festival can't really be blamed on our council, who were in fact trying to earn us some income from the Olympics.
The attendance figures were produced by Lord Coe and his cohorts, so they should take the blame for that part of the ****-up.
However, the lions share of the blame should go to Mainsail Ltd., who were sucker enough to believe the figures. It isn't possible to go so far into debt without a huge amount of mismanagement starting many months beforehand. They must have known how much they were spending and I fail to see why it happened to be this single event that incurred all those debts. I would imagine that their biggest expense in Weymouth would be the rent for the site (which they haven't paid). As a general rule the stallholders, etc., would have paid their rent to Mainsail Ltd before setting up, probably months in advance, so the income from the event should have started rolling in well before any bills started to come in.
portland rebel
says...
10:07pm Sat 15 Sep 12
sailing is by definition not a spectator sport, and is a minority sport.
i would just like to thank our local council and councillors for wasting all our yes our money on their ego trips.
Dylanfan
says...
10:36pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Iona
says...
2:59am Sun 16 Sep 12
Ran the Olympics effectively - success
Won many medals - success
Local business made lots of money - mixed experience
Experienced major disruption over the past couple of years - yes
Lasting infrastructure improvements - do you like the taffic lights in Weymouth, will the other stadia and centres earn back there cost - doubt it on the whole but we will see.
Put Weymouth more firmly on the tourism map - we will see
Bring in new non-tourism business to Weymouth - we will see
Just add more criteria...
The fact is that in many cases we do not yet know the benefit though we have seen most of the costs. Certainly the public purse is unlikely to show a profit in the next few years. A few well placed businesses and individuals will undoubtedly do brilliantly.
As far as getting it right or wrong, I'd say our council has been like a feather in the olympic breeze.
Mo471
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8:18am Sun 16 Sep 12
Just to add my holiday letting is full for next August already with lots of bookings coming from spin off of the Olympics. Well done Weymouth
Phaedrus
says...
9:07am Sun 16 Sep 12
ducatiwidow
says...
11:50am Sun 16 Sep 12
portlandboy
says...
12:08pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Maybe LOCOG and the council ought to have given the local community more credit and not treated us as backward bumpkins who had little idea what we were talking about.
Maybe LOCOG and the council ought to apologise to the community for their ignorance and lack of consideration towards us all.
gattens11
says...
12:49pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Dylanfan
says...
1:11pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Fred Kite
says...
2:35pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Fred Kite
says...
2:35pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Phaedrus
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4:50pm Sun 16 Sep 12
portland rebel
says...
6:24pm Sun 16 Sep 12
portlandboy wrote:here here, but they wont because they are to arrogant for that.
Simple fact is that ALL parties involved believed what they were told - just like they ALL wanted everyone else to do. But the majority of the public could foresee that things were not going to be as promised.
Maybe LOCOG and the council ought to have given the local community more credit and not treated us as backward bumpkins who had little idea what we were talking about.
Maybe LOCOG and the council ought to apologise to the community for their ignorance and lack of consideration towards us all.
Leccy
says...
7:48pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Traders= Weymouth/Portland Markets, no one pays to get in!
Tribute bands= can be seen in most local pubs, no one pays to get in!
Olympics= Chancers think they can mak a mint out of anyone who wants to come and visit!
Conclusion= In these time of hardship people are not stupid and won't be taken for fools, take in on the chin and admit you got it wrong Mainsail!!
EtaoinShrdlu
says...
1:04am Mon 17 Sep 12
And the old saying is still true: "Dorset born and Dorset bred, strong in the arm and thick in the head." Too many experts and consultants and researchers as per usual, none of whom will ever admit any liability. Ah well, sit back now and wait for all the Olympic-related costs to pop up before the next rating review.
goodoldecho
says...
9:14am Mon 17 Sep 12
Leccy wrote:Excellent point - did anyone stop and think that perhaps the festival just wasn't very good?
Lets look at this in simple terms.
Traders= Weymouth/Portland Markets, no one pays to get in!
Tribute bands= can be seen in most local pubs, no one pays to get in!
Olympics= Chancers think they can mak a mint out of anyone who wants to come and visit!
Conclusion= In these time of hardship people are not stupid and won't be taken for fools, take in on the chin and admit you got it wrong Mainsail!!
tarka
says...
1:04pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Am I missing something here? Mainsail Ltd state they were told to expect 50,000 people a day and of that they thought they could attract 10% (5,000 at £10 a head = £50,000 a day) they owe over £800,00 so if everything went as planned it would have taken 16 days just to cover their present level of dept and they folded after 7 days. There financial dept must be depriving a village of its idiot.
Also could it be that the word got around very quickly that it was rubbish and a rip off.
Weyexile
says...
2:03pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Dylanfan wrote:I agree with the positive words from Dylanfan. See the last 6 weeks as potential, not another opportunity to spout more negative comments.
Nobody seems to have noticed that Weymouth features in a major television advertising campaign for an international corporation because of the Olympics. Let's stop the "I told you so" nonsense and encourage people to visit Weymouth, and Dorset, in the future by saying and showing the world what a great place it actually is. And - let's show some support for the people who have helped put Weymouth on the international map. Just an observation -I seem to recall it being said loudly that the Weymouth relief road would be a disaster and a waste of money. It isn't.
Big Marv
says...
3:51pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Now although this was terrific fun for all the bands involved, the thorny issue of money comes up again.
