Relief for Residents as Southwark Park K-Pop Festival Cancelled
Southwark Lib Dem councillors were informed yesterday that Magic Sound Ltd have withdrawn their application for the event that was due to take place 3rd and 4th June.
The event was held in Southwark Park last year, but organisers failed to sell the desired number of tickets.
The organisers were hoping for 30,000 attendees over the two days but have cancelled the event due to ‘rising costs’.
The news comes as a huge relief to the residents, community organisations and councillors who campaigned against the event being held in Southwark Park.
Objections to the application stated Southwark Park was an inappropriate venue, with event limiting residents’ access to the park for over two weeks.
Concerns were also raised regarding noise, anti-social behaviour and impacts on local wildlife.
Lib Dem member for North Bermondsey, Cllr Rachel Bentley, wrote to Southwark Council last month urging officers to heed the concerns of affected residents.
Commenting, Lib Dem Member for North Bermondsey Cllr Rachel Bentley said:
“Cancelling this event is absolutely the right choice and I would like to thank Magic Group Ltd for heeding the concerns of residents. Blocking off huge areas of a valuable public space behind metal fences with a three figure entry fee for two weeks during half term is an unacceptable way to use our parks.
Any use of our public parks must have a clear and direct benefit to the local community, yet this event offered limited tangible positives for residents. Hopefully this cancellation, along with the return of Bermondsey Carnival, is a sign Southwark is moving in the right direction.