Camping axed at Santa Pod event
Last-minute council decision forces Japshow Lite goers to cancel or find hotels
A shock ruling by Bedford Borough Council forced organisers at Santa Pod to remove camping facilities days before its 15-16 August Japshow Lite.
The venue had recently re-introduced camping under eased lockdown restrictions and offered free camping to anyone who bought multi-day tickets. At present, CCW understands that only camping for Japshow Lite has been removed; camping at other shows is still possible, but subject to change.
Organisers were informed of Bedford Borough Council’s decision – informed by rising infection rates in and around Northampton – on the evening of 12 August, with many showgoers expressing anger on Santa Pod’s Facebook page.
A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson told Classic Car Weekly: ‘With Bedford Borough and Northampton both listed as areas of concern due to high infection rates, we have worked with Santa Pod to find a solution for them to open safely this weekend. Unfortunately this has meant they have cancelled camping at the site amongst the extra measures they are introducing.
‘We recognise that this will be disappointing for many but our priority remains the safety of those attending and reducing the spread of the virus.’
Responding publicly to the council’s decision in an online statement, Santa Pod’s chief executive officer, Keith
Bartlett, said: ‘I would like to make it quite clear that this action to cancel the camping this weekend was put upon us by Bedford Borough Council.
‘Had we not taken these steps to cancel the camping this weekend then Bedford Borough Council would have banned all spectators for the whole duration of the event.
‘ This is not something we want to do or have ever had to do in the last 25 years.’
❚ santapod.co.uk