Proposal for increase in commercial events in Alexandra Park

The Alexandra Park and Palace management has recently put forward a proposal, for approval by the Board of Trustees on September 29^th, to apply to Haringey Council for a ‘Premises Licence’ for Alexandra Park.  As currently proposed, this licence would permit a significant increase in the number of commercial events in the Park. The Board meeting is immediately preceded by a joint meeting of the Consultative and Statutory Advisory Committees, which I will attend as usual, as representative of the Friends of Alexandra Park. I believe the increase in Park events is a significant change for the Park, and I would like you, if you have time, to read the following and the proposal, and let me have your views before the meetings on September 29^th.

The Premises Licence is not in itself the issue, but the probable size and frequency of future events for which the Trust management is seeking permission, is causing some concern. The Appendices to the proposal show the areas proposed for events (The Grove, the Upper Field, the South Slope, the Pavilion car park, and Newlands Field) and the audience/visitor capacity and type of event which would be considered for each area. The Events team at the Palace have carried out safety studies and noise modelling to support this, and as a consequence only the South Slope is proposed for major music events.  The other areas are identified for a variety of possible events such as smaller music events, theatre, opera, food festival, arts festival, corporate events etc.

As you will see from the proposal, the Trust management is not proposing anything like the Wireless Festival, which caused so many problems at Finsbury Park, and I can confirm from discussions with the AP&P Events Director that the Trust management is very conscious of the potential impact of Park events on neighbouring residential areas.  However, the proposal in no way addresses the main impacts of events on the Park and its users, namely, the loss of access to parts of the Park, the presence of vehicles in the Park, particularly during setting up and breaking down, or the cumulative effects of increased footfall and pollution on the ecology of the Park.  These effects are a function of the number and scale of the events. The maximum number of events noted in the proposal are:

Large (15,000 – 30,000) 8 event days per year
Medium (5,000 – 15,000) 11 event days per year
Small (0 – 5,000) 26 event days per year

Hence, as most of these events will be in the summer months, there could be a large or medium event every other weekend, with associated vehicle traffic in the Park in the days before and after.

The Friends of Alexandra Park recognise that the Trust needs to generate additional income, and that some of this can come from commercial events in the Park. In my view the Trust management has established a reasonable and improving track record of managing significant events in the Park with sensitivity to local residents (e.g. the Summer Festival, Red Bull Soap Box Derby, Foodie Festival), and I feel some increase in the number of events is acceptable.  However I am doubtful whether the level of events contemplated in the proposal is compatible with everyday enjoyment of the Park, or with the proper maintenance of the Park as a Local Nature Reserve.

The Park is already accumulating damage and deterioration from events in the Park, not all of which can be quickly or easily repaired.  It is essential that there is investment in the infrastructure of the Park ahead of the expansion of events in the Park, such as the re-building of paths and roads so that heavier vehicles do not cause damage at every event.

It is unfortunate that the Trust management has put forward this application for a Premises Licence without first properly setting out its intentions for increased event activity in the Park.  Nevertheless we need to take this opportunity to make clear our position to the Trust committees and Board.  The Friends’ committee want to understand how you feel about this proposal for an increase in the number of events in the Park, so please let us know your views by email to allyparkn10@gmail.com, by September 28^th if possible.

My own response is as follows:-

Dear Friends of Alexandra Park,

I was shocked to receive your email about this matter and the Licence Application by the APP management to hugely increase the number, size and type of events to be regularly held in the parkland.

As most, if not all of these sites within the park overlook residential areas the likelihood disruption and disturbance seems great.

I am also most concerned about the almost certain impact of increased traffic along High Street Hornsey.

Already a narrow and busy road this is already suffering the impact from the building of the Sainsbury/Smithfield Square. And this is before we get the increased traffic, day and night, from many hundreds of new residents and Sainsbury delivery trucks.

To add to that with whatever number of huge trucks to set up all these events and the increased numbers of visitors is unimaginable and will be intolerable. I also wonder whether the current parking spaces within the park will cope - or will local residential areas such as the Campsbourne estate have even more non residents trying to park on already overcrowded streets.

I hate to thinks of the negative impact of vehicles and people on the grass areas and the wildlife of the park.

I was stunned to see that the area already lost to Go Ape will also have sports. Discos and corporate events. Now we know why the deer were removed.

I thought Newlands Fields and the rest of the park was protected Metropolitan Open Land - how can these proposals possibly be protective of the parkland?

The map makes it clear how much of the parkland will be unusable and out of bounds to locals who use the park.

The available space for free use by the public (which I believe is what it is meant for, will be severely reduced and impacted upon.

I strongly object to these proposals