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Some factual info which may help with clarifying the current situation with the festival. GALA applied for an events licence to extend the festival from 3 days to 6 days. The council opened a consultation, the results of which are attached. It's a really boring read, but an essential one for anyone commenting on this thread. The highlights which justify the argument that it shouldn't be held in this small park are: "The GALA team and the council fully acknowledge that ground reinstatement efforts have been sub-standard in the past." "The GALA team accept that the waste management operation and post-event clean up has not been to a satisfactory standard in the past." "It is acknowledged that the GALA event has a bigger environmental impact..." "It is acknowledged that during the build and break periods, the potential for air pollution caused by idling lorries in the area next to the café and children's play area is increased." "The steel shield perimeter fencing...is acknowledged by all that it’s not aesthetically pleasing" "...acknowledging concerns about unsatisfactory toilet provision... public urination in the park..." "it is acknowledged that hire bikes (Lime bikes in particular) caused obstruction around the park, impacting pavements, pedestrian walkways, cycle routes, and traffic" Remember these aren't teething problems from the first couple of events, they've been doing this now for many years, so they're not getting any better, but the council seem to turn a blind eye presumably because they need the funds... Also attached is an appendix containing all 111 comments submitted to the consultation, by my count only 3 are in support (two of which appear to be from the same person). I think that level of objection can be considered 'overwhelming'? Again, I think comments on this thread should only be made having at least browsed through this. GALA 2024 and one stage shows – stakeholder consultation findings report.pdf Appendix 1.pdf

Its because it's the most depressing situation - wannabe festival organisers using our park as a resource to make a profit, with zero consideration for the welfare of the park or anything / anyone around it. And a council having to let them do it because they can't afford not to. Its not 3 days, it's nearly a month that the best part of our park is taken away during the best part of the year. The other areas are often being used for cricket, football, hurling, Australian Rules etc so not really available to just sit and relax in the sun. And The Rye isn't The Park... The people it attracts have zero interest in the area, they're purely coming to try to have a good time, and also have zero consideration for the welfare of the park & environs. I've witnessed them dropping cans & bottles en route to the site (partly because the organisers have failed to provide external bins AGAIN) and also many nipping into the bushes to urinate (partly because the organisers failed to provide the promised external portaloos) while young children were playing around them. And the litter that is ground into the earth all over the site (ring pulls, bottle tops, filter tips, cut off cable ties) remains forever - the cleaning teams only appear to remove the obvious, big items, so the park is gradually degrading year after year. I also live on the doorstep, and personally the noise levels are the least of my concerns. I do know they heavily affect the wildlife in the park though, as does the 24/7 lighting. We had a woodpecker visit our feeders every day of the live days last year, never seen it before or since. And bearing in mind it is nesting season, I dread to think of how many nests are abandoned due to the disturbance. So yes, I'm a bit depressed and grumpy about the whole thing. I'm all for people enjoying themselves, but on a suitable site which doesn't massively disrupt and inconvenience so many others. There's a reason festivals are traditionally held in the countryside...

I'm fairly sure the same (or very similar) conditions were in place for all the previous events, and haven't been met every time. With zero checks during, or consequences after, the event. If Southwark council were to actually take these repeated breaches into account (together with the overwhelming objections from the local community) when considering each years licence, there's no way they should grant them. But then they wouldn't be able to fund all these wonderful free events that no one is aware of...

So Gala has got an events licence for the three days, despite overwhelming objections. It is subject to them complying with the conditions below, so I would urge anyone who has evidence that they are breaching any of these conditions report it to Southwark. And also please report anything that is even vaguely unacceptable throughout the whole process - don't let them get away with doing whatever they want in our park for the sake of a phone call! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Peckham Rye Park Stakeholder Re: GALA Music Festival – event application ref: SWKEVE000694 - NOTICE OF DECISION regarding event consultation We write to inform you that the event application submitted by Assembled GALA Ltd to hold the GALA Music Festival in Peckham Rye Park on the 24, 25 and 26 May 2024 has been approved. The decision to approve this application is based upon the findings of the event consultation, as recorded in the consultation findings report (circulated on the 28 February). No new information or grounds for objection were raised by stakeholders in the two week period following publication of the report. The report is attached for reference. The issuing of the events licence is subject to the following: · That the event operator delivers the event in line with Southwark’s Outdoor Events Policy · That the event operator delivers the event in line with the conditions listed in the event Licence Agreement · That the event operator delivers the event in line with the conditions attached to premises licence: 879391 · That the event operator delivers the event in line with the Event Safety Management Plan, of which all elements must be approved by Southwark’s Safety Advisory Group If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Best wishes, Charlie Simm Senior Events Officer London Borough of Southwark Email direct: [email protected] Email general: [email protected] Tel: 020 7525 2739 Office address: Culture & Events, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, SE1 2QH

There's a surprisingly large group (20-30?) that run past ours (Colyton Rd) several times on a Weds evening around 7-8pm. They seem like nice people, although they do seem a bit oblivious to other footpath users - one lone runner heading in the opposite direction had no choice other than to stop & stand aside for the train! I don't think it's a huge issue though, certainly not worth getting upset about. Maybe try to have a chat with whoever appears to be the lead runner, ask if they could be a bit more considerate to other path users?

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A welcome email from Southwark Events today, containing the consultation findings report & an appendix containing all the responses to the consultation - both attached below, and worth a read. The good news is that Gala have withdrawn their plans to extend to 6 days, presumably prompted by the overwhelming number of objections - 108 of the 111 responses received, by my count. The bad news is that Southwark are very likely to issue them with an events licence for the usual 3 days, which means yet again the best part of the park being annexed for the best part of a month during the best part of the year, the noise, disruption & pollution during the event, and months of post-event attempts to rectify the resultant damage (which to date have always failed - you can't 'fix' nature!) So maybe a small victory, but still a long way to go to rid OUR beautiful park of this annual intrusion. Don't forget to attend the Gala PR box-ticking 'meeting' next Tues 5th 6pm - 8pm at the Clock House (or online) to keep the pressure on - RSVP to: [email protected] GALA 2024 and one stage shows – stakeholder consultation findings report.pdf Appendix 1.pdf

There was a similar one buzzing around late last week on the roads around Shelbury Rd & Mundania Rd which appeared to be linked with some filming activity there. I presumed it was ferrying actors & crew in & out. Bit of a long shot, but if there's filming going on nearby then maybe ask, or keep an eye out?

I received an email reminder of the "invite" (I think they meant invitation...) to the stakeholder meeting from Southwark Events Team at the weekend, really informal and signed by "Charlie". It also mentioned that "The GALA consultation findings report will be circulated shortly". I replied with a few observations & questions, including whether the report would show all the responses, and if not then how can they be obtained.

I was wondering if ALL the comments would be readily available to view, if they're not then does anyone know how Freedom of Information requests work, or could submit one for all the comments? I'd be very interested to see them, as I can't believe many are positive, and therefore the council should be visibly taking them into consideration. Also don't forget that another way you can gently make your feelings felt is via Facebook "Likes" &: comments - Gala are really pushing ticket sales at the moment... (I did point out their incorrect use of "less", to which they responded by deleting the post. But they haven't changed it to "fewer" for subsequent posts 🤦)

Where is this assertion from, as they do currently (and have for some time - years?) collect the food & garden waste together. On collection day they open the big brown bins up and tip the contents of the small brown bins in, before tipping the whole lot in the back of the truck...