A series of major music festivals set to take place in London’s Brockwell Park are in jeopardy following a successful legal challenge from a local campaign group.
The Brockwell Live series, including Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla, and Field Day festivals, was scheduled to begin later this week (23rd May). However, local resident Rebekah Shaman, who leads the Protect Brockwell Park campaign group, won a court ruling over planning permission concerns.
Artist sets to perform at the events include Kneecap, Peggy Gou, JADE (pictured), Kesha, CMAT, English Teacher, Fat Dog, Ciara and more.
The legal challenge centred on regulations stipulating that festivals can only use public parks for 28 days annually without additional planning permission. Shaman argued that the planned events would occupy the park for 37 days in 2025.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “We are currently assessing the impact of this judgment and determining next steps.”
While the judge has refused permission to challenge the decision, Brockwell Live maintain the option to appeal directly through the Court of Appeal.
Protect Brockwell Park stated: “We regret that legal action became necessary. The applicants and Lambeth Council created a binary situation with no room for compromise, and built in risks and delay by submitting inappropriately late applications, as has happened in previous years.”
The group added: “We have been trying to engage with Lambeth and Brockwell Live since last October. Their use of last minute tactics in previous years has let huge events damage and close off our park without proper scrutiny. We have repeatedly urged the Council to secure a full planning permission for all the events, together with proper impact assessments. Looking ahead, we hope the Council will now choose to act lawfully and fairly, in line with their responsibility to hold the park on trust for the local community.”
The campaign group have expressed their desire for the free Lambeth Country Show, scheduled for 7th-8th June, to proceed despite also being organised by Brockwell Live.
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