An annual street festival for thousands in south London might not go ahead amid concerns about safety.
The Bermondsey Street Festival, which has been supported by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, faces not being granted a licence because the Met believe it is “unsafe to proceed”.
A report to Southwark council’s licensing committee states that the police have concerns around the “viability of the event”.
The festival, which began 12 years ago, sees roads closed off, with performance stages and stalls lining Bermondsey Street and local parks. Last year more than 6,000 people turned up for the street party, described as a “village fete in the city”, with this year’s event due to take place on September 14.
“The police have concerns relating to the poor management of the previous event and feel that the current application fails to address those issues raised,” the report from licensing officers states.
“One of the concerns is that it was agreed that road access would have hard barriers to stop unauthorised vehicle access to the event and stop a possible vehicle-style terrorist attack, but this was not implemented and plastic roadworks-style barriers were used.”
Festival organiser Bill Owen today insisted he had always complied fully with the requirements of Southwark council. He also disputed the Met’s claims about what was agreed about barriers last year.
He said he believed the security provision had been “more than adequate”, and that if the cost of installing anti-terror precautions such as concrete barriers became too much, the festival would not run.
The licensing committee will make a decision about the application on Tuesday.
