Christopher BarrettA High Court ruling today (16 May) has the potential to impact the future of festivals in London’s Brockwell Park, with lawyers demanding the forthcoming Brockwell Live shows are cancelled.
Shows booked at the park include the Brockwell Live series run by Summer Events Ltd, among them are Field Day (24 May), Wide Awake (23 May), Cross The Tracks (25 May), City Splash (26 May) and Mighty Hoopla (31 May). While Brockwell Live produces the shows, they are promoted by companies including Broadwick Live and Superstruct, with the latter owning Field Day, Mighty Hoopla (pictured) and Cross The Tracks. There is also the Lambeth Country Show that is produced by Brockwell Live in partnership with Lambeth Council.
The Court ruled that Lambeth Council acted unlawfully by allowing large-scale commercial festivals in Brockwell Park without proper planning permission or public scrutiny.
Local residents group Protect Brockwell Park created a crowdfunding campaign to finance legal action to bring an end to festivals being staged in the Lambeth-based park. The campaigners wanted to legally challenge Lambeth Council, which had granted a certificate of lawful development enabling commercial events to be staged in Brockwell Park without the need for planning permission. The claimant, Rebekah Shaman, said the change of use permission only enabled the park to be used for events for 28 days per year, and the Court found that parts of the park would be used for event for as much as 37 days.
Protect Brockwell Park, which involves high-profile members including the actor Mark Rylance, said they welcomed today’s court ruling. In a statement, the group said the judgment, handed down by Mr Justice Mould, “sets a vital precedent for the protection of public parks and green spaces across London and beyond”.
“This is a victory not just for Brockwell Park but for communities everywhere fighting to preserve their green spaces,” said the group’s co-founder Lucy Akrill. “Parks should not be handed over for private profit without proper oversight.”
“We are not opposed to well-managed, appropriately scaled community events. But what’s happening in Brockwell Park is neither appropriate nor sustainable. We reject the assumption that this beloved public green space is a suitable venue for massive and damaging festivals,” said Shaman.
A spokesperson for Summer Events said the company was considering the judgment with its legal team and it would not be appropriate to comment further while legal proceedings are ongoing.
In a letter from the claimant’s solicitors Goodenough Ring to Lambeth Council, it claims that the effect of the judgment is that the Brockwell Live events do not have planning permission, and that consequently the organisers of Brockwell Live are in breach of their contract of hire with the Council, and will continue to be in breach when the events are due to take place.
In response to the news, Association of Independent Festivals CEO John Rostron emphasised the important contribution festivals make to local businesses, the community and beyond.
“Parks, fields and common ground are for everyone – and festivals are for everyone too,” he said. “Festivals are often a celebration of the place where they are created and held. Promoters work closely with local authorities, residents, communities and audiences to ensure events are responsible, sustainable, respectful and integrated into the area that hosts them. Many make significant contributions to the health and wellbeing agendas of that area, as well as economic contributions through local supply purchasing or audience spend in the community, fundraising and donations to local causes, and to opportunities for participation.”