Tower Hamlets Council has been accused by local residents of ‘privatising’ Victoria Park in East London, following a decision to increase the number of festivals that can be staged there each year.
Cabinet members at the local authority approved the increase in the number of major events that can be staged at its park late last year and also changed the definition of 'major event' to ones that have a minimum capacity of 20,000 rather than 5000. However, angry residents have criticised the lack of consultation with the local community before the decision was made.
According to MyLondon, one resident said at a council meeting last week, "The mayor has decided to privatise the beautiful Victoria Park and enforce bigger events without consultation of the residents and communities that this will affect. By increasing the definition of major events in Victoria Park ... and increasing the number of these huge events from ten to twelve, the mayor is privatising the park".
At the meeting, a petition signed by 160 local residents was also presented to the council. "This is a terrible idea that would ruin our park, our neighbourhood and our environment", it says of the increase in events. "It would mean more noise, more traffic, more waste, and more pollution in our area. It would also mean less access and less enjoyment of the park for us, especially for our families and children who need the park during the summer holidays".
A number of London's music festivals have used Victoria Park as a base over the years. AEG's All Points East has been the flagship event in recent years and Field Day returned there last year too, having last been staged in East London in 2017.
Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman has defended the increase in events by simply stating that the council needs the money that can be generated by hosting festivals in the park. His colleague, Cabinet Member For Culture And Recreation Iqbal Hossain, added that the increase in the total number of major events should allow for some non-music festivals to be staged, such as a food festival or community festival.
The staging of music festivals in London's parks has proven controversial at various points over the years as more promoters have sought to present major events within the capital. Local residents often object to the increase in noise and traffic caused by the festivals, and the fact that public access to some or all of the park is restricted during the event.
Residents that live near Finsbury Park in North London have been particularly active in their campaigning. Although that didn't stop Live Nation's Festival Republic securing a five year deal last June to stage the Wireless festival and other events in that particular park.