“No big events in Brockwell Park,” says the Green candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood

The Green Party candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood said he “does not support” the use of Brockwell Park for “large events” that “operate huge areas for many days”.

Pete Elliot’s comments came in the wake of huge controversy over the damage to Lambeth Park in recent months after back-to-back events left the ground in turmoil.

However, Labour’s Helen Hayes and Reform’s Gary Stevens hailed the benefits of festivals. Here’s what the candidates had to say:

Pete Elliot – Green: ‘I don’t support using the park for such large events’

“Brockwell Park in particular is effectively the local residents’ garden on a number of large properties surrounding the park, where people live in flats and don’t have their own space.

“On beautiful summer days, Brockwell Park is full and I do not support the use of the park for such large events that take up huge areas for several days at a time. The damage to the park that we have seen in recent weeks will take months to repair and is once again making large areas of the park inaccessible.”

Leon Cook – Conservative: “It’s the privatization of public equipment”

“Having attended the Lambeth Country Show this weekend, I can attest to the importance of cultural and music festivals, particularly family-focused ones, and the benefits to local businesses.

“That said, what we’re seeing at Brockwell Park is effectively the privatization of a public facility. Residents of all ages and demographics want to be able to use this valued community asset, not to mention the importance of allowing green spaces to recover from such large events.”

Donna Harris – Liberal Democrat: “We need a full inquiry before any more events are scheduled”

“This issue landed in my inbox the day I was elected to Lambeth Council! Events play a role in the park being an inclusive space. But since 2017, local Lib Dems have been warning about the difficulty of striking a balance with noise issues, park care and biodiversity, which is very important to me as the Woodland Trust Tree Champion for Lambeth. It is clear that this year has gone wrong and we need a full investigation before any further events can be scheduled.

Gary Stevens – Reformation: “It’s amazing to have these events so close”

“While the stage and performance grounds take up a large part of Brockwell Park, there is still a large stretch of parkland stretching up to Tulse Hill that is free to residents and untouched by these events.

“There is always a balance to running such an active series of events with peoples concerns to consider. For me it is amazing to have these events close by and it adds even more to the appeal of Brixton, Herne Hill and DAWN in general.

Helen Hayes – Labour: ‘After fourteen years of cuts we wouldn’t have the free Lambeth Country show without commercial events’

“Brockwell Park is home to the Lambeth Country Show, which has been running for 50 years as a hugely popular, completely free summer event. After 14 years of Tory and Lib Dem cuts to Lambeth Council’s budget, we would certainly no longer have the free-for-all Lambeth Country Show without commercial events in the park.

“I would not like to see more events and it is important that the events that are held are done with great care for the residents and that where there are issues they are addressed.”

Chair analysis

Dulwich and West Norwood is yet another Labor stronghold, having held it since its creation in 1997. But the Greens have seen a surge in support in the 2019 election and it will be interesting to see how a Labor Party of center.

Like much of South London, Dulwich and West Norwood is diverse in every sense of the word. Straddling the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth, it includes affluent areas such as Dulwich Village, known for its high property values ​​and independent schools, as well as more deprived areas of Tulse Hill and West Norwood.

It is also one of the most educated constituencies in the country, according to 2021 census data. In areas such as Dulwich Village and Herne Hill & Dulwich Park, 67.4 and 72.8% of people have at least a bachelor’s degree .

In the 2019 election, Helen Hayes of the Labor Party got a comfortable 65.6% of the vote. But that year also saw the rise of the Greens, largely due to Brexit. Cast your mind back and you may recall that pro-EU candidates from the Liberal Democrat Party, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru have agreed not to oppose in 60 UK constituencies. The electoral pact was called “United to Remain”.

With no Lib Dem candidate to compete with, the Green Party under local candidate Jonathan Bartley secured 16.5% of the vote share, a massive increase of 14%. EU accession fell off the political agenda, with major parties preferring to avoid the complex, controversial issue. When the electorate agrees on so many of the issues facing the country, why risk upsetting potential voters with such a divisive issue? Don’t expect any candidates to drop out this time. A member of the Liberal Democrat Party told us the party would “absolutely not” make this mistake again, with local party members “annoyed” by the 2019 election pact.

That said, both the Lib Dems and the Greens have identified re-entry to the EU as a long-term goal. It will be interesting to see if Dulwich and West Norwooders are still motivated by the ramifications of Brexit when they go to the polls. Given that it was the third-strongest remaining constituency during the EU referendum, it could still prove a key electoral issue.

On the local agenda is the NHS. Parts of the constituency, such as Gipsy Hill and West Dulwich, have been described as a “health desert”, located far from major hospitals. The recent ransomware attack that hit the Tessa Jowell Center will have highlighted the NHS’s ongoing struggles with waiting times. Voters also tend to be concerned about climate change. Meanwhile, parents who say their children are being mugged on their way to school will be looking for ways to tackle crime. The cost of living crisis will also be very important to many voters.

History of the constituency

Created in 1885, Dulwich and West Norwood was originally a suburban constituency, voting Conservative in all nineteen elections from 1885 to 1935. Notable MPs included Sir Frederick Hall and Bonar Law, who became Prime Minister in 1922. In 1892 a Liberal candidate estimated that Dulwich had about 4,000 working class voters out of 10,500 and noted that although it had a reputation as a “cottage constituency”, there were many voters who lived in less impressive homes.

The 1945 election was pivotal and the Labor candidate Wilfrid Vernon narrowly won. His inaugural speech was unconventional, proposing ideas such as retraining bombers for a world police force and moving the House of Commons to faraway “Northern Rhodesia or Tanganyika or arctic Canada”. In 1952, Vernon admitted to MI5 his involvement in a pre-war Soviet espionage group, but was not exposed at the time. He lost his seat in 1951 by 691 votes.

From 1945 to 1992, Dulwich was a marginal place. Labour’s Samuel Stilkin served from 1964 to 1983, followed by Conservative Geral Bowden. The election of Tessa Jowell in 1992 marked a period of Labor stability. In 1997, Dulwich merged into the new constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood. As an MP, Jowell improved public services, education and healthcare, particularly supporting mental health services. Nationally, she was known for her role in securing the 2012 London Olympics as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Helen Hayes was elected in 2015.

2019 election results

What are the candidates’ key commitments?

Helen Hayes – