A temporary one-way road system, reduced speed limits and parking restrictions are to be put in place to help manage traffic in Purbeck, ahead of the music festival Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset.
Dorset Council is warning drivers that travel delays are to be expected despite measures to help manage the increased number of vehicles.
The traffic management plan will come into force from midnight on Monday 27th July until midnight on Monday 2nd August 2021.
There will be a one-way system in place on the roads immediately surrounding Lulworth Castle, as well as parking restrictions and lower speed limits on the approach roads from Wool and Wareham. Dorset Council says these will be signposted along the route.
Camp Bestival in 2019, the last time it was able to go ahead
Returns to Lulworth Castle for three days
Camp Bestival, which was cancelled last year, returns to Lulworth Castle for three days from Friday 30th July to Sunday 1st August 2021.
The line-up includes Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Level 42, Heather Small, Fatboy Slim, Musical Youth of ‘Pass the Dutchie’ fame and the legendary Timmy Mallett.
An increased volume of traffic around Lulworth Castle is expected in the week before the festival, as organisers get the event set up.
This also coincides with the start of the school summer holidays, when thousands of additional tourists are expected to visit Dorset while Covid restrictions remain for foreign travel.
Map of the travel plan for Camp Bestival
“We’re really pleased to be able to welcome this popular festival back”
Councillor Laura Miller, portfolio holder at Dorset Council for adult social care and health, and ward member for Lulworth said:
“We’re really pleased to be able to welcome this popular festival back to Dorset and we hope it’s a success. We’ve been working with the organisers for many months to make sure it is safe and we’re confident that all the proper processes are in place to allow the event to go ahead.
“The traffic management plan is robust and takes account of resident and visitor access as usual.”
Rules to help prevent the spread of Covid
As well as the traffic management plan, the Camp Bestival organisers have put in place rules to help prevent the spread of Covid.
The measures include:
- To gain entry, anyone over 11 years will have to provide proof of full vaccination (both doses, with the second at least 14 days prior to the festival) OR proof of a negative NHS Lateral Flow Test taken prior to travel on the day of arrival at the festival OR proof of natural immunity based upon a positive PCR test within 180 days of the festival (including 10 days self-isolation following the result)
- All staff, including those who are double vaccinated, will take a lateral flow Covid test every 72 hours
- Testing every day is strongly encouraged for agencies, tour managers and artists on sleeper buses during show days and those working in enclosed spaces
“The Camp Bestival team is very excited”
A Camp Bestival spokesperson said:
“The Camp Bestival team is very excited to be back in the Lulworth Estate’s spacious fields, preparing for our long-awaited movie-themed event.
“We’d like to extend our thanks to Dorset Council’s Safety Advisory Group, Public Health Dorset and Dorset Police who have worked with us over the past two years to ensure that the festival runs as safely and smoothly as possible.”
“Hopefully reduce any impact felt by the local community”
James Offer, Purbeck neighbourhood inspector at Dorset Police said:
“The return of Camp Bestival to Lulworth is the culmination of almost two years of work by the organisers, Dorset Council and partners.
“The organisers have been keen to work with us and have instituted a number of measures that will hopefully reduce any impact felt by the local community. Dorset Police officers will be on site to provide reassurance and deal with any problems.”
Further information
To find out more about the traffic management plan go to the roadworks and road closures page of the Dorset Council website and look at the map for Lulworth.