Ruling over London festivals ‘could lead to dark new era for live music'
In a decision on Friday, Mr Justice Mould ruled parts of the park would be used as event space for more than 28 days and that the decision to grant the certificate was 'irrational'.
Responding to the decision, Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: 'The legal action brought against Lambeth Council over the Brockwell Park festivals is emblematic of a much deeper crisis facing our cultural and events landscape.
'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.
'This isn't about protecting parks — it's about stifling culture, and the consequences are far-reaching.'
Kill, whose organisation hosted an event to urge the Government to 'recognise and support' UK club culture on Wednesday, said cancellations would impact thousands of people's livelihoods.
He continued: 'The cancellation of Brockwell Live would directly impact thousands of people — from freelance technicians and security staff to artists, production crews, caterers, and event organisers — many of whom rely on the summer season to sustain their livelihoods.
'The supply chain, from staging and lighting companies to local food and drink vendors, would suffer heavy financial losses. The local economy – including independent shops, pubs, restaurants, and hotels, which sees a surge in business during these festivals – would be hit hard.
'Moreover, this affects the public. Tens of thousands of festival-goers who have already bought tickets, made travel plans, and spent money on accommodation and services would be left in limbo.
'These events are not just concerts — they are vital social experiences that form part of the cultural fabric of people's lives.
'Brockwell Live represents a careful balance between cultural celebration and park stewardship.
'The idea that the park cannot be both protected and shared is short-sighted. These events are professionally run, heavily regulated, and provide essential funding for the maintenance of the park itself.
'We urge Lambeth Council and the wider public to recognise the gravity of this moment.
'If we allow pressure to shut down these events to succeed, we are not just cancelling a few days of music — we are dismantling a vital ecosystem of creativity, work, and community connection that cannot be easily rebuilt.
'London must not become a city afraid of its own culture.'
Rebekah Shaman, of the Protect Brockwell Park group, brought the action against Lambeth Council, with lawyers representing her and the group writing a letter to the council asking it to 'confirm that the event has been cancelled' and to clear any fencing or infrastructure.
Brockwell Live's six festivals include Wide Awake, which is set to see Irish rap trio Kneecap perform on May 23, and Mighty Hoopla, with artists including Kesha and former Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall appearing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Questions asked if Blackweir Live should ever have been allowed after High Court ruling
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Councillors have raised concerns about whether a series of gigs at a popular Cardiff park is breaching planning rules after a recent High Court ruling. Blackweir Live has already had its first two gigs, with Noah Kahan performing there on Friday, June 27, and Alanis Morissette on Wednesday, July 2. Slayer are there tonight - Thursday, July 3, and Stevie Wonder arrives on Wednesday, July 9. But the green walls surrounding Blackweir Fields have been in place since at least June 25. With the breakdown of the event expected to be completed by July 21, questions have been raised by campaigners about how long the park will be inaccessible for and whether planning approval should have been sought for use of the site. It comes after a High Court judge quashed a certificate of lawfulness by Lambeth Council in May to allow the use of Brockwell Park in London for a series of gigs for more than 28 days. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. The leader of the Liberal Democrats at Cardiff Council, Cllr Rodney Berman, asked at a recent full council meeting: "Some residents have suggested to me that the usage of the fields for these concerts may not be in compliance with current planning consent so can you assure the council that you are satisfied that the Blackweir Live events constitutes a legal usage of the fields in planning terms?" Cardiff Council's cabinet member for culture, parks and events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, responded: "We have worked with local promoters, we are working with local businesses. "As I mentioned this is bringing in £35m worth of local