The Giants

[said]

Just got back from Liverpool. A group of us took the kids to see The Giants. The puppets are fantastic to watch and the kids were thrilled to see them but..........
The number of people was massive, so huge that the organisers could not control the crowds and had to make instantaneous changes to the parade due to the number of people crammed along the route. One child at least got split from his mother and was in tears when a quick thinking observer placed the child on his shoulders and was shouting out that a child had been found repeatedly until the child was reunited with his very distraught mother. The security that was organised was left to a large number of ineffective students hired for the task, who almost caused a riot when they began physically pushing the crowds back - one guy narrowly missed getting into trouble when he pushed a massive 6ft 5" guy in the chest telling him to get back - which he was unable to do because the crowds had moved forward behind him and he would have crushed them into the barriers which had been ignored by the crowds. Not to even think about physical assault, which the guy pleasantly reminded the student of. Still they did their best in a very difficult situation that they were not familiar with. The barriers were loose and posed more of a risk than if they had not been there - at least one fell over causing people and children to almost trip over it. Traffic cones along the roads were another hazard as people were looking up - not down. Pushchairs and wheelchairs posed another problem and users were unable to move anywhere. But on the whole, the event went over well, and people managed themselves excellently considering the almighty crushing crowds, trying to ensure that children could see the parading puppets as they passed by. A very entertaining day to say the least!

[Ceam]

We went today, Had a great time, As is always the case with events like this, Some people think the rules don't apply to them. It was crazy busy, Fortunately I didn't see any issues.

Manage to park in an NCP car park that was on a special £4.50 rate for the day. Which was just on the right side of the parade so we managed to get in and leave with very little issues.

[crocodile35]

Excellent day. Well done to merseyrail superb organisation at Moorefields station,good queuing system ,six carriages on trains got us away safely and quickly. All staff acted in a respectful and professional manner.

[Hamble]

Wish we could have gone to see.

Fantastic event for Liverpool.

[Rigsby]

Excellent day. Well done to merseyrail superb organisation at Moorefields station,good queuing system ,six carriages on trains got us away safely and quickly. All staff acted in a respectful and professional manner.

A lot of extra “helpers” directing and keeping people informed of what was going on.

I really couldn’t see any logic in closing Hillside station, I really don’t see what difference it made, especially on the Friday as a lot of Greenbank pupils use the station to get to and from school.

[salus.populi]

Thought it was superbly organised. There's a limit to how much crowd control can be done when the crowds need to be able to come and go as they please for an all day event that moves around a city and those not watching the event need to go about their business. It's not like keeping people in a stadium for 2 hours.
I saw nothing but good behaviour and good humour.
It's a shame it's the last one but hopefully Royal de Luxe will return with something different.
Say what you like about Liverpool but it's a great venue for events like that.

[chrismatt.]

Had a fantastic day in Liverpool watching the show. Well done to Liverpool and all involved in organising this magnificent event

[said]

Excellent day. Well done to merseyrail superb organisation at Moorefields station,good queuing system ,six carriages on trains got us away safely and quickly. All staff acted in a respectful and professional manner.

I totally agree - for a service where you hardly see any personnel on the platforms, to suddenly be faced by a highly efficient Merseyrail army , it was a very pleasant surprise and absolutely trouble free.

[said]

Wish we could have gone to see.

Fantastic event for Liverpool.

You would have enjoyed it - in particular viewing the Albert Dock Road. You will be pleased to know that this road is in RED tarmac!

[chrismatt.]

Please do not reopen the red tarmac thread.

We all know we have been done over by Sefton Council on the resurfacing of Lord Street.