Brockwell Park Festivals Proposals

We learn that Lambeth Council’s plans to allow music festivals again in Brockwell Park are well advanced, all subject of course to COVID-19.

Published documents now available on Brixton Buzz show that a Summer Event Series 2021 is envisaged, with up to six large / major event days taking place over two consecutive weekends, and medium / small community event days taking place in the weekdays between.

Final decisions will supposedly be made next spring. But the Council has naturally been in discussion with the operators already, and appears disposed to grant permission. So, pandemic permitting, the park will again hold a major event organised by Mighty Hoopla, plus other events.

The occupation of a large area of the park would start on Wednesday 26 May (when the contractors are admitted) lasting until Sunday 20 June 2021 when the derig ends. Allow several more weeks for repairing any damage done to the ground of the park, though the festival organisers pay a deposit in advance for making good any damage caused.

On "Major Event Days", planning will be in place to accommodate 25,000 on site each day. On "Large Event Days" (mid-week community days), planning will be in place to accommodate up to 10,000 on site.

Divisive?

As in previous years, the prospect of such events provokes controversy.

Some people are content to see the park used in ways that brings fun to mainly young(ish) people, and some financial benefit to the Council and some local businesses. Others are opposed to offering this public amenity to what are, in effect, commercial operators whose events can damage the park, create noise disturbance and disrupt local streets.

According to a recent Brixton Buzz article, The Friends of Brockwell Park, in particular, are leading the outcry and inviting people to protest to Lambeth Councillors by 8 December, and to the events team at Lambeth Council at [email protected]. Any local resident is entitled to comment of course.