By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:44, Thursday, 20 September 2012

Organisers of the Kendal Calling music festival appeared at Carlisle Crown Court after a contractor was severely injured while setting up the stage at Lowther Park two years ago.

They all pleaded not guilty to charges brought by Eden council which alleged that they had failed to ensure the safety of people doing preparatory work at Hackthorpe, near Penrith, in the run-up to the festival in July 2010.

The charges follow an incident in which crane driver Donald Berry, 46, of Radcliffe, near Bury, suffered serious brain damage after hitting a high-voltage overhead cable. He was left immobile and unable to communicate and needs 24-hour care.

In court yesterday were three directors of the companies involved in running the festival.

Ben Robinson, 31, of Low Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, and Andrew Smith, 25, of The Promenade, Arnside, – both directors of Kendal Calling Limited – were charged with failing, through “consent, connivance or neglect”, to discharge their duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure that Mr Berry and others were not exposed to danger

They were also charged with failing to discharge a similar duty of care under the Electricity at Work regulations.

Jason Warren Piper, 47, of Wye Street, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire was charged as a director of Piper Event Services Limited, with a similar offence of failing to ensure the safety of persons, including Mr Berry.

The two companies - Kendal Calling Limited and Piper Event Services Limited – faced separate charges.

The trial will start in front of Cumbria’s top judge, Paul Batty QC, the Honorary Recorder of Carlisle, on February 25.

The three men were allowed bail.

First published at 11:27, Thursday, 20 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk