Fears thousands of gatecrashers will target Fatboy gig

4:20am Saturday 27th September 2008

Warning have been issued today amid fears good weather will attract thousands of extra fans to Fatboy Slim’s beach party.

Police, organisers and council officials have urged anyone without a ticket to the event to stay well away from Madeira Drive, where Big Beach Boutique 4 is taking place.

They said only the 22,000 ticket holders would be let in to the fenced off venue and people would not be able to see or hear the show from outside.

Forecasters have predicted clear skies and temperatures around 18C (64.4F) today and Brighton and Hove City Council said the conditions would attract thousands of extra visitors to the city.

A council spokesman said: “We are always delighted when daytrippers from London and other areas come to the city but in this case we are saying loud and clear that people who don't have tickets for the Big Beach Boutique 4 should stay away from the event and its immediate surroundings.”

The first 19,000 tickets to the concert were sold exclusively to people with a BN postcode in a bid to prevent a repeat of the DJ’s free performance in 2002, when 250,000 fans unexpectedly packed into the city and caused chaos.

Fatboy Slim’s spokeswoman Jo Brooks said: “We’re hearing from a lot of people now who don’t have tickets but are thinking about coming. We need to make it clear that it is all-ticket, it is sold out and no-one else will get in. It won’t be worth people’s while to turn up on spec.”

Warnings have also been displayed in London's Evening Standard paper and aired on radio stations.

More than 100 event stewards will be monitoring the gig site and an extra 100 officers have been put on duty by Sussex Police.

They will be responsible for moving on anyone who gathers at the edges of the fenced area.

Madeira Drive, which runs between the Palace Pier and Brighton Marina, has been closed to traffic and has barriers installed at either end blocking the roadway and the beach. An extra barrier has been erected on the Marine Parade promenade above the event site so people cannot watch from there.

Chief Inspector Pete Mills, who will be in charge of the Sussex Police operation, said: “We are preparing for 22,000 people because that is what the event is. I am comfortable and confident police working with the stewards and other officials can manage any problems.”

Coastguards will monitor the shoreline for overloaded boats and people trying to land on the beach.

No estimates have been made for how many extra fans could turn up, however it is believed there could be more than 100,000 people around the city.

Figures from Brighton Business Forum showed that 51,000 passed by its counter in Western Road last Saturday, which was also clear and warmer than much of the summer.

They said that figure was taken as a guideline and only represented one part of the city. They said there were likely to have been tens of thousands more even without the lure of a major concert.

The city council spokesman said: "People hanging around either trying to get in or trying to listen to the music could cause congestion on the roads and pavements and potentially cause over-crowding around the area. This also goes for people who live in the city.

"By all means people should get outside and enjoy the sunshine but we would ask them to think responsibly and not cause any problems.”

A park and ride bus service will ferry fans to the event from Mill Lane at the A23/A27 junction.

The event starts at 3pm and closes at 10pm. Fatboy Slim is due on stage at 8pm.

• Don't miss The Argus for full coverage of Big Beach Boutique 4.

We will feature all the news from the gig both in the paper and at theargus.co.uk.

We will have a twelve page picture special on Monday, September 29, and a video report on the night.

We want your pictures and videos too as well as your thoughts on the gig. Send them by text to 80360, starting your message with the words THE ARGUS.

Alternatively, email them to news@theargus.co.uk.

In an exclusive offer fans will be able to download Norman Cook’s latest single from theargus.co.uk on Monday. He has produced the track Toe Jam as “chairman” of new outfit Brighton Port Authority. To get your hands on it you’ll need a password from Monday’s paper.