Jayney Gage, a 58-year-old wheelchair user from Wellington, Somerset, was left devastated after being allocated a campsite two miles away from Festival in the Hills in Taunton, preventing her from fully accessing the event she had eagerly anticipated for over a year. Living with complex medical conditions including seizures, chronic pain, and osteoarthritis, Jayney had planned to attend the festival with her husband and her carer—who is also her closest friend.
Despite purchasing early bird tickets last year, upon arrival, Jayney and her group were redirected to a remote farmer’s field reachable only by a narrow dirt lane. The festival organizers had arranged a minibus to shuttle campers to and from the site, but it wasn’t wheelchair accessible, making it impossible for Jayney to board. Her husband and carer chose to stay with her, unable to leave their support behind.
Jayney described the conditions in the distant campsite as inadequate, with only three portable toilets, no showers or water facilities, and no proper place to dispose of chemical waste from motorhomes—forcing campers to empty waste into toilets, raising hygiene and safety concerns, especially with children present. The lack of accessible amenities and isolation left Jayney feeling trapped and deeply disappointed.
READ MORE: 1,600 New Homes in Taunton to Proceed Without Government Funding
READ MORE: Somerset Father’s Life Altered by Hearing Loss Linked to Faulty Earplugs
A spokesperson for Festival in the Hills acknowledged that more campers than anticipated brought larger setups, exceeding the area prepared. They admitted to not imposing size restrictions on camping spaces and expressed regret for the resulting inconvenience. The festival follows “The Purple Guide,” an industry standard for health and safety at music events, and the organizers emphasize the event’s non-profit status dedicated to supporting local communities and charities.
Although police and fire services approved site operations, the organizers recognized their failure in campsite planning and promised to contact affected attendees, including Jayney, for next steps. Jayney has since confirmed she was contacted and refunded after raising her concerns. She hopes her experience will lead to better accessibility and accommodation at future festivals.