Local residents launch legal fight against “unlawful” London festivals
A group of disgruntled South London residents have crowdfunded over £30,000 to launch a legal fight against music festivals in Brockwell Park.
Festivals that are under fire include Wide Awake, Field Day, Cross The Tracks, Mighty Hoopla, and City Splash.
The Crowdfund page outlines a series of complaints, accusing the council of “manipulating planning laws”. The group are also rallying against environmental damage and the blocking of public access to the park for extended periods.
Despite their complaints, the events company Brockwell Live has a lawful development certificate. This document allows the company to temporarily change the space for a maximum of 28 days. However, Protect Brockwell Park claims that, in reality, this stretches to over 38 days when construction and pack-down are considered.
Lucy Akrill, a Protect Brockwell Park campaigner, said: “So many people within the community have just had enough with the fact that the council claims they consult with the community”.
The group have taken matters into their own hands. London Centric reports that the group have sent a pre-action letter to the council claiming the granting of licenses for the events is “unlawful”.
The festivals in question will bring some big names to the London park. Kneecap and CMAT are the headliners for Wide Awake, while Peggy Gou will grace Field Day with a live DJ set.
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