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London Strawberry Festival organizers ask council to revise new street layout, raise safety and setup concerns
Summary
Representatives of the London Strawberry Festival urged City Council to change a recently adopted street layout and the 72-hour setup rule, citing safety, emergency access and vendor logistics. Council members and festival organizers agreed to continue discussions and to route technical questions to safety services and festival staff.
Clarsen Ramey, the Queen’s director for the London Strawberry Festival, told City Council on Feb. 6 that the festival’s volunteer organizers appreciate the city’s expanded footprint this year but have “concerns regarding the new street setup implemented last year.”
Ramey said the configuration puts elderly attendees, parents with strollers and people with mobility issues at risk because cords and hoses cross the roadway and the protective boxes used last year are “too bulky.” She asked the council to allow vendors to set up Wednesday evening rather than force all set-up within the 72-hour window that currently starts three days before the event. “Allocating only 72 hours forces vendors to set up the same day as the festival opens, creating safety issues and confusion among attendees,” Ramey said.
The festival representative also questioned the city’s emergency-access assumptions for the downtown…
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