‘Reclaim our summers’: Petition demands cutback of major event days at Victoria Park
More than 200 people have signed a petition stating that the commercialisation of Victoria Park has ‘gone too far’, although not all Tower Hamlets residents agree.
Over 200 people have signed a petition asking Tower Hamlets Council to reduce the number of major event days held in Victoria Park to protect their ‘beloved green space’ from turning into a ‘cash cow’.
The petition, created on 7 June by a member of the community group Victoria Park Friends, says that LIDO Festival and All Points East take over the park for two weekends each during the summer months.
It argues that the events prevent residents from entering parts of the park and increase noise and busyness. The petition also criticised the ‘4m high prison-vibe fence walls’ erected during events.
In 2023, Tower Hamlets Council upped the number of major event days allowed at Victoria Park from 10 to 12 days a year and increased the minimum capacity threshold for event days from 5,000 to 20,000 people.
Tower Hamlets mayor, Lutfur Rahman, said that they had ‘no choice’ but to hire out the park to save the council from joining the trend of councils declaring bankruptcy.
The decision was met with a petition in January 2024 criticising the change, fearing it would bring more pollution, noise and traffic to the area.
The recent petition reiterates these fears, warning that if nothing changes, future summers will be ‘marred by massive fences, with locals being penned in to other areas that are increasingly busy.’
The petition goes on: ‘In peak summer, the residents of Tower Hamlets deserve more than just one month of uninterrupted use of their park.’
However, not all agree.
When Victoria Park Friends shared the petition on their Facebook group, many commenters spoke up in favour of the festivals.
Jade Desilva said on Facebook, ‘Live right next to the park, personally it doesn’t annoy me at all. Yes, there are some minor inconveniences that come with it for a very short time, but nothing that is affecting my life so badly that it needs to stop.
‘Our park is so beautiful and I am happy that others are getting to use it and enjoy it.’
Rasheda Yasmin, another Facebook commenter, said, ‘As someone who is born and raised in Tower Hamlets/Bow I welcome these festivals. […] It brings revenue for the borough and puts us on the map.’
In response to the recent petition, a spokesperson of Tower Hamlets Council said, ‘We are unable to make changes to the existing contract, which runs until September 2027.
‘We will continue to proactively engage with event organisers, and to consider the feedback received from residents.’
You can find the petition on Change.org here.
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As a reaident I was one of the first one to speak up against these noisy events – lets not forget about wildlife, they live here!!! We dont want car parks and fashion events and weddings and festivals. We want our green space back.