Lambeth Lib Dems call for transparency following Brockwell Live festival complaints

The series of music festivals, which took place in Brockwell Park from Friday 26th May to Monday 29th May, were expected to be attended by around 25,000 ticket holders each day. 

However, residents as far away as Streatham and Clapham - over 3.5 kilometres from Brockwell Park - were forced to complain about noise disturbance. 

Councillor Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrat Council Group wrote to Nabeel Khan, Strategic Director of Sustainable Growth & Opportunity of Lambeth Council requesting that the Council provide the following information: 

1. A complete programme of large music events, or similar, being hosted in Lambeth’s public parks through spring and summer 2023. 

2. How local residents have been informed of events coming up this summer. 

3. Whether all such events are expected to adhere to EventLambeth’s ‘Guidance on the Control of Sound at Outdoor Events (2016)’, which sets a maximum Music Noise Level of LAeq 15 minutes 75dB. 

4. Whether independent acoustic consultants have been commissioned by Lambeth Council to monitor noise levels internally and externally during these events. 

5. How many noise complaints were received for each day of Brockwell Live from 26th-29th May 2023, and how far from Brockwell Park they were reported from. 

6. Whether EventLambeth completed a Summer Event Series Post Event Assessment Report in 2022. 

7. How the Council has engaged “friends of” groups and the Parks Forum in decisions for large music events. 

8. How the Council’s performance regarding the Music Noise Level and the frequency of large music events compare to neighbouring London Boroughs. 

9. “We want to ensure noise limits are adhered to so that everyone can enjoy all that Summer 2023 has to offer!” 

   This weekend marked the first of many events in Brockwell Park alone. Brockwell Live is set to be followed by Jubilation on 2nd June, Mighty Hoopla on 3rd-4th June and the Lambeth Country Show on 10th-11th June. In total, nine ticketed events will have taken place in the park over a two-week period.

   Commenting, Cllr Harris, Leader of the Lib Dem Council Group, said, “Residents deserve information regarding how the noise generated by such events is being monitored and kept within legal limits, as well as how Lambeth is working with event partners to mitigate, monitor, and assess the impact of events in the borough’s public spaces.”