Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla and more “must be cancelled” after anti-festival campaigners win court case against Brockwell Live
The upcoming music festivals set to take place in Brixton’s Brockwell Park “must be cancelled”, deems a new court case brought against Brockwell Live.
Local resident Rebekah Shaman brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of the park for what she deems “neither appropriate nor sustainable” festivals. She is a member of the group, Protect Brockwell Park, who crowd-funded £30,000 to launch the legal battle claiming manipulation of planning laws. Brockwell live have a certificate to use the space for a maximum of 28 days. However, Protect Brockwell Park claims that, in reality, this stretches to over 38 days.
On May 16th, Mr Justice Mould ruled in Shaman’s favour. The judge found that parts of the park would be used as event space for more than 28 days. He deemed it “irrational” to allow this.
Protect Brockwell Park campaigners and Dunkirk actor Sir Mark Rylance celebrated the High Court’s decision. Rylance commented: “Wonderful news. Brockwell park will be open to all for free again this summer. No walls. No trucks.”
In reaction, there was much speculation about whether the ruling would impact the events set to run this summer. These include Wide Awake on May 23rd, Field Day on May 24th, and Mighty Hoopla on May 31st and June 1st, among three others. Kneecap and CMAT are the headliners for Wide Awake, while Peggy Gou will grace Field Day with a live DJ set.
However, a letter leaked to the Brixton Buzz website reveals that lawyers for the group campaigning against large music events in Brockwell Park have told the council that no Brockwell Live events can go ahead. “As there is no planning permission for the Brockwell Live event, the event has to be cancelled,” the letter from solicitors Goodenough Ring tells the council.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, the leading trade association representing businesses in the UK night-time economy, has reacted against the news in a new statement. It begins: “The legal action brought against Lambeth Council over the Brockwell Park festivals is emblematic of a much deeper crisis facing our cultural and events landscape.”
Kill continued, “This isn’t about protecting parks—it’s about stifling culture, and the consequences are far-reaching.” The statement then detailed the thousands of freelance workers who rely on these festivals for a solid income and the members of the public who have invested in the festivals.
The statement ended by directly referencing the Council. It read: “We urge Lambeth Council and the wider public to recognise the gravity of this moment. If we allow pressure to shut down these events to succeed, we are not just cancelling a few days of music — we are dismantling a vital ecosystem of creativity, work, and community connection that cannot be easily rebuilt.”
Goodenough Ring have asked for a response by 10am on May 19th. This is a developing story.
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