Wandsworth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Wandsworth Council revises its events policy for parks and commons, incorporating public feedback to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all residents.
It expands upon the initial draft that was released earlier this year and was influenced by community input and our candidacy for London Borough of Culture.
Earlier this week (July 14), Wandsworth‘s Cabinet approved the updated policy after receiving input from more than 800 citizens, including through focus groups, an online consultation, and conversations with Friends of Parks organizations and Management Advisory Committees.
From modest charity and community events to the yearly, spectacular Battersea Park Fireworks, Wandsworth is happy to host a diverse range of events across the borough. The majority of these are held in Battersea Park, which is subject to a different events policy.
During Welcome to Wandsworth and beyond, this revised strategy helps provide the groundwork for even more creative, sustainable, and inclusive events in every part of the borough, from Roehampton to Battersea, Tooting to Putney.
It seeks to make room for activities like neighborhood festivals, pop-up theaters, and community gatherings that highlight the diversity and inventiveness that make Wandsworth a fantastic location to visit, live, and work.
But in addition to celebrating what is conceivable, it also defends what is important. Everyone is welcome in our parks, which we cherish as hubs for cultural events, biodiversity, leisure, sports, play, and connection with nature. To ensure that all events are inclusive, sustainable, and well-managed to minimize any interruption, the amended policy incorporates protections.
Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
“Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. As a listening Council, your opinion matters and we’ve carefully reviewed every response to ensure this policy reflects a wide range of views.
Our London Borough of Culture programme has already shown the power of community and cultural events to bring people together, boost wellbeing and spread joy.
Events in our fantastic green spaces play an important role in achieving this, and we want everyone across the borough, not just around Battersea, to experience that magic.
However, we recognise there is an important balance to strike. This new policy isn’t about paving the way for large-scale festivals, our parks are for all, and we will continue to listen to residents to ensure we are getting this balance right.”
The modifications made since the draft version directly address the opinions of the locals and seek to achieve a balance between preserving our award-winning green spaces and enabling lively community activities that the entire borough can enjoy.
Now for the final policy:
clarifies that activities with more than 10,000 people are not allowed in any green areas other than Battersea Park.
specifies that a place must always be open to the public and that no event may take up an entire park or open space.
prohibits Wandsworth Common events having more than 2,499 attendees.
increases the participation of specialists in ecology and trees in evaluating event locations both before and after events
makes certain that the terms and conditions of hire are updated frequently to take into account the needs of sustainable event management.
mandates that officers confer with the appropriate Cabinet, increasing democratic control.
Member prior to making certain policy-related decisions
maintains the 2014 policy’s restriction on the use of sports fields for events.
demands that event planners cut down on the amount of time it takes to set up and take down event infrastructure.
explains that gatherings in green places may also need to get the necessary licensing, planning, and other statutory permissions.
In order to protect our parks, common areas, and green spaces, the events policy also upholds a number of other important values. This includes annual limits on the quantity and scale of events that are permitted. As is the case with the current policy, these limits are unlikely to be met even though they provide greater flexibility than what is already available.
How will the Wandsworth council monitor and enforce compliance with the new event guidelines?
Wandsworth Council monitors and enforces compliance with its new event guidelines primarily through its Parks & Events Police Service, which is authorized to enforce borough byelaws and regulations relating to parks, commons, and open spaces. This team is empowered to oversee event activities, ensure adherence to permit conditions, and take enforcement action if breaches occur, such as addressing noise violations, crowd control, or any other contraventions of the policy.
Additionally, the council’s Local Enforcement Plan emphasizes a proactive and proportionate approach to enforcement, including investigating complaints reported by the public and conducting site visits to monitor compliance during and after events. Enforcement actions are designed to be fair, transparent, and consistent, ensuring that event organizers meet their obligations while protecting public amenity and safety.