spend." She later added: "I am satisfied with the advice from officers that we have followed the right path and processes." A Cardiff Council spokesman said the local authority was aware of the High Court ruling related to Brockwell Park and that it was reviewing the details and full implications of it. (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne) Lambeth Council used permitted development rights to allow live music at Brockwell Park. The Standard reported that the High Court ruling on May 16 found the council's lawful development certificate to be "irrational" and that the period between commencement and normal use of the park (37 days) was beyond the scope of planning development rights. Lambeth Council later approved a new certificate of lawfulness for 24 days. The Conservatives group leader at Cardiff Council, Cllr John Lancaster, said at last week's council meeting: "There's a number of people, residents around the area, that are concerned about the noise generated by the event and of course they would like to see the noise management plan." (Image: Ted Peskett) He later added: "We hear today that potentially the whole event could be in breach of planning conditions." A Cardiff Council spokesman said: 'Public safety and security considerations mean that the fence around the Blackweir Live site will remain in place throughout the events until the event breakdown is complete. 'During this period 108.4 of the park's 130 acres will be open to the public as normal on days when no concerts are taking place – that equates to 83.4% of the park's total area.' 'The council is aware of the recent High Court ruling related to Brockwell Park in London. The details and full implications of the ruling are being reviewed and will be taken into consideration ahead of any future events.' (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne) The controversy surrounding Blackweir Live started when tickets for gigs went on sale before a licence to allow events of up to 35,000 people on Blackweir Fields was approved. Cardiff Council argued that the series of events, organised by Depot Live and Cuffe and Taylor, would generate tens of millions for the economy and help maintain Bute Park in the future. However, campaigners opposed to Blackweir Live said too much of Bute Park was being closed off for events over the year. Friends of Bute Park criticised the council again in a statement published recently, saying the balance between public use of the park and corporate events had "swung too far" and that access to areas of parkland was "almost non-existent" for parts of the summer. (Image: Bethany Gavaghan) They said: "Cardiff boasts a wide variety of venues - open air and indoor - capable of hosting many different sizes of audience for a range of different artists and events. "These provide many opportunities for commercial promoters and so deliver the council's aim of attracting more visitor spend into the city. "There are also areas down the Bay which could be re-engineered or revitalised. "As such there is simply no argument for developing Bute Park as an entertainment venue with an all-day, every day alcohol licence." The statement added: "Cardiff Council has fundamentally altered and shifted the energy and the feeling of the park. People no longer feel welcome." (Image: John Myers) It further added: "The construction on site makes the field hostile and unwelcoming. This can have deep negative impacts for people who use Bute Park as a space to improve mental wellbeing, as a green subscription. "And let's not forget that Bute Park, the castle, and its grounds were gifted by the Bute Family in 1947 to the people of Cardiff and not to the corporation." A Cardiff Council spokesman said: "In the first instance we want to be very clear that Cardiff Council takes great pride in the city's parks. Our dedicated parks team work hard to ensure that the our parks continue to be recognised as being among some of the best in the UK. 'We fully recognise the important role parks and green spaces play from an environmental, economic, and social perspective. They make a significant contribution to the well-being of our city. 'The Friends of Bute Park are an important part of the Bute Park community and we continue to engage with them, as we have done since last summer before the Blackweir Live events were announced, to try to address their concerns. 'There has also been opportunity for the community to share their views through the recent premises licencing process for Blackweir Fields. Input from the community on a range of issues, including noise and alcohol licensing, resulted in a series of strict conditions being applied to the licence."
