Farmer starts harvest after ravers leave
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EDWARD FOSS
31 August 2004 19:48
The last of the partygoers who invaded a family farm for a four-day rave left the North Norfolk clifftop site on Tuesday, allowing the landowners to return to normality and restart a hindered harvest.
The number of ravers dwindled throughout the day, with police expecting the last to have gone by dark. Meanwhile concerns were repeated by landowners and residents about how the rave, held on National Trust land between Weybourne and Sheringham, was allowed to happen in the first place.
Some people blamed the policing strategy, some the ravers and some the legislation involved – some cited all three as responsible on various levels.
A senior police officer said there had been no major problems at the site and stressed that the policing strategy had been identified in the early stages of the gathering and had been consistently adhered to.
“We decided on Saturday morning how we were going to play it and we stuck with that,” said Supt Vaughan Mullender.
“So in that respect it was a successful weekend.”
One raver fell or jumped from the cliff on Tuesday morning and ended up in the sea – reports suggested he had been helped to safety by a police officer before being taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital by ambulance.
As farmer Nigel Smith attempted to get back to business, he said the combine harvester started cutting late in the afternoon and he hoped they would be able to complete two or three hours harvesting before darkness or dew became a problem.
The family had decided not to harvest as planned on Saturday because of a health and safety concern that ravers might be asleep or unconcious in or near the field. Around 100 acres of barley remained to be cut out of a total of 1200 acres.
Mr Smith said there were about 30 cars left by around 5pm and added that nearly all of the rubbish in the area where the rave was held was cleared up by the ravers. He described the scene as “very tidy”.
“The tidying is apparently their modus operandi, they do the same at each location they go to.
“I am pleased to some degree that they have cleared up, but that doesn’t change the fact they came here uninvited for four days.
Sheringham resident Sara Bland said she had no problem with youngsters having fun, but she objected to having her sleep interrupted.
“When the wind blows in the right direction we couldn’t hear anything, but it came round and for two nights I slept very badly.
“As a nurse I have a responsible job to go to and I need my sleep.
“It seems the organisers were simply putting a metaphorical finger up to people, without realising there is a better way of doing things.”
Countryside Alliance spokeswoman Liz Mort said she felt the police did not have significant back up from the law.
“The issue needs looking at very seroiusly,” she added. “It is very worrying for people who experience this kind of thing on their land.”
