As well as installing access roads to facilitate the movement of traffic around the site, TPA also erect the perimeter fencing to secure it from non ticket holding ‘visitors.’ The unique steerable fence panels, once installed, hugs the undulations of the ground providing a neat and professional finish. Last year the organisers were so impressed by TPA’s performance that they bestowed the Project Team with the rarely given ‘gold’ award for their service and dedication. However, 2009 saw some enthusiastic fans deciding that certain sections of the fence made an ideal three metre high perch from which to see their favourite bands perform - a potential health and safety nightmare. So this year, again using stocks of the traditional aluminium panels, the TPA team designed and built a five metre high ‘super’ fence instead.
This certainly stopped the perchers in their tracks and, even more impressively, the super fence managed to withstand the 70 miles per hour gusts of wind that hit the site during the build-up. The organisers were so amazed that they re-named the fence the ‘Berlin Wall’ due to its ability to withstand the inclement weather!
The 2010 event, which headlined Muse, Eminen and Kasabian amongst many others, attracted over 85,000 fans that flocked to see in excess of 180 bands over the festival’s three days. It took four TPA crews just over four weeks to install the fencing and roadways using over 4,000 panels and many rolls of MD40. The five metre section was erected in just one day and Events Project Manager Steve Hancock and Operations Manager Terry Mead were on site throughout the build up to ensure that the install went according to plan; “This is the fourth consecutive year that we’ve been awarded this contract” commented Terry, “so we know the site extremely well. We couldn’t however predict that the British weather would throw 70mph winds at us in June! The new fence sections performed brilliantly and the organisers were once again delighted with the results – the fence climbing fans probably less so!”
TPA supplies a multitude of major outdoor summer events including the Wimbledon Championships, Royal Ascot and the RHS flower shows at Tatton Park and Hampton Court Palace as well as many other music festivals.
