News Party time for Lambeth?
Friday, 10 October 2008
Iggy Pop performing at Get Loaded in the Park on Clapham Common
THOUSANDS of revellers a week could descend on a borough’s parks for raves and concerts if a council lifts its event restrictions to rake in cash.
Labour-run Lambeth council plans to lift its own restrictions on the number and size of events that can be held in parks like Clapham Common in a bid to generate more income from its green spaces.
The plan has met with massive opposition from user groups who fear showpiece parks would be ruined.
At present Lambeth’s rules for Clapham Common permit four large events, with attendances of up to 20,000 people per year, three with attendances of up to 5,000 and two fairs and circuses, together with council-run firework displays and public gatherings.
The events strategy also states there should be a period of 21 clear days or three weekends between each event.
Similar restrictions are in place for Brockwell Park in Herne Hill, Streatham Common and Kennington Park.
But the council plans to tear up its rule book, a proposal opponents believe will create a green light for large-scale commercial rave and concert organisers to stage as many gigs as possible.
Fred Uhde from park users’ group Friends of Clapham Common said: “Lifting these limits will lead to a major increase in disturbance and more damage to the park which is already in a neglected state.
"The only events that will generate more income for the council are rock concerts and similar music-based events – these are the events that cause the most disturbance and damage.”
Anna Jefferson Smith from heritage group The Clapham Society said: “Any relaxation of the policies within the events strategy in order to increase revenue will lead to further deterioration of the common.”
But a Lambeth spokesman defended the plan – which goes before the borough’s cabinet for approval on Monday night.
He said: “This is not about creating an ‘open season’ on events in parks and we are extremely mindful of the need to get the balance right.
“We’ve held a number of constructive and positive consultation sessions with the Park’s Forum, who have been understanding and supportive of our desire to get more people involved with our parks, and increase revenue so we have more to spend on improving parks’ facilities."
Email: greg.truscott@slp.co.uk
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