Saturday, April 29, 2006
PRESS RELEASE ISSED BY THE ORAGANISERS OF THE PROPOSED GREEN
FAIR.
SOUTH LONDON URBAN GREEN FAIR FENCED OFF BY LAMBETH COUNCIL
We regret to announce that the South London Urban Green Fair, which was due to take place the weekend of 17th and 18th June in Brockwell Park, Lambeth has been cancelled. This denies Lambeth and South London residents a public and ticket-free ‘sustainable living’ event promoting green lifestyles in the coming age of ‘peak oil’ - diminishing yet more expensive supplies of fossil fuel. The reason the organisers have taken this decision is that we are unable to comply with Lambeth Council’s interpretation of the new licencing laws and it’s decision to demand fencing around any free event of 2000 people or more in Lambeth. The Parks Department of Lambeth Council has demanded the erection of a 1.2 kilometer, 8ft ‘Heras’ fence around the Urban Green Fair in the already fenced Brockwell Park. The organisers are against the ethos of fences at free events, which look ugly, serve little purpose and put people off by creating an impression of exclusion. The Lambeth Parks department are already charging the organisers £9,800 for use of the Brockwell Park to put on the first South London Urban Green Fair. The fence and extra gate staffing would add around £5,800 to the budget. Shane Collins, event licencee said ‘This interpretation of the new licencing laws by Lambeth Council has just made it a lot harder to put on free community events. This discriminates against not-for-profit community events in favour of commercial fenced, ticketed and exclusive events. We want the policy changed. ‘The fence issue has already caused the ‘Cuban Carnival’ to move out of Lambeth. Last year ‘Fair for Life’, a free event aiming to raise money for cancer relief ended up losing money due to the costs of a kilometer-long fence. They have not re-applied for an event this year. ‘Portugal Day’ in Kennington Park does not want the cost or the imposition of a fence. Of all the events in London Sustainability Week, of which the Urban Green Fair was due to be a part, we can find no other borough in London that would confine a green fair or free community event of 2,000 people or more to a fence. Why is Lambeth so different ? - ENDS -Contact: Urban Green Fair Community Interest Company Shane Collins 0208 671 5936www.urbangreenfair.org.uk
Preparing for a post peak oil planet. Event Patrons: George Monbiot, author and journalist; Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member and Ex Deputy Mayor of London: Donnachadh McCarthy, author, campaigner and ex Deputy Chair of the Lib Dems; Peter Tatchell, Civil rights activist; Charles Secrett, ex Chair of FoE, advisor to the Mayor and GLA; Jeremy Leggett, author and director of Solar Century; Caroline Lucas, MEP; Colin Challen, MP; Dr Colin Campbell, Chair of ASPO (Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas); Paul Allen, Development Director of Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT);Brian Eno; muscian and campaigner, Aubrey Meyer; Global Commons Institute,
FAIR.
SOUTH LONDON URBAN GREEN FAIR FENCED OFF BY LAMBETH COUNCIL
We regret to announce that the South London Urban Green Fair, which was due to take place the weekend of 17th and 18th June in Brockwell Park, Lambeth has been cancelled. This denies Lambeth and South London residents a public and ticket-free ‘sustainable living’ event promoting green lifestyles in the coming age of ‘peak oil’ - diminishing yet more expensive supplies of fossil fuel. The reason the organisers have taken this decision is that we are unable to comply with Lambeth Council’s interpretation of the new licencing laws and it’s decision to demand fencing around any free event of 2000 people or more in Lambeth. The Parks Department of Lambeth Council has demanded the erection of a 1.2 kilometer, 8ft ‘Heras’ fence around the Urban Green Fair in the already fenced Brockwell Park. The organisers are against the ethos of fences at free events, which look ugly, serve little purpose and put people off by creating an impression of exclusion. The Lambeth Parks department are already charging the organisers £9,800 for use of the Brockwell Park to put on the first South London Urban Green Fair. The fence and extra gate staffing would add around £5,800 to the budget. Shane Collins, event licencee said ‘This interpretation of the new licencing laws by Lambeth Council has just made it a lot harder to put on free community events. This discriminates against not-for-profit community events in favour of commercial fenced, ticketed and exclusive events. We want the policy changed. ‘The fence issue has already caused the ‘Cuban Carnival’ to move out of Lambeth. Last year ‘Fair for Life’, a free event aiming to raise money for cancer relief ended up losing money due to the costs of a kilometer-long fence. They have not re-applied for an event this year. ‘Portugal Day’ in Kennington Park does not want the cost or the imposition of a fence. Of all the events in London Sustainability Week, of which the Urban Green Fair was due to be a part, we can find no other borough in London that would confine a green fair or free community event of 2,000 people or more to a fence. Why is Lambeth so different ? - ENDS -Contact: Urban Green Fair Community Interest Company Shane Collins 0208 671 5936www.urbangreenfair.org.uk
Preparing for a post peak oil planet. Event Patrons: George Monbiot, author and journalist; Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member and Ex Deputy Mayor of London: Donnachadh McCarthy, author, campaigner and ex Deputy Chair of the Lib Dems; Peter Tatchell, Civil rights activist; Charles Secrett, ex Chair of FoE, advisor to the Mayor and GLA; Jeremy Leggett, author and director of Solar Century; Caroline Lucas, MEP; Colin Challen, MP; Dr Colin Campbell, Chair of ASPO (Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas); Paul Allen, Development Director of Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT);Brian Eno; muscian and campaigner, Aubrey Meyer; Global Commons Institute,
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