Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Southwark Council will decide next week if a two-day R&B, Soul, Rap, and Reggae festival will go ahead in Southwark Park during summer 2025.
As the council looks for ways to fill gaps in its leisure budget so they can sponsor free community events like the Bermondsey Carnival, the park is being used more and more for large festivals.
Residents of the capital are upset about the commercial festivals held in public parks, claiming that the lack of access during the events and in the days preceding and after them is intolerable.
There have also been serious complaints about noise from thousands of revelers and park degradation.
Nonetheless, more people have responded in favor of the Cloud X festival and Reggaeton, a two-day paid event scheduled for the first weekend of July in Southwark Park, than against its continuation.
Out of the forty-four comments that have been received online thus far, fifteen say they do not want the event to go, while twenty-two say they do.
According to Cloud X Sound Limited’s suggestion, the park’s southern section might be closed for ten days.
A resident and member of Friends of Southwark Park spoke to the News about previous events that had taken place in the park (unrelated to Cloud X) she said:
“When they’ve had concerts in the park, my windows shake. The reason we are worried is the main stage is in front of the elderly residents and church.
We are not saying we don’t want them to do it, it’s just the fact they say they have to close the park to residents.”
However, it is not only the noise that these residents are concerned about. The choice of location for the festival has also been a bone of contention between residents and organisers.
The festival is seen by some locals and organizations as a chance for amusement, camaraderie, and community development.
By promoting music and cultural diversity, festivals can strengthen local pride, develop chances for relationship-building, and cultivate a feeling of place identity.
Another woman, aged 75, said:
“Not only are there the schools and doctors, but on the south side we have a wildlife area and a 1 o’clock club for young mothers and their babies.
If the council allows this festival to go ahead. It is going to have a very bad knock-on effect on the community. Parents will not be able to take their children though the park or the schools, they will have to walk them near the main roads.”
Between February 7 and March 7, Southwark Council conducted a consultation with the local population.
Some individuals are worried about possible damage to the grass, even though Cloud X has made it clear that the event will only use the park’s south side and that the remainder of the park will stay open.
One resident claimed:
“We have just had the Oval done because the last event destroyed it. It had rained and lorries got stuck on the said Oval and the cricket part of it was destroyed as well. It cost a lot of money to get it repaired, what for, this event to destroy it again?”
The surge of festival attendees may put a burden on emergency services, public transportation, and sanitation, which could lower the standard of these services for locals while the event is going on.
Large gatherings raise the possibility of small crime and damage, which might make locals feel more uneasy.
Due to crowds or limited access during the festival, locals could feel shut out of their typical public areas.
Even though festivals can have positive cultural and economic effects, these issues show how crucial it is to have strong event management, community involvement, and mitigation strategies in place to safeguard locals’ quality of life.
A £25,000 investment has been made at Southwark Park Cricket Club Oval to allow league cricket matches to resume there in May. The safeguards that will be in place will be considered prior to the decision, which is set for April 30.
David Dabieh and Ben Cross, two POC and LGBT founders, founded Cloud X Sound Ltd., which was centered around a London-based record company.
Both of the festival’s founders are proud residents of South London. Ben grew up in Tulse Hill and currently resides in Nunhead, whereas David grew up on the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle and now resides on Lower Road across from Southwark Park.
In an effort to increase awareness, Southwark Council has held consultative meetings with locals, posted notices on the park’s exterior, and sent letters to 3,572 properties.
In addition to pledging to utilize tracks to preserve the grass, organizers recently met with Cloud X and Southwark Council to outline their waste and noise control procedures, which include on-site security, designated litter pickers, and noise monitoring stations.
The festival also described plans to support the neighborhood, including providing 100 free tickets per day to locals and raising money through mandatory guest list donations. Additionally, security and bar owners want at least 25% of their employees to be from Southwark.
The festival was originally scheduled to last three days, but the organizers changed their minds and suggested a two-day event instead: the Reggaeton Festival will take place on Sunday, July 6, and the CLOUD X Festival will take place on Saturday, July 5.
With fewer phases, the size is likewise decreased. As of right now, Cloud X and Reggaeton are expected to have capacities of up to 5,000 and 10,000, respectively.
The following demands have been made by the residents who objected:
- Put in place controls for noise levels.
- Free admission should be granted to locals.
- By 6 p.m., the event should be over.
- Keep the noise away from the homes by using the cricket cage on the opposite side of the park.
- Stay away from the lake area.
- Proceed to the northern terminus.
- Only on Friday and Saturday
- Improved parking management and post-event cleanup
- Residents’ financial recompense
The earliest possible date the council will make a final decision on whether to grant an events licence will be Wednesday April 30.
A Southwark Council spokesperson said:
“Summer festivals welcome thousands to our parks to celebrate and to be together, including many of our own Southwark residents.
Before any large events the council conducts extensive consultation to inform whether or not they can be permitted – the consultation for Cloud X festival is ongoing.”
What are the main concerns of local residents about the festival in Southwark?
Crowds and loud music can interfere with everyday life, particularly for those who live close to the park. Late-night noise is frequently mentioned by locals as a major disruption that affects their sleep and general well-being.
A small percentage of festival goers may participate in disruptive behaviors like yelling, urinating in public, and leaving trash in the nearby streets. This conduct puts more pressure on local government officials to impose more stringent licensing requirements.
Large events result in more cars on the road, which causes traffic jams and makes parking for locals more difficult. Locals may find it challenging to carry out their daily activities as a result.
Significant waste, such as litter and harm to parkland or green areas, is frequently produced by festivals.