All the bands that played were promised "Expenses" for playing the Pavillion, and from what I've heard from speaking to several of the bands that played, NONE of them recieved any form of remuneration for their time and talent, not even a free drink for the bands!
portlandboy
says...
4:15pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Big Marv wrote:If, as you state, 'expenses' were offered, that would simply be 14p per mile public travel allowance and any other 'out of pocket' costs such as damage to instruments etc. All of these expenses would need to be put on the official claim form, so that nobody could accuse the council of 'back-handers' (as if!!)
One thing that seems to be missing from the report is how the Local bands all came together to play in the Pavillion after the Bayside festival closed.
Now although this was terrific fun for all the bands involved, the thorny issue of money comes up again.
All the bands that played were promised "Expenses" for playing the Pavillion, and from what I've heard from speaking to several of the bands that played, NONE of them recieved any form of remuneration for their time and talent, not even a free drink for the bands!
Payment for their time or talent would be a 'fee' or 'wage', neither of which were mentioned.
However, a free drink souldn't have been too much to offer. I know that plenty of local 'names' get them there anyway.
Big Marv
says...
5:29pm Mon 17 Sep 12
If the bands were told up front, that this was a gig to help out the town and sorry we haven't got any money, then that's fine, but to be offered monies and then for it not to be paid or get any sort of feedback is just p**s poor.
Desk24
says...
6:46pm Mon 17 Sep 12
portlandboy
says...
8:04pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Big Marv wrote:My point is that expenses don't just appear from nowhere, those who were promised them should get a form and request them. How do the council know how much it cost each band to get to the Pavilion unless they are given a figure? Until they put it on the correct form, nothing will be paid - that's how it works.
Expenses were most definitely offered, because I was there. Regardless of whatever rates, etc, it still stinks that none were paid.
If the bands were told up front, that this was a gig to help out the town and sorry we haven't got any money, then that's fine, but to be offered monies and then for it not to be paid or get any sort of feedback is just p**s poor.
WPBC only send random amounts of money in envelopes to certain people and although that involves fiddles, music doesn't come into it
Merrittpr
says...
10:18pm Mon 17 Sep 12
I cannot believe that the council did not take money up front for the rental of the Bayside site!! Muppets, if they had they would not have to pursue the unpaid rent!! Anyone who rents a property puts down one months rent as a deposit so the landlord does not get fleeced over unpaid rent.
The festival site was naff, poor and overpriced attractions. A cheek to charge admission for sure.
I loved watching the sailing at the Nothe on the rocks, totally free and totally enjoyable sitting with mates in the sunshine watching unfold in front of my eyes.
Very poor that the bands that played in the Pavillion were not offered the very basics of free drinks seeing as they were helping out big time.
Finally, this is all history, it's never going to happen again and the roads are here to stay. I love the relief road I can get round the back of town beautifully and have another way back from Dorchester.
Finally, but for sure this time, the free events on the beach were brilliant with massive visitor numbers. Volleyball and sailing, kayaking, windsurfing etc all well organised and great fun. Than ks to whoever organised this. Perhaps you should have been a LOCOG advisor....
pd7
says...
10:20pm Mon 17 Sep 12
For me the PR was a disaster from local Dorset , they screwed up big style .
The legacy a total disaster of a roundabout at camford bottom .
It was a once in a lifetime event .... wasted and never to return .
.
Atilla
says...
8:50am Tue 18 Sep 12
goodoldecho wrote:My wife and I attended the festival when the admission charge had been reduced to £1. What we got for our money was the Royal Marines band jazz quartet which was excellent, a collection of overpriced food and merchandise stalls and drank very expensive white wine served in a plastic glass. Had we paid any more I would have definately felt ripped off!
Leccy wrote:Excellent point - did anyone stop and think that perhaps the festival just wasn't very good?
Lets look at this in simple terms.
Traders= Weymouth/Portland Markets, no one pays to get in!
Tribute bands= can be seen in most local pubs, no one pays to get in!
Olympics= Chancers think they can mak a mint out of anyone who wants to come and visit!
Conclusion= In these time of hardship people are not stupid and won't be taken for fools, take in on the chin and admit you got it wrong Mainsail!!
sundayexpat
says...
12:27pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Regardless of how many visitors were predicted for the olympics, whether it was 100 or 100'000, if you are running any private enterprise it is your responsibility to get people through the door and no one elses.
Unfortunately Mainsail failed on a number of points.
1)Advertising - Where was it? If they wanted olympic visitors why didn't they advertise in london or the national press?
2) Acts: Local bands in Wey are great and certainly should have been involved but if you want a USP you need someone with a much higher pedigree than Chesney Hawks or a Micheal Buble tribute. Especially if you want out of town visitors to stay till 10 to see a headliner.
3)Cost: No ones going to spend £10 a day over the course of 2 weeks to see the same bands they get in the pub for free.
It's a real pity that this festival failed as I really think an annual music festival would bring alot to weymouth, especially if the organisers had the forsight to combine it with a performing arts/food festival.
It was stupid of the council not to get the rent up front but the failure of the festival is Mainsail's c**k up and no one elses.
Big Marv
says...
1:32pm Tue 18 Sep 12
The local bands that were arranged were all contacted at the 11th hour, were told what was happening, and that they would be paid for their services. If the council wanted a papertrail, they should have had a representative at the Pavillion to sort it out with each band as they came in to play, not just given out empty promises, which is the point I am making.
rad21 says...
12:55pm Sat 15 Sep 12