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Protesters have gathered at Brockwell Park ahead of a High Court battle over Lambeth Council’s decision to greenlight large-scale summer festivals, which locals claim are causing long-term damage to the green space.
More than 150 residents staged a ‘No Walls’ protest this weekend — lying on the grass to spell out the phrase — in opposition to four-metre-high fences due to enclose parts of the park in the coming months as festival season approaches.
The visual protest comes as a prelude to a judicial review hearing to be held next week in the High Court.
Protect Brockwell Park is set to challenge the council’s decision to allow the commercial events under “permitted development” rules — a move campaigners argue bypasses “proper planning scrutiny”.
Campaigners believe events like Brockwell Live — which attracts more than 285,000 attendees over nine days — have an “adverse ecological impact” on the park, including damage to grassland, harm to trees, and disruption to root protection zones caused by heavy equipment.
They are calling for the park to remain fully open and protected for public use throughout the summer.
Oscar-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance, who lives nearby, has backed the campaign, claiming the large-scale events have turned the space into a “prison camp”.
However, Lambeth Council has said the area used for events had been independently assessed as being of “low ecological sensitivity grassland” and that “no ecological damage” was caused as a result.
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Another group of locals have warned that Lambeth could become “sterile, unaffordable, and soulless” if festivals held in Brockwell Park and other late-night events are blocked.
They insisted events such as LGBTQ friendly Mighty Hoopla and jazz and funk festival Cross the Tracks, “bring life, joy and connection” to the borough.
Lucy Akrill, Protect Brockwell Park’s co-founder said: “We’re not against events in the park. But we are firmly opposed to oversized, unsustainable festivals.
“Fencing off huge sections of the park and renting them out for weeks at a time, generating huge profits for private equity firms, undermines the very purpose of the park as a public space.
“Our campaign is about defending that purpose – calling for environmental responsibility, public safety, legal accountability, and ensuring Brockwell Park remains open, green, and accessible to everyone in South London.”
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On April 9, Protect Brockwell Park sent a pre-action letter to the council, notifying them of their intent to initiate court proceedings.
The legal challenge aims to overturn the council's decision to grant a Certificate of Lawfulness for the festivals – a move that campaigners argue has allowed events to bypass proper planning scrutiny.
A Crowdjustice page has been set up by the group, which has raised over £34,000 to cover legal costs.
The High Court hearing is set for Wednesday, May 15.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “Brockwell Park is hugely valued by the council and our communities.
“The council invests £500,000 a year in maintaining Brockwell Park which has won numerous awards including a Green Flag given by Keep Britain Tidy in line with the international standard for high quality parks and green spaces, as well as several London in Bloom awards.
“Events in Brockwell Park run for a short period before summer and generate significant cultural opportunities and entertainment for younger people across the borough. Events also support businesses in the area, the majority of which are small businesses who experience increases in footfall during the events programme.
“This boosts our local economy and provides jobs and income for residents, especially at a time when high streets and small traders have struggled, and when pubs are closing in record numbers.
“The area of the park used for events has been independently assessed as being of low ecological sensitivity grassland, and there is no ecological damage caused as a result. However, income from events is helping us put money into diversity projects in other areas of the park, with at least £20,000 invested in this way last year.
“Our events programme is a big draw, not only giving our younger people and our diverse communities fun and culturally rich events but helping to cross fund south London’s flagship free community festival, the Lambeth Country Show.
“We work hard to engage with local people living around the park about events there, as well as people living across Lambeth in recognition of Brockwell Park’s importance for our whole borough.
“Brockwell Live proposes an exciting series of festivals run at the park, and if approved would help ensure we can keep the much-loved annual Lambeth Country Show going as a free two-day community festival, due to savings achieved.
“The country show, which has been going for more than 50 years, is an expression of Lambeth’s unique multi-culturalism as well as a huge opportunity for the community sector and our partners to engage with local people.
“Running the Lambeth Country Show in partnership with Brockwell Live saved the council £700,000 last year from the cost of putting on, as well as securing more than £150,000 for park investment and local community projects. The Brockwell Live partnership also features the free Brockwell Bounce children’s event.
“Further, the events run by Brockwell Live in the lead up to the Country Show are really valued within our LGBTQ+ community – which is the biggest in London – really getting behind the Mighty Hoopla for example. When heavy rain last year put the Mighty Hoopla in question, we were heavily lobbied to make sure it went ahead.
“Similarly, City Splash celebrating Caribbean and African music and culture is much loved by our Black communities and beyond.
“We appreciate there can be impacts on people in the surrounding neighbourhood, alongside organisers we are working hard to minimise disruption, having a 24-hour help line and staff in the streets throughout the course of events. We have also moved the date of events in Brockwell Park to earlier in the year, so the entire park is available throughout the school summer holidays.
“Any impacts from the events on the park are fixed with our event partner. We are committed to addressing all potential issues promptly and effectively, whilst ensuring Lambeth’s residents continue to have access to a diverse and meaningful range of events.”
A spokesperson for Brockwell Live said: "Brockwell Live delivers a series of free and ticketed events in Brockwell Park with more than half of attendees coming from across Greater London.
“Celebrating the city’s diverse music and culture, events include the capital’s largest Caribbean and African music festival, a nationally significant queer pop festival and a critically acclaimed celebration of jazz, funk and soul.
“Although 2024 saw weather-related challenges, expert assessments confirm that grass and soil impacts are reversible and remedial work is ongoing.
“We understand the importance of Brockwell Park to local residents and take our stewardship seriously. We welcome scrutiny and maintain open channels for dialogue with residents, councillors, and community groups at all times."
