GALA 2024

[Penguin68]

I'm out of the UK at the moment, but proper pictures would be useful to take now as evidence for when the next round of applications for events comes up. Showing what is objected to in pictures may be worth 1000 words! 

[jazzer]

A very good reason for Gala never ever to be repeated.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Let's see what it looks like in a month.

[Angelina]

I’d like to see an inspection by the councillors, with a photo in the media - just so we know that they are aware of this.

I’m all for a party but this damage is awful

[PeckhamRose]

That photo bottom right (from the pictures posted on X), is that really Peckham Rye Park?  Looks like the Sierras after a fire when there were only burned twigs, before a rainstorm happened.  

[Spartacus]

10 minutes ago, PeckhamRose said:

That photo bottom right (from the pictures posted on X), is that really Peckham Rye Park?  Looks like the Sierras after a fire when there were only burned twigs, before a rainstorm happened.  

Looks more like the Somme to me 

Maybe that's the point, the Gaia is the Somme of its parts 🤔 

[malumbu]

It's grass.  It will regrow.  It's not native fauna, wild meadows etc.  Just like many of our gardens, it's ornamental and for recreation. You could argue that most of our park land is ornamental rather than a nature reserve.  Would time not be better spent getting involved with a wildlife trust or similar charity?

Edited June 2, 2024 by malumbu
Added recreation

[Angelina]

There was a reason that brockwell park stopped hosting events, and it seems to have been forgotten, and Peckham seems just so less suited to it. 
It’s just not the most appropriate site and the park has suffered for it
 

 

[malumbu]

Went to some great free events in Clapham Common and in Finsbury Park.  Free fireworks at Vicky Park good too. Cost of events and cuts to budgets saw an end to most of this.  Blackheath fireworks too popular.  Parks and recreation eh?  😊 

Edited June 2, 2024 by malumbu

[first mate]

Just a few weeks ago the whole area was green and a joy, now it looks a wreck. As others have said, by all means have a party but don't leave the place in this state afterwards as it spoils it for others.

The idea that it is just fine to subject the same area of land to this treatment summer after summer is crazy and hard to fathom.

[Spartacus]

1 hour ago, malumbu said:

It's grass.  It will regrow.  It's not native fauna, wild meadows etc.  Just like many of our gardens, it's ornamental and for recreation. You could argue that most of our park land is ornamental rather than a nature reserve.  Would time not be better spent getting involved with a wildlife trust or similar charity?

So fickle @malumbu for someone who screams out about caring for the environment.

Try and keep your story straight and not get diverted by things you secretly enjot is my best advice.

 

Edited June 2, 2024 by Spartacus

[CPR Dave]

It doesn't regrow though .

There was a swamp there  this winter with no grass.

[Angelina]

Exactly…. and a repeat next year will just compound it

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

3 hours ago, Angelina said:

There was a reason that brockwell park stopped hosting events
 

 

Brockwell Park has a massive music festival on this weekend. It hasn't stopped hosting events.

[Angelina]

You’re missing my point.

It used to host Pride and many others, there were lots of free parties in the park. They stopped because they became unmanageable.

Peckham hadn’t learnt yet that not all parks suit these events 

[OutOfFocus]

38 minutes ago, Angelina said:

You’re missing my point.

Brockwell still host events. Please clarify what point we are missing.

Edited June 2, 2024 by OutOfFocus
Typo

[fishboy]

9 hours ago, Dogkennelhillbilly said:

Let's see what it looks like in a month.

Why should we have to?!?

It's our park, it's the summer - why should we have to put up with it looking like a wasteland for even a day after GALA have p***ed off to count their money?!?

[satsuma]

On 01/06/2024 at 11:23, jazzer said:

the aftermath of the Gala

https://x.com/HornimanHeights/status/1796807220195213598

 

Honestly, this isn't bad at all, looks pretty light.

[first mate]

Have you visited the site or are you going by photos? The damage is bad with many areas of missing turf, not even replaced and will probably have to be overseeded. The ground is also more uneven, marred by heavy vehicle treads. In other parts the soil has been churned up and there are holes.

For anyone who is a regular visitor to the park, the ornamental aspect of this area has been ruined. In summers past, people would picnic throughout this area, you couldn't do that now.

The grass will grow back but unlikely to be restored until autumn and by then the summer is gone and the whole cycle begins again.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

8 hours ago, fishboy said:

Why should we have to?!?

Because some of what's in the photos looks pretty trifling - like what always happens when you put a tent or object on grass in summer, the grass goes yellow and droopy. And then the rain and sun do their work and it's back to where it was quite quickly.

But if the damage is still there in a month, then it needs remediation.

9 hours ago, Angelina said:

[Brockwell Park] used to host Pride and many others, there were lots of free parties in the park. They stopped because they became unmanageable.

Brockwell put up fences and security gates because the open events became unmanageable. Now it has fenced off events - same as Peckham Rye.

[d walker]

37 minutes ago, satsuma said:

Honestly, this isn't bad at all, looks pretty light.

I agree those pictures don't look too bad. But if you actually go to the area it's far worse than what these photos show.

 

Yes the grass will eventually grow back,  but the issue is the deep tracks and holes caused by the machinery,  the ground is uneven and when those deep ridges are covered in grass you'll not see them and that is dangerous,  causing possible injuries 

[fishboy]

18 minutes ago, Dogkennelhillbilly said:

Because some of what's in the photos looks pretty trifling - like what always happens when you put a tent or object on grass in summer, the grass goes yellow and droopy. And then the rain and sun do their work and it's back to where it was quite quickly.

But if the damage is still there in a month, then it needs remediation.

Brockwell put up fences and security gates because the open events became unmanageable. Now it has fenced off events - same as Peckham Rye.

I think you're missing the point; this is one of the most popular parts of the park, and after a month of being inaccessible it is now effectively unusable - who would want to sit in the middle of that mess? And yes, they could do 'remedial' works, but it will take months to get back to some kind of acceptable condition, and then the summer has gone.

You say "some" of it looks trifling, which means a lot of it isn't - deep corrugations from the trackway etc. The fact is that GALA are unable to return the site to us in the same condition, or better, than it was before - another lie that they spouted just to secure a licence and placate those tiresome 'locals'.

So, again, why should we have to put up with this, every year?

PS they also haven't cleared away the yellow event road signs yet either - another thing they promised they would do better / quicker this year...

[Angelina]

Brockwell Park was sensible enough to stop events which it’s site could not manage, and instead host events it can manage.

Peckham is not that sensible and is hosting events which it cannot manage.

It either needs to reimagine the event planning AND/OR manage how the park is treated and ensure damage is not done that is irreparable 

Edited June 3, 2024 by Angelina

[HeadNun]

I've been in two minds about Gala. While I don't like it much, the noise didn't reach me this year. I'm all for the council generating revenue through events. Or at least I was... I took a look at the field yesterday (I'm in the park three times per day but have been avoiding that area) and the damage is terrible. I'm really not sure that it will recover this year. Destroying `parks for this aim is wrong. 

Gala was better at lessening the noise this year and moving the entry point. It's a peaceful festival, with what appear to be peaceful people, but Southwark should not have the right to permanently destroy swathes of the park for money.

As Angelina said, that particular park - the layout and geography of it - just isn't suited to this type of annual event. 

[Earl Aelfheah]

Yeah, I kind of agree. I don't know why they do it at the back of the park where it's more landscaped / undulating, rather then the 'common' part (in front of the café), which would seem better suited (effectively a big flat field). This is where they put the circus when it's in town.