Things to consider when organising an event

The weather will play a major role in the success of your event.

Even though most outdoor events take place in summer, high winds and rain are still possible.

You should monitor weather forecasts leading up to your event and be prepared to make changes to your plans to reflect weather conditions on the day of your event.

If wind and rain are forecast: 

• The ground could become slippery or inaccessible.
• Temporary structures may need additional anchorage or be removed altogether.
• In wet conditions, vehicles may leave the event site and spread mud and debris onto the road. This can be extremely hazardous to motorists, and you should have plans in place to deal with this. You will be charged for costs relating to any cleaning of the roads if South Tyneside Council staff are called to remove debris.

Ground conditions can vary a lot from day-to-day and site-to-site.

You should be aware of any steep slopes or undulations in the ground as well as wet or slippery surfaces.

You may need to divert the public away from certain areas if ground conditions become hazardous.

Extreme weather conditions

Think about what you will do if there are extreme weather conditions on the day of your event:

• Will you cancel the event?
• Can you move it to another indoor venue?
• Are there any other facilities you will need to bring in at short notice to cope with the weather?
• If the weather or other problems stops the main attraction from turning up, how will you deal with the disappointed crowds?

South Tyneside Council reserves the right to cancel events because of unsuitable weather or ground conditions.

If the weather has been particularly bad in the week(s) leading up to your event, we will arrange to meet you on-site to discuss this.

We will work with you to create a Wet Weather Contingency Plan if your event is at risk.