Southwark Council is set to make a decision next week on whether a R&B, Soul, Alternative Rap and Reggae festival in Southwark Park can take place this summer.
The park is increasingly being used for major festivals as the council seeks ways to plug holes in its leisure budget so they can fund free community events like the Bermondsey Carnival.
The use of public parks for commercial festivals are a bone of contention across the capital as residents complain that the lack of access during the events and on the days before and after are unacceptable. Major concerns have also been voiced over damage to parks and the noise caused by thousands of revellers.
However, Cloud X festival and Reggaeton, a two-day ticketed event planned for the first weekend of July in Southwark Park has received more responses in favour of it going ahead than against.
Forty-four responses have been received so far online, with 15 indicating they do not want the event to go ahead and 22 saying that they do.
The proposal made by Cloud X Sound Limited could see the southern-side of the park closed for ten days.
A resident and member of Friends of Southwark Park spoke to the News about previous events that had taken place in the park (unrelated to Cloud X) she said: “When they’ve had concerts in the park, my windows shake. The reason we are worried is the main stage is in front of the elderly residents and church.
“We are not saying we don’t want them to do it, it’s just the fact they say they have to close the park to residents.”
However, it is not only the noise that these residents are concerned about. The choice of location for the festival has also been a bone of contention between residents and organisers.
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Another woman aged 75, said: “Not only is there the schools and doctors, but on the south side we have a wild life area and a 1 o’clock club for young mothers and their babies.
“If the council allow this festival to go ahead. It is going to have a very bad knock-on effect on the community. Parents will not be able to take their children though the park the schools, they will have to walk them near the main roads.”
Southwark Council have carried out a consultation with local residents between 7th February and 7th March.
While Cloud X have made clear that the event will only be using the south side of the park and that the rest of the park will remain open, some people are concerned about potential damage to the grass.
One resident claimed: “We have just had the Oval done because the last event destroyed it. It had rained and lorries got stuck on the said Oval and the cricket part of it was destroyed as well. It cost a lot of money to get it repaired, what for, this event to destroy it again?”
Southwark Park Cricket Club Oval has seen a £25,000 investment so that league cricket matches can return to the park from May, the measures that will be in place to protect it will be discussed ahead of the decision scheduled for April 30th.
Cloud X Sound Ltd was built around a London-based record label and set up by LGBT and POC founders, David Dabieh and Ben Cross.
The founders of the festival are both proud South Londoners. David grew up on the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle and now lives opposite Southwark Park itself on Lower Road, while Ben grew up in Tulse Hill and he now lives in Nunhead.
To raise awareness, Southwark Council has sent letters to 3,572 properties around the park, posting on public notices around the park and holding consultation meetings with local residents.
Organisers have pledged to use tracks to protect the grass and during a recent meeting Cloud X and Southwark Council set out their noise and waste management processes, which includes noise monitoring points and dedicated litter pickers, as well as security on site.
The festival also outlined initiatives to give back to the local community, such as fundraising through compulsory guest list contributions and to allocate 100 free tickets a day for residents. Bar operators and security also aim to have at least 25% of their staff from Southwark.
The festival was originally meant to be three days, but the organisers revised their plans, proposing a two day festival instead: Saturday 5th July will host CLOUD X Festival and Sunday 6th July will be Reggaeton Festival.
There is also a reduction in size with fewer stages. Now there is an anticipated capacity of up to 5,000 for Cloud X and 10,000 for Reggaeton.
The residents who objected have made the following demands:
- Introduce noise level controls
- Local residents should get free access
- The event should end by 6pm
- Use the other side of the park (by cricket cage) and move the noise away from residents
- Move away from lake area
- Move to the North end
- Friday and Saturday only
- Better control on parking and cleaning up post-event
- Monetary compensation to residents
The earliest possible date the council will make a final decision on whether to grant an events licence will be Wednesday April 30.
A Southwark Council spokesperson said: “Summer festivals welcome thousands to our parks to celebrate and to be together, including many of our own Southwark residents.
“Before any large events the council conducts extensive consultation to inform whether or not they can be permitted – the consultation for Cloud X festival is ongoing.”
Further information about the proposal can be found here.
I’m confused. This section of the park has been closed for MONTHS now, allegedly to repair it to create better cricket space for £25k. Nite, I haven’t seen anything done there, other than fences blocking it iff. So not only it’s not accessible, the council pays £25k to repair it and then immediately after destroys it?
As with Brockwell Park this council seems to put pound notes before everything else. The abolition of the Rose Garden, some time back when they used Heritage money given by the National Lottery to “refurbish” the Ida Salter garden in Southwark Park, was an indication of how far these zealots will go to impose their views and – low) values on everyone else. Now they seem to be intent on destroying what is left. Crazy! These parks were built by our forefathers to provide quiet enjoyment for crowded hard pressed Londoners. So much for their legacy.
The cricket grounds (highlighted as a potential ground for the festival) are currently closed to the public already. For months now. Allegedly to repair the cricket grounds for £25k. Though other than fences blocking it off, I don’t see any works happening there at all.
How come festival is planned on newly restored cricket ground? Won’t that ruin it? Also why can’t the public use this space? It’s been closed for months