An activist who argued that the music festivals organized in a southern park in London have unjustly cut large sections of space and made it a “mud bath” won a judicial case which could result in the prohibition of events this summer.
The Protect Brockwell Park (PBP) group, which includes actor Mark Rylance, complained about the walls erected in the park and noise and environmental damage, leading to a tense debate on the use of public space, nimbyism and the importance of summer cultural events.
Rebekah Shaman, who lives in the region and is a member of the PBP, brought a legal action against the Lampeth council, which was heard in front of the high court this week, urging him to review the holding of large -scale events at Brockwell Park.
The decision could affect the events organized by Summer Events Limited, notably Weld Awake, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day and City Splash, which should take place during the summer.
The challenge was whether the council's decision to certify the planned use of the land as legitimate was correct. According to authorized development rules, a temporary change is authorized for a total of 28 days each calendar year, but the Festivals of Brockwell Park last more than 37 days and were to start on May 23.
The High Court judge, the MDLO judge, ruled in favor of Shaman, claiming that the council's decision to grant the certificate to the organizers of the festival was “irrational”.
Rylance said victory was a “wonderful news”.
In a press release published by PBP, he said: “Wonderful news. Brockwell Park will be open to everyone again for free this summer. No walls. No Trucks.
“Grass, trees and plants will have the opportunity to recover years of mistreatment.
“Now let's help relaunch the beloved Lambeth Country Fair as it was, open to everyone. Congratulations to all those who worked so dedicated to obtaining this decision.
“Each little victory for nature makes a difference.”
Before the hearing, PBP said in a press release: “These large-scale commercial festivals and with high impact damage the ecology, heritage and the community value of Brockwell Park. The park is overused and sub-Protected.”
The group also led demonstrations in the park.
In written submissions, Shaman's lawyer Richard Harwood KC, said that in recent years, the park has “been” increasingly “used for major commercial events,” substantial “parts closed and damage caused to the ground.
“Due to the bad weather during the weekend of one of the commercial events, the park has indeed become a mud bath,” added Harwood, referring to an event in 2024.
Billed like the Battle for Brockwell ParkThe decision highlighted tensions between residents who support and oppose events, which bring hundreds of thousands of people to the South London Park during the summer months.
“I am waiting for the arrival of the park's music festivals season with dread,” wrote the author Rebecca Tamás last year.
Another group called Sayyeslambeth argued that events were a key element in the cultural offer in southern London. The group's slogan was: “Fighting for culture, joy and the community in Lampeth.”
In the case to the case, a member of Sayyeslambeth Tell Londoncentric: “Our whole scene and our culture are about to be deleted because of people who complain about noise when they live in center of London.”
The group described the case as a battle between “a small but powerful group” and “young people, tenants, workers, small businesses [and] creatives ”.
Earlier in the hearing, MLUD said: “It is the planning authority to decide, pending the outcome of this challenge, what decision it should or should not take.”
Moule refused the initial applications for the authorization to call the Lampeth Council and Summer Events Limited, although they can ask the court of appeal to the authorization to contest the decision directly.
A spokesperson for the Lampeth Council said on Friday: “We are currently assessing the impact of this judgment and determine the next steps.”
