MP’s working for T in the P return
Perthshire MP Pete Wishart hopes council action might be able to tempt T in the Park back to the area.
The SNP politician met festival boss Geoff Ellis to discuss the future of the Strathallan Castle Estate event after DF Concerts pulled the plug on the 2017 music feast and hinted the 2018 show was “unlikely” to go ahead.
At the same time, T’s traditional slot in early July was taken by the TRNSMT event in Glasgow which proved such a success it is returning in 2018.
With that in mind, Mr Wishart spoke to Mr Ellis to see what could be done to restore Scotland’s biggest music event in Perthshire, which falls in Mr Wishart’s neighbouring Westminster seat of Ochil and South Perthshire, held by Tory MP Luke Graham. Mr Wishart said: “I had a very useful and productive meeting with DF Concerts boss Geoff Ellis to better understand his plans for a future festival and some of the issues and difficulties around the Strathallan site.
“DF Concerts have a long historic association with Perth and Kinross-shire and I am keen to explore if there is some way back for T in the Park or any successor festival.”
He pointed out that planning disputes had “plagued the Strathallan experience” which was also hit by bad weather and traffic trouble since it moved from Balado, but he hopes Perth and Kinross Council can work with him to restore the event in some format. He continued: “I will now be getting in touch with Perth and Kinross Council to see if we can design a package that might encourage DF and Live Nation to come back to Perthshire.
“The various political games played by Conservative politicians must also stop.
“The collateral reputational damage endured by DF by the Conservatives’ petty political attacks on a grant awarded to assist with relocation costs to Strathallan came right at the time when the festival was at its most vulnerable.
“Self-defeating stunts like that must never be repeated. I hope the Conservative politicians now join me in helping bring a major festival back to Perthshire.
“Geoff Ellis said that he was now considering the future for a full camping experience festival.
“Perthshire must be ready to be in the frame to once again host one of Europe’s top music festivals.”