BBC News
24-06-2025
- BBC News
Crystal Palace International Film Festival at risk, says founder
The founder of a south London film festival says it "will never happen again" if the local councils insist on rating the films Palace International Film Festival (CPIFF) launched in 2009 and attracts filmmakers to venues including the West Norwood Roy, who set up the festival he says attendees call the "world's coolest", says Lambeth and Bromley Councils want to charge more than £6,500 to rate all 132 films - a cost he claims no film festival has the budget said "there is no change in how the council has treated the film festival in over a decade" while Lambeth said "fees are charged to all organisations that ask us to classify their films". 'Draconian' A petition to save CPIFF, which also shows films at the Everyman Cinema in Crystal Palace, has already attracted more than 1,500 of the previous attendees worked on the Netflix hit Adolescence while another has just graduated from the National Television and Film School, according to the festival has previously attracted big-name comedians including Andy Zaltzman, Kerry Godliman and Mark Steel."It's extremely frustrating," Mr Roy said. "You've got a much-loved film festival which is very popular and a launchpad for young creatives into the industry."It's such a lovely thing to have in the local area – the community in Crystal Palace loves it and the councils won't listen."Hopefully they see common sense so we can start inspiring kids into the film industry." Mr Roy said he had offered to allow the councils to independently rate a selection of films to verify his judgment as well as proposing to make all of the films 18-rated to enable the festival to go ahead."They're draconian in applying their rules - no child has come to harm in 16 years," he added. "They won't even have time to watch all of the films.""Our proudest legacy of inspiring children into the film industry - it will end. This would be devastating - it's my passion, my love and I'm so proud of it."It sells out – we're doing amazing things for independent film. They should be supporting it." A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: "We have worked closely with CPIFF over many years to help ensure that the event could take place with all its films properly classified."But the council, like other local authorities, has a responsibility to classify films which have no age rating certificate from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) before they can be shown to the public."Licensing in Lambeth reviewed the CPIFF films for 2025 to be shown at West Norwood cinema, which included themed films aimed at specific groups on to be shown on separate dates. "The council issued ratings for each group of film showings, provided individual classifications, and undertook cross-checking as to what films had already received a BBFC classification, as part of our role in ensuring consumers are protected with a focus on the young." A Bromley Council spokesperson said: "There is no change in how the council has treated the film festival in over a decade, with the only change being that the film festival now want to include children in the audience, where legislation therefore needs to be complied with. "Under the Licensing Act 2003, any premises licensed for the exhibition of films must ensure that all films shown carry a classification certificate from either the BBFC or the local authority. "The council currently has serious financial challenges of its own but we have, in previous years, revised application fees to support the festival and remain open to discussion about the way forward but we need to ensure the law is complied with, part of the aim of which is to protect children."
Time Out
19-06-2025
- Time Out
It's official: outdoor street dining is coming back to London this summer
If you're loving London's current bout of warm, sunny weather but feel a bit restricted by the capital's current offering of alfresco dining options, we bring excellent news. Today (June 19) the Mayor of London has announced that a bunch of areas in the capital will be turned into outdoor eating and drinking spots this summer. Dubbed 'Summer Streets', the scheme will see some of London's most popular neighbourhood spots go car-free for longer during the summer months. The areas are spread across the city (well, south, east and central), and the project is being funded by £300,000 from the Mayor's Summer Streets Fund. So, where exactly in London is getting alfresco dining this summer? The lucky places are Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch and the West End. Today's announcement follows a hint back in April that Soho could be bringing back its pandemic-era pedestrianised street dining zones. In the West End, Westminster Council will receive £100,000 to make St Martin's Lane car-free from 11am to 11pm every day. Up to 34 businesses on the street will get alfresco licences. In Shoreditch, Lambeth Council is getting £100,000 so that bars and restaurants on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street can offer outdoor eating and drinking until midnight. Both streets will go car-free on Fridays and Saturdays. Down in Brixton, the Mayor says businesses on Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road will benefit from 400 square metres more outdoor space. In this area the scheme will only be in place on select weekends, with cars banned until 10pm. And finally, over in Leyton – which was named Time Out's coolest neighbourhood in London last year – community hub Francis Road will extend its car-free hours, and there'll also be more outdoor seating at Leyton Midland Road. Both the Leyton and Brixton schemes will get £50,000 in funding. The Summer Streets project follows the mayor being given extra powers to boost London's nightlife by the national government, and it's hoped that they'll expand in future years. Commenting on the scheme, London mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'I'm delighted to announce the first of many new al fresco hotspots across the capital to help Londoners and visitors make the most of our summer this year. 'The schemes announced today are just the beginning and we're looking to build on their success across London in the years ahead.' The Night Time Industries Association CEO Michael Kill said: 'The launch of al fresco dining in key areas like Brixton, Shoreditch, Leyton and the West End marks the beginning of an important initiative that supports the recovery and long-term growth of London's nightlife and hospitality sector. 'Creating vibrant, accessible outdoor spaces for food, drink and culture is a powerful way to bring communities together and boost local economies. We see this as a strong foundation — and hope it will grow into a city-wide movement that helps reshape and revitalise London's nightlife for years to come.'
