Forum Topic

Lovebox Moving From Gunnersbury Park?

The implication of the following article appears to be that it is. I know it causes inconvenience and disruption to people living nearby but it would be a shame if it went.https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/conservationists-say-lovebox-music-festival-could-endanger-rare-songbirds-colony-a4207461.html

Andy Jones ● 2369d6 Comments

The case that companies which are wholly owned by local authorities should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act is overwhelming. That they are not obliged to by law doesn't mean they could voluntarily submit themselves to scrutiny. Could it be the case that the hosting of these events makes very little for the park but by increasing revenue they release matched funding from other entities like the Heritage Lottery Fund therefore it is worth their while to accept these events? Is the June date agreed for next year? The traffic resulting from road closures will be much worse during term time.

Gordon Southwell ● 2364d

Thank you for your kind words.We don't know how much goes back into the Park. When the estate was run by Ealing and Hounslow directly, the annual accounts were presented as public documents. The CIC is a "private company" and does not share this information.David Bowler (CEO of the CIC) told the meeting that the amount "covered" the cost of the grounds maintenance and gardening team. He also said it was essential, and that all of it goes directly to the CIC to be spent on the park and museum.The other missing piece of information is the annual service agreement between the CIC and the Councils. Perhaps for the next few years the minimum fee is fixed to meet the requirements of the HLF grant, but sooner or later we expect that will be reduced.

James Wisdom ● 2365d

Thanks for the reply James and the work that you do with the park.The suspicion has to be that negotiations are ongoing about the terms for future events and the organisers are making the point that they have an alternative. Do we ever get to be told how much goes back to the park from events like Lovebox?

Andy Jones ● 2366d

Sodom and Gomorrah

Vasken Tchengrakian ● 2367d

Reported in the Ilford Recorder in July:Permission granted for event in September 2020;Three nights, until midnight, 50,000 max;Negotiations started in 2018;Still requires licences and agreements from local authority.https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/lovebox-approval-at-wanstead-flats-1-6153618We don't yet know if this is as well as, or instead of, the event at Gunnersbury.See "Reviewing the Lovebox Festival, August 2019" at https://gunnersburyfriends.org/

James Wisdom ● 2367d

Yup, that is what parks are for, where rare songbirds can nest untraumatised by 10kW speaker systems. The parks are there to provide recreation for the residents of the area, not as a revenue or tourist source. I wish the twitchers well in their battle with the awful Val Bot. Just think of the reduction in Ealing's carbon footprint if the festival went elsewhere.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2369d