Campaigners call for end to big festivals in park

Campaigners argue Brockwell Park is being "damaged beyond repair" by large-scale festivals

Campaigners who say summer festivals are causing long-term damage to a south London park have launched legal action against the local council.

Protect Brockwell Park argues the green space is being "damaged beyond repair" by large-scale events like Brockwell Live, which draws more than 285,000 attendees over nine days.

The campaign group has had backing from resident and actor Sir Mark Rylance, who says such festivals harm "the grass, trees and plant life for months if not for ever".

Lambeth Council said the area used for events had been independently assessed as being of "low ecological sensitivity grassland" and "no ecological damage" was caused as a result.

The campaign group, together with eight other community, parks, and nature organisations, has issued an open letter to Lambeth Council, calling for it to cease "large-scale, unsustainable events" that are "damaging the ecological fabric of the park" and to reconsider the approval of this year's event permit for Brockwell Live music festival.

Earlier this month, Protect Brockwell Park also initiated judicial review proceedings in the High Court to challenge the council's decision to allow Brockwell Live's commercial events to proceed under "permitted development" rules.

Those in favour of festivals at Brockwell Park say they rely heavily on them for increased footfall

The campaign group said this move bypassed "proper planning scrutiny" for what was "clearly a major, damaging change of use" in the park and that such a "significant change of use" should require a full planning application.

Protect Brockwell Park co-founder Lucy Akrill said: "Brockwell Park is not a resilient festival venue – it's a vital ecological and community sanctuary.

"We're not saying there should never be festivals – but the scale, frequency and environmental toll of these events is unsustainable.

"The council must stop treating this park as a commercial asset and start treating it with the respect it deserves."

In support of the campaigners, BAFTA winning actor Sir Mark said Brockwell Park was a "place for people and nature".

"The imposition of high steel walls for Brockwell Live every summer destroys the park for weeks and harms the grass, trees and plant life for months if not for ever," he said.

In previous years, residents living close to the park have also expressed their annoyance at "nightmare" noise levels from music festivals.

Lambeth Council said the area used was independently assessed as being of "low ecological sensitivity grassland"

However, some have spoken in support of events such as Brockwell Live.

Jennifer Labbett-Kelleher, owner of Off The Cuff, a nearby independent live music venue, said they relied on the festival for increased footfall and extended business opportunities.

She said: "We very much hope that no initiative deters Brockwell Live from contributing to thrive and foster a community that showcases Brockwell as a star of the London and gives a fantastic space to a limited set of concerts and events.

"Business owners like myself have struggled against so many odds to remain in business since Covid took such a devastating blow to the hospitality industry, from which we are still recovering."

Campaigners want festivals in the park to seek planning permission going forward

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said the authority had received a pre-action protocol letter in relation to a judicial review claim for Brockwell Park and it was currently considering it.

They also said the authority invested £500,000 a year in maintaining the park and that events held there "boost our local economy and provides jobs and income for residents, especially at a time when high streets and small traders have struggled, and when pubs are closing in record numbers".

"We work hard to engage with local people living around the park about events there, as well as people living across Lambeth in recognition of Brockwell Park's importance for our whole borough," the spokesperson said.

"Running the Lambeth Country Show in partnership with Brockwell Live saved the council £700,000 last year from the cost of putting on, as well as securing more than £150,000 for park investment and local community projects."

A spokesperson for Brockwell Live said they understood the importance of Brockwell Park to local residents and took their "stewardship seriously".

"We welcome scrutiny and maintain open channels for dialogue with residents, councillors, and community groups at all times," they added.