Glastonbury Festival 2024: More toilets needed says council

More toilets, better crowd control and clearer allergen information are among recommendations to improve the Glastonbury Festival.

Somerset Council, the official licensing authority for the world-famous event, has made the suggestions for 2024.

The recommendations focus on ways to improve public safety and prevent crime and disorder.

The festival organisers said they will "take the recommendations on board".

Dave Coles, the council's head of regulatory services, said that the 2023 Glastonbury Festival "overall was very well-run", with the majority of the feedback from the 2022 festival being taken on board and acted upon.

However, he said that "continuous improvement" was needed for the event, which takes place at Worthy Farm near Pilton.

Mr Coles' recommendations for improvements include better crowd control, food vendors displaying relevant allergen information, better walkways and additional toilets and water refill stations.

Councillor Susannah Hart said that the majority of her constituents in Glastonbury supported the festival but urged the council to continue heeding the concerns of local residents.

She said: "Generally people who live locally make one of two choices. They either get on board and join in and have the fun, or they actually go away for a few days - because if it's not for you, everyday life becomes quite difficult.

"People accept that it's just how it is, there's nothing they can do to change it - but I think the impact on locals who don't want to be a part of it is very significant."

The event's organisers, Glastonbury Festival Events, said that it "accepted" the council's recommendations and "would work closely with its licensing team to ensure the 2024 festival went off without a hitch".

A spokesperson said: "We were very pleased with the local authority's overall feedback that the event was 'once again well-planned and managed'."

The 2024 festival will be held at Worthy Farm from 26 to 30 June.

Somerset Council took over from Mendip District Council as the Glastonbury Festival licensing authority following the latter's abolition in April.