Brockwell Park festival organisers give major update over their futures
A series of live festivals in south London will go ahead despite a high court ruling against them, organisers have said.
The Brockwell Live events attract hundreds of thousands of people every year and include the Lambeth Country Show.
The High Court on Friday backed a campaign by some residents claiming that the application for permission to hold the events had failed to meet all requirements.
However festival organisers say the ruling was only on an administrative technicality and so the shows will go on.
Brockwell Park in Lambeth hosts the Wide Awake and Mighty Hoopla music events.
The live events run from Friday with Kneecap topping the bill at the Wide Awake festival.
Other events will run until June 8.
But Rebekah Shaman, who lives in the area and is a member of the Protect Brockwell Park Group, challenged Lambeth Council's decision to permit the events, claiming additional planning consent was needed to change the use of the park for more than 28 days each year.
Mr Justice Mould ruled in her favour finding that the green space was being used for up to 37 days a year for the festivals.
But a statement from Brockwell Live said the shows would go on.
It said: 'Brockwell Live can confirm that all events in the series will go ahead as planned, including the Lambeth Country Show. Friday's High Court ruling dealt with a particular point of law and whether an administrative process had been carried out correctly.
'We wish to make it clear that no event will be cancelled as a result of the High Court's decision. We take our stewardship of Brockwell Park seriously.
'As we prepare to deliver these much-loved, culturally significant events, we remain fully committed to its care, upkeep, and long-term wellbeing. With setup nearly complete, we look forward to opening the gates and welcoming festival goers later this week.'
Michael Kill, chief executive of the London Night Time Industries Association previously warned of the impact of cancelling the festivals.
He said: 'Cancelling the festivals would directly impact thousands of people… many of whom rely on the summer season to sustain their livelihoods.
'The supply chain from staging and gutting companies to local food and drink vendors would suffer heavy financial losses. More Trending
He said the capital has a wider problem with the struggle to gain permission for music events.
'If these festivals are unable to proceed it would mark a devastating blow to London's identity as a global hub for live music, culture and community celebration and would signal a dark new era for the UK's events and festival sector
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: 'Summer Events Limited has applied to Lambeth Council for a new certificate of lawfulness, for 24 days, following the High Court ruling last week on the previous certificate.
'The council is urgently considering that application. That consideration does not stop the events proceeding.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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