Campaigners’ partial victory over festivals, two music events moved from Lambeth but two more remain

BY CALUM FRASER
calum@slpmedia.co.uk

Community groups were celebrating a partial victory this week after two music festivals planned for the summer were scrapped

Lovebox and Citadel festivals, which were due to take place in Brockwell Park this summer, have been moved to Gunnersbury Park in Ealing, after fears over noise pollution raised by locals.

However their short-lived celebrations turned sour when Lambeth council revealed it would be keeping two other music festivals – Field Day and the Mighty Hoopla – at the Herne Hill park.

Members of the Brockwell Tranquillity group say they are now considering taking the council to court over the decision.

Alice Salisbury, a spokeswoman for Brockwell Tranquillity, said: “Unless quite considerable changes are made to the proposals for Field Day, particularly around the size of the event, locals will likely press ahead with a judicial review.

“Lambeth are well aware that there are many ways in which the process and the policy haven’t met the required standards and they can’t shrug it off.”

A spokeswoman for the Friends of Brockwell Park charity group said: “We believe this is a deplorable decision that will do real harm to the park and its supportive surrounding communities.

“From the outset we have opposed the applications by Field Day and Lovebox on the grounds that their size was grossly disproportionate for a small, hilly urban park such as Brockwell.

“It was good news on January 31 that Lovebox and Citadel had decided to withdraw its application. But on the same day, Field Day and The Mighty Hoopla announced it had received permission from Lambeth Council to go ahead with its major event in June half term, a time particularly precious for local families.”

Field Day will be held on June 1 and 2 with a daily capacity crowd of 25,000, while The Mighty Hoopla will be on June 3 with a maximum capacity of 20,000.

Lovebox, Citadel, Field Day and The Mighty Hoopla announced their move from Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets to Brockwell park in December and punters have been buying tickets thinking this is the case since then.

“These tickets will now be transferable. Opposition leader councillor Tim Briggs said: “We are pleased that Lovebox in Brockwell Park has moved elsewhere, as clearly there was no consultation or mandate from residents.

“We hope Labour councillors will listen to other parts of the borough  where  green spaces are over-exploited.”

Field Day co-founder Marcus Weedon said: “We’re delighted to be hosting Field Day 2018 in South London.

“We look forward to working with Lambeth council, residents, local businesses and stakeholder groups to ensure the event in Brockwell Park is a huge success and lay the foundation for what we hope is our home for many years to come.

“We’ve had 11 incredible and memorable years in Victoria Park and very much look forward to bringing Field Day to Brockwell Park over two days in June.”

Cllr Sonia Winifred, cabinet member for equalities and culture, said: “We have listened and taken on board what residents have said.

“The experience and insight we have gained through our engagement process will be fed into our events strategy which is subject to annual review.”