The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Carnival atmosphere awaits...
Cars without a disabled access ticket will be turned away from the site
The final preparations are being made at Camperdown Park as Dundee gets ready for its biggest music event in more than a decade.
Carnival 56, the first large-scale music festival in the city since Radio One’s Big Weekend in 2006 will welcome some of the biggest names in pop, rock and dance music to several stages and tents over two days.
Production managers, sound engineers and stage hands have been toiling away getting tents and rigging in place in time for tomorrow.
Two large tents straddle either side of the site, which also hosted the Big Weekend 11 years ago.
Several other stages, including the Treehouse, Main and Discovery are dotted about, waiting to receive almost 12,000 people.
No stranger to large events, Camperdown Park is teeming with stewards in high visibility jackets, directing traffic for the wildlife centre to the appropriate parking spaces.
Police Chief Inspector Nicola Russell is advising people who plan on taking a car to the event that they will be turned away.
She said: “Our main priority for this weekend is to make sure everyone remains safe while having a great time.
“There will be a police presence on site and what I would say is if you see officers, come and say hello to them.
“We will be working with the stewards and festival management who will be responsible for site security, but we are there of course to help.
“There are risk assessments being carried out right up to and including the day.
“I would advise all attendees to take note of the advice being given, be aware that there will be 100% bag checks in place and have a look at what you can and cannot bring in.
“Plan ahead and be aware of where the drop-off and pick-up points are outside of the park.
“Any cars that do try to get in that do not have an advance disabled access ticket will be turned away.”
Event manager Steve Reynolds, who had been a member of the Big Weekend production team, said the weather had played a great part in helping get the site up quickly.
He said: “I don’t ever like to say we are ahead of schedule, but I would say we are not behind.
“Barring Monday’s downpour, the weather while we have been setting up has been fantastic and the site is holding up really well.
“Dundee has been really supportive and we have a responsibility to make sure there is as little impact to the park as possible.
“A hotline has been set up for local residents who may have concerns and we have been working closely with the council and others to make sure everyone nearby is entirely aware of what is going on.”
“Our main priority for this weekend is to make sure everyone remains safe while having a great time. There will be a police presence on site and what I would say is if you see officers, come and say hello to them. CHIEF INSPECTOR NICOLA RUSSELL