Victorious Festival to foot bill for damaged grass at Southsea Common

With thousands of revellers descending on Southsea Common over the three-day event, the area has taken a battering '“ especially following the heavy rain over much of today.

The council has moved to assure residents that everything will be done to have the Common back to its best as soon as possible.

Councillor Steve Pitt, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: '˜Despite the typically inclement British summer weather, this weekend's Victorious Festival has been attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

'˜The combination of heavy rain and wet ground and lots of festival-goers and vehicles using the Common and other grassed areas around the seafront is likely to result in some damage to the grass.

'˜Measures have already been put in place to protect the grass during the last day of the festival, particularly in areas where there are lots of vehicles using the site. The event organisers will also take extra care when taking the site down to minimise damage to the grass.

'˜Once the festival is over, the event organisers will work with the council's parks department, as they have done successfully in previous years, to make sure the areas of damaged grass are properly repaired and reseeded and brought back to a good standard.  All the costs of reinstating the grass will be met by Victorious.'