Reading Organiser Fined

The company behind Reading and Leeds as been fined £4000 over alleged health and safety breaches.

Reading and Leeds go from strength to strength each year. The festival has increased in capacity and attracted larger acts than ever, with this summer's event boasting Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead and more.

However there are those who criticise the festival. An incident in 2006 has now resulted in accusations of breaching health and safety regulations, with the festival organisers being fined £4000.

An incident in 2006 resulted in two men being injured when a crane ran into power lines during preparations for the festival in August 2006.

In addition to this, Reading Festival Limited has agreed to pay over £20,000 in costs for the prosecution.

Earlier, promoter Melvin Benn had more than eighteen charges against him dropped. The local council had accused Benn of failing to ensure the safety of contractors, but Reading council withdrew the charges.

The lawyer for the defence admitted that the organisers had made mistakes, but that they had been "hugely over-prosecuted" when a total of 36 charges were brought against them.

Reading Council in turn admitted that it had not spotted the danger of working underneath electric wires. Deputy District Judge Peter Greenfield said it was "rather strange neither the council nor the company took the time to realise there might be a hazard from the over-head wires".

"Luckily it wasn't as catastrophic as it might have been," he added.

Reading Borough Council said: "The council is satisfied the serious and overarching charges pleaded guilty to by Reading Festival Ltd today reflect the most serious aspects this case."