T in the Park bosses have given their strongest indication yet that the festival won’t be returning next year.
DF Concerts has kept tight-lipped about the future of Scotland’s biggest live music extravaganza.
The iconic summer show was put on hold this year after a series of problems at its new Strathallan Castle home.
Chief executive Geoff Ellis has said there are no firm plans in place for the event in 2018.
However, he has confirmed that his new Glasgow-based festival TRNSMT will return on the first weekend of July, next year – the traditional T in the Park weekend.
He has said that both festivals can “co-exist” but it is highly unlikely they would be held at the same time.
TRNSMT was held on Glasgow Green at the weekend and featured headline performances from Radiohead, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro.
DF Concerts yesterday declined to comment on T’s future, nor the significance of the new TRNSMT date.
Announcing plans for 2018 on Facebook, Mr Ellis said the new festival had been good for Glasgow. “The reaction in the city has been great,” he said. “We will continue to work closely with the local residents, get their feedback. The city council has also been really helpful and supportive, and they helped with the clean-up.
“There’s been a real team spirit and a friendly atmosphere back stage, so we feel we’ve got to come back.”
T in the Park pumped £2.7 million into the locally economy each year, and about £15.4 million nationally.
Councillor Colin Stewart, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment, enterprise and infrastructure committee said: “This festival has had its home in Perthshire for about 20 years and it would be a real shame if it didn’t return.
“We would be very happy to continue to work with DF Concerts about the possibility of bringing the festival back.”
He said: “I’m sure it is missed by local businesses, as well as the fans who want to have a festival where they can camp out for the weekend.”
DF Concerts will need to reapply for planning permission if it wants to return to Strathallan in 2018.
A statement issued by the company in November said this year’s show was axed because of recent “challenges” including the move from Balado, by Kinross, to Strathearn because of a gas pipeline rupture threat, as well as the need to apply for full planning consent because of protected ospreys.
“The constraints – logistically and financially – that the resulting planning conditions put upon us are simply not workable,” the statement added.
T IN THE PARK TIMELINE
1994 – First T in the Park held at Strathclyde Park in Hamilton. 17,000 gig-goers attend. Little known acts like Blur and Oasis appear on second stage.
1997 – After three successful years at the Lanarkshire park it moves venue to a much bigger venue – a disused airfied in Balado near Kinross.
2007 – Festival held for first time over three days but is overshadowed by traffic chaos caused by organisers shutting the main car park following heavy rain.
2011 – Aware of recurring health and safety issues regarding the Balado T in the Park site, Perth and Kinross Council commission research from Bell Ingram into finding suitable new sites. There’s a long-list of 14 but only two are recommended – an area south of Kinross and Middleton in Perthshire.
2012 – DF Concerts agree that the event must leave Balado because of the pipeline and a new search is undertaken.
June 2014 – After its “specifications change” DF Concerts announce its preferred option is Strathallan Castle. Initially its assumed that no planning permission will be required.
August 2014 – Environmental concerns about the site as it’s a habitat for nesting ospreys sees the Scottish Government demand a full planning process for the site.
2015 – The planning application is lodged and consultation closes with 523 comments – 240 in support of the plan, 274 opposed to it and nine neutral.
May 2015 – Planners recommend approving the proposal, which later wins backing from local councillors.
July 2015 – T makes its debut at Strathallan Castle, but the event is marred by major traffic problems. The event becomes the most complained about T in the Park.
May 2016 – Licence board gives go-ahead for second year at Strathallan after DF Concerts promise to make a series of improvements.
July 2016 – T in the Park returns to Strathallan, but the event is overshadowed by three drug-related deaths.
November 2016 – DF Concerts announce that T in the Park 2018 has been cancelled. They reject speculation that the show has been scrapped to concentrate on TRNSMT.
