Friends of Brockwell Park (FoBP), the charity that has protected the interests of the park for more than 30 years, says today (11 December) that two three-day events planned there for next summer “will be a gigantic intrusion into our beloved park, the like of which we have never seen”.
Although the organisers of one event, Lovebox, and Lambeth council say that applications have been submitted for planning permission, tickets for the event have been on sale for some time. Lovebox is scheduled for mid-July.
The other event, Field Day, does not yet have tickets on sale online, but its Twitter and Instagram feeds are full of artwork advertising the planned Brockwell park dates at the beginning of June next year.
FoBP said its committee had decided unanimously to oppose applications for the two events because their size was “wholly unsuited to a small urban park such as Brockwell”.
It said the two events would be the largest gated and paid for events ever held in the park. The Lambeth Country Show held in the park for many years is free, as were large events like Rock Against Racism gigs that attracted huge crowds to Brixton.
Both events have previously been held in Victoria Park in East London which is not only substantially larger, but also almost completely flat, unlike Brockwell Park. Both events expect 40,000 visitors or more on consecutive days.
FoBP cited the Sunfall events in the park this year and in 2016 that were for one day only and had 20,000 visitors. “The vandalism, litter, brawling, urinating and defecation were terrible,” it said.
It believes the impact of 40-45,000 visitors a day for six days, with similar damaging behaviour, has not been seriously thought through and is not sustainable.
FoBP estimates that the revenue for the private organisers of the two events would be £6 million each. It says Brockwell Park would get £60,000 directly if this was achieved. Lambeth council would get a further “undisclosed but substantial fee”.
The charity said one commentator had claimed the council would get half a million pounds in total for the two events.
FoBP said: “The financial stakes both for the private organisers and the council are extraordinarily high and the FoBP fears that both will lose sight of whether there is any genuine benefit to the local community, apart from financial, that these two events will bring.
“Parks are not money trees for private companies or cash-strapped councils.”
In a statement FoBP listed five main reasons for its opposition:
- Exclusion of the local community “whose council taxes pay for the park” – damaging the park as “a safe and free haven for the young and the old, whatever their income, for families, for sportspeople, for dog walkers, and the mentally fragile”. FoBP sid that the events appeal to “a limited demographic of people who have the ability to pay £50 a day and upwards to attend them.” Two tickets for two days of Lovebox cost more than £150.
- Size of area taken: FoBP says that between a third and a half of the park will be fenced off. It said organisers’ maps showed the park from the Herne Hill Gate to the Lido would be sealed off completely – with damaging financial consequences for the park’s model railway, which would be unable to run for weeks on end, “almost certainly jeopardising its long-term survival”. The main path from the Herne Hill Gate to Brockwell Hall would be closed. The park’s Redgra pitch will also be out of bounds.
- Time: FoBP said there would be 46 days of event occupation (build-up, event and breakdown) out of 67 days between 20 May and 25 July, a period including half term and other holidays.
- Noise: The charity said Lambeth council would permit the highest decibel levels from 12 noon to 10.30pm, “deafening in the park” and deeply disturbing and intrusive for a large area outside it.
- Environment: The footfall of 40-45,000 visitors a day for six days and the many heavy vehicles installing and dismantling the events would be “an intolerable burden on the ecology of the park, even in good weather,” said FoBP. “If there is bad weather, the damage will be horrendous,” it added. The impact on Brockwell Park’s rich wildlife, including in 2017 the hatching of cygnets and the appearance of a kingfisher, were of “deep concern”.
Like the residents’ organisation that sprang up with a change.org petition after event organisers posted details to local homes, FoBP stressed that it is not opposed to music or open-air events.
“‘Of course those who can afford it should enjoy open air concerts of the music they like,” said FoBP char Peter Bradley. “But not in a small urban park such as Brockwell. It just does not have the capacity to host such gigantic events. We oppose them utterly.”
Lambeth Green Party has called for full and transparent consultation on the festivals and for the consultation period to be extended.
Lambeth council said that neither event had yet received full planning permission.
Councillor Sonia Winifred, council cabinet member for equalities and culture, said: “There are two new major commercial events proposed for Brockwell Park in June and July. Several layers of rigorous scrutiny, including licensing, safety advisory group, community engagement and planning permission, must be achieved before an event can proceed.”
She said the concerns of residents would be carefully considered.
“If agreed,” she said, “these events will be carefully managed so any disruptions for locals will be minimised, apprenticeships will be offered, local businesses will be boosted and extra money will be received to help fund the Lambeth Country Show and pay for park improvements.”
Lovebox, which started out in Lambeth on Clapham Common, has said that “importantly” it wanted to be “the catalyst for local community events and support throughout the year,” adding: “We’ve already started to engage with local groups like Friends of Brockwell Park and the Brockwell Park Management Committee.”
A wholly owned subsidiary of Live Nation, the world’s largest live events business, Lovebox has a website to receive feedback on the event and says it will set up a “community advisory steering group”.
It said it would take on five full–time apprentices from Lambeth and was “working closely with a number of local groups and organisations to ensure the event reflects the rich cultural and music history of the area and that it truly feels like Lambeth’s own.”
Field Day/The Mighty Hoopla (1-3 June)
Lovebox/Citadel (13-15 July)
Good On FoBP for standing up for Brockwell Park & Local Residents/Community. I think it’s a bad idea to have Field Day & Lovebox in Brockwell Park as it’s not the right Location for huge commercial events like these for many reasons. Not enough thought goes into the impact they have on the local community & the Park itself and the local communities voice needs to be heard. Especially the people that use the park on a regular basis. It’s seems like Money is always the driving force onto why the council allow these events to take place. Which is a shame!
Aren’t Lambeth solely required to look after the park for the recreation of local residents?
Under the cloak of the specially crafted secrecy which Lambeth have put round this years’ plans, I smell the whiff of corruption.
BPCP is chaired by a former local Councillor. It no longer puts notices of public meetings on its website, presumably because they don’t want clued up park goers attending. Sad.
I’ve just checked on the ‘Lambeth Consultations’ website – neither open nor closed ‘consultations’ include anything about these events. Lambeth -how are these consultations being carried out and how am I so ignorant of them? Finding out through a ginger group is not open government – nor does everyone wish to channel their views through a third party.
Am I right in thinking That Lovebox and the Country Show will be on successive weekends in July? Or is the Country Show moving to accommodate it? And what is the radius of this so-called consultation of residents? I’m 5 minutes away on a road directly leading to the Park and used by festival goers in the past – and not a sniff of information or a consultation . Lambeth Council , I’m afraid, have got this terribly wrong. Helen Hayes MP sat on the Select Committee looking into Park use – am looking forward to her robust criticism of her Labour colleagues.
Adam – there has been no meaningful consultation with residents. Our flat backs onto Brockwell Park and we’ve had no mention from the council.
Did you not know to consult with and pass your views on to the resident stakeholders’ representatives on the voting committee, Brockwell Park Community Partners? They have a very helpful website … if you are looking for info on a 2015 dog show. Their front page also helpfully draws your attention to a flute duo playing in Brockwell Hall two months ago. Sadly no mention of the current consultation, which ends today.
Unfit for purpose. Not their fault. A very typical Lambeth set up.
Truly shocking. One of my concerns is that it’s happening regardless and the deal was probably done on the nod possibly before Sunrise . What people really must watch for is an exclusive contract like AEG’s at Victoria Park where privatisation of the park by stealth happens . Soon it will monitored like a mall where security people move in weeks before an event.