Wandsworth Council has abruptly withdrawn its applications for events licences across three of the borough’s parks, following significant public opposition. The licenses would have allowed for commercial events such as music festivals, funfairs and circuses, with up to 10,000 attendees. This represents a welcome reprieve, but may not be the end of the story.

For people who care about Wandsworth’s green spaces, it’s been a lively couple of weeks. News started to filter through from email lists and Whatsapp groups about ominous notices pinned to trees across the borough. After initial confusion, it became clear that the council was indeed proposing to turn parks into large commercial events venues. Local societies shared information, hundreds of residents expressed surprise and sent in objections, and a campaign group was quickly formed to oppose the plans

The original applications covered five sites across Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common and King George’s Park. The most extensive plans were for Wandsworth Common, where 23 events across 26 days were requested each year — potentially every weekend for nearly half the year. Had they been successful, the applications would have allowed for three-day events for 10,000 people with live music until midnight.

The impact of such large events on public green spaces is well-documented across London — Streatham Common, Clapham Common, and Brockwell Park have all suffered extensive damage, needing lengthy recovery periods. The aftermath often sees large areas cordoned off for months to allow grass regeneration, the costs of which can detract from any revenue made from renting the site. Lambeth Council recently had to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to restore Clapham Common. Given this is all well-known, the applications seemed to many to be out of step with common sense.

• Read our article: Winterville keen to return to Clapham Common in 2020, on Wandsworth side

And then, less than two weeks later, the whole thing was off. After days of silence from the council, communication came via Enable (the company contracted to operate Wandsworth’s parks), conveying a sudden change of mind and a new-found respect for the wishes of local residents:

‘We are sorry for the confusion caused by this application. We have listened to your concerns and have withdrawn the application. Our aim is to make sure more residents can enjoy our wonderful green spaces, and we fully agree that this must be done by prioritising residents’ voices and feedback.’ — Message on Enable’s website.

While many people were relieved to see their opinions listened to, the episode calls into question Labour’s 2022 manifesto statement that “Parks are for people, not corporate events.” This pledge was a direct criticism of the previous Conservative administration’s approach to park management. The Labour-run council has still not issued a statement on the licence applications, despite the contradiction with their own manifesto, nor responded to inquiries.

The rapid withdrawal of the applications and lack of explanation raises questions about the council’s decision-making process and transparency. No public consultation was undertaken before the applications were made, and the council has neither explained why the applications were submitted nor why they were withdrawn. The Wandsworth Society, which helped inform residents about the applications, expressed concern about the lack of community engagement:

“We were very surprised that no public consultation had been undertaken by the Council/Enable in advance of the public notices. There has been very little interaction between the Council and community groups and individual members of the public about proposals which affect those who live in the Borough in the last little while.” — The Wandsworth Society

Wandsworth Conservatives were also taken by surprise and had started to leaflet local streets on the issue. Aled Richards-Jones, leader of the opposition, said:

“These plans are unprecedented and represent an unacceptable change in how our green spaces are run. Instead of prioritising nature and the quiet enjoyment of our open spaces, money is being put first. Our parks and commons have been used for events before, but the guiding principle has always been that the benefit to the community must outweigh any harm. These plans shred that principle.”

As well as the lack of consultation, the timing of the applications raised eyebrows. While Enable sought to imply – unconvincingly – a connection to Wandsworth’s Borough of Culture celebrations in 2025, this seemed unlikely given the timeline. If granted, the licences would only have been in place by late April, leaving just three months to organise multiple large-scale events.

A more likely explanation may lie in the upcoming renegotiation of Enable’s contract, which expires in April 2025. The Environment Directorate has faced increasing budget pressures, from planned expenditure on schemes like Access For All to additional spending on waste collection contracts and changes to Enable’s operational structure. Clearly, this was a revenue-raising plan for 2026 and beyond.

While the withdrawal of the applications represents a victory for local campaigners, who organised hundreds of letters of opposition, questions remain about the council’s long-term plans for the borough’s green spaces. The lack of transparency around both the submission and withdrawal of the applications, combined with the absence of public consultation, suggests a concerning approach to local democracy and community engagement.

As the council approaches the upcoming elections in 2026, its commitment to protecting green spaces — and its broader approach to public consultation — will likely face increased scrutiny from residents and opposition councillors alike. Although no longer an immediate possibility, the past couple of weeks have shown that the temptation to see the parks as a cash cow is strong and likely to return. The campaign group to Protect Wandsworth’s Parks remains active and ready to respond to any such plans in the future.

Links

• If you’d like to be informed about any future plans to allow events on Wandsworth’s parks you can join the group at https://www.loc.us.org/groups/protect-wandsworth-common-from-commercial-events

UPDATE 03/02/2025

We were contacted by Councillor Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for the Environment, who wished to provide further information for the article.

Although the Council had requested an exploration into the possibility of organising more events in Wandsworth’s parks, the licence was drafted and submitted by Enable without her knowledge. It soon became clear that residents were extremely concerned, so the Council requested that the application be withdrawn and reconsidered with additional consultation. A possible new application will follow later after listening to residents’ views.

Contrary to the article’s implication, Councillor Gasser clarified that the initiative is connected to Wandsworth’s Borough of Culture celebrations, scheduled to run from April 2025 to March 2026 and which they want to be enjoyed across the borough. However, she also confirmed that the aim is to facilitate the organisation of more cultural and community events beyond this period, as part of the ‘legacy’ of the Borough of Culture year.

She emphasised that there is already a policy inherited from the previous administration allowing the organisation of events with up to 10,000 attendees, although this is not associated with a licence for music and drinks. Additionally, she noted that Battersea Park is excluded from this policy, as it already has a specific licence permitting events.

Councillor Gasser explained that Enable’s contract has already been negotiated and will soon be extended. She confirmed that Enable is required to generate revenue through its operations, as was the case under the Conservatives.

Furthermore, she highlighted that the reorganisation of waste collection is not costing money but generating savings of approximately £900,000 to £1 million, which are being reinvested into the service.