Cancelling Brockwell Park fairs could be a ‘devastating blow’

Cancelling a chain of track fairs could be a “devastating blow” that leaves tens of hundreds of folks “in limbo”, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

A chain of occasions, together with the Mighty Hoopla, Cross The Tracks and Wide Awake, are because of be held at Brockwell Park in south London from 23 May till 8 June.

But on Friday, resident Rebekah Shaman received a High Court problem over using the website online this summer time, after arguing that the council didn’t have the right kind making plans permission for the occasions.

A Lambeth Council spokesperson mentioned: “We are currently assessing the impact of this judgment and determining next steps.”

Michael Kill, leader govt of the NTIA, mentioned cancelling the collection of fairs “would directly impact thousands of people… many of whom rely on the summer season to sustain their livelihoods”.

“The supply chain, from staging and lighting companies to local food and drink vendors, would suffer heavy financial losses,” he mentioned.

“The local economy – including independent shops, pubs, restaurants, and hotels – which sees a surge in business during these festivals, would be hit hard.”

Mr Kill added that the prison motion used to be “emblematic of a much deeper crisis facing our cultural and events landscape”.

“If these festivals are unable to proceed, it would mark a devastating blow to London’s identity as a global hub for live music, culture, and community celebration – and would signal a dark new era for the UK’s events and festival sector.”

A spokesperson for The Protect Brockwell Park marketing campaign crew in the past mentioned they have been “not anti-events” and so they was hoping Lambeth Council would interact with them “constructively next year” over park occasions.

Solicitors performing on behalf of the marketing campaign crew have written a letter to Lambeth Council calling for fairs to be referred to as off.

“The effect of the judgment is that the Brockwell Live event does not have planning permission,” they mentioned.

“As there is no planning permission for the Brockwell Live event, the event has to be cancelled.

“The website online now must be made right away to be had to the general public and cleared of the fencing and infrastructure.”

Ms Shaman’s legal argument centred around planning laws that prohibit changing the use of a park for more than 28 days each year without additional planning consent.

Presiding over the case, Mr Justice Mould found that parts of Brockwell Park would be used for these events for as many as 37 days during the series of festivals.

The judge said his ruling was only about the lawfulness of the council’s decision to grant permission for the additional days – a decision he described as “irrational”.

Ms Shaman said she did not want to take Lambeth Council to court, but felt as though it was not engaging with residents.

“This has been occurring for years, it is not a one-off scenario and it’s been a constant deterioration of the park, to the purpose the place the group needed to talk up to give protection to the park for long run generations,” she mentioned.

She added: “We are hoping to return to an settlement the place occasions can nonetheless proceed, however on a miles decrease degree and likewise a lot more hooked up to the group.”

Lawyers for Lambeth Council and festival organisers Summer Events Limited both asked for permission to challenge his decision but the judge refused.

However, they are still able to ask the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge the decision directly.