Local residents in London have started to crowdfund for legal action against Mighty Hoopla, Wide Awake, Field Day and what they’re describing as other “unlawful” festivals in the city’s Brockwell Park.
London Centric report that the group of residents, who are calling themselves ‘Protect Brockwell Park’, have so far crowdfunded more than £31,000 to launch a legal fight against festival events that take place in the Lambeth-based park.
This summer, festivals happening in the park include Field Day, Mighty Hoopla, Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake and City Splash.
The publication reports that the residents have sent a “pre-action” letter to the council, claiming that the granting of licenses for the event is “unlawful.”
The dispute appears to be surrounding how long the park is closed off to the general public. The council granted a “certificate of lawful development” to Brockwell Live, an events company, that allows for a temporary change to the use of space that doesn’t require planning permission for a total of 28 days a year.
However, the resident’s group argue that the council have not taken into account the additional time the park is fenced off during the construction and dismantling of the site, which they claim led the park to be off limits for local residents for 38 days last year.
Alison Goldfrapp at Mighty Hoopla 2024 – CREDIT: James Klug/Getty Images
The crowdfunder page claims that Brockwell Park is “under threat from private, large-scale events” and describes the local residents’ group as being “made up of…people fighting a million-pound company whose unsustainable business practices are damaging our trees, disturbing wildlife, compacting the soil, and fencing off huge areas of the park for weeks at a time.”
They went on to claim that they have “repeatedly raised our concerns with Lambeth Council” but that their “voices have fallen on deaf ears.”
They claim: “Lambeth has ignored petitions that have garnered thousands of signatures, local residents’ distress, and the adverse ecological impact on the park over the years. The Council has also failed to properly follow correct procedures and properly consult with local residents.”
When asking for help to support the campaign, the group added: “We need your help to build a fighting fund, to ensure that Brockwell Park is a thriving, green oasis that serves as a sanctuary for both people and wildlife, free from the interruption of protracted large-scale unsustainable events during the critical period of late spring and early summer.
“Neighbours rallied when 44 trees were due to be felled or lopped to facilitate private events in the park. We are now challenging Lambeth Council over its licensing of this vital public space for multiple private events that are causing irreparable ecological harm to our park.
“We want to: Stop the commercialisation, destruction and fencing off of the Park without full public consultations, evidence-based impact assessments and proper evaluation of the long-term impact on the park. Let the land lie fallow for one or more years to restore soil health.”
Amy Taylor of Amyl And The Sniffers performs at Wide Awake Festival at Brockwell Park in 2022 – CREDIT: Lorne Thomson/Redferns/Getty Images
They also want to “force a full consultation on and support the development of the Council’s Events Strategy to ensure it respects their obligations to the Park, which it holds in trust. Seek payment for remedial work to repair the significant damage done to the park in recent years from the private company that ran them.”
Speaking to London Centric, Lambeth council said the deal brought in £125,000 for the borough’s parks, £100,000 of which is ring-fenced for Brockwell Park itself which is one fifth of the annual spending in the area.
NME has reached out to representatives of Brockwwell Live and Lambeth Council for comment.
This year’s Field Day is due to take place on Saturday May 24 with Peggy Gou confirmed to headline. Other names on the bill include Jungle (DJ set), Folamour, Skream & Benga, Dixon, Mall Grab and Midland. James Blake and Digital Mystikz’s Mala will also hold a special back-to-back DJ set.
JADE. Credit – Dave Benett
Mighty Hoopla, meanwhile, will see Kesha, Ciara and Jade headline the event, which will take place on May 31 and June 1, 2025. A string of other names were also announced including Kate Nash, Pixie Lott, Loreen, Vengaboys, Mutya, Jamelia, Jojo, Erika Jayne, G Flip and Daniel Bedingfield and more.
Wide Awake meanwhile will see Kneecap headlining alongside CMAT, English Teacher (this year’s Mercury Prize-winners), Daniel Avery, Mannequin Pussy, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Puzzle (making their UK festival debut) Sprints, Marie Davidson, Nadine Shah, Warmduscher, NME Cover stars Fcukers, COBRAH, Chanel Beads and Gurriers. Others appearing at the event include former NME cover stars Fat Dog, bdrmm, Curtisy, deBasement, 3L3D3P and RIP Magic.
The one-day event is due to take place on Friday May 23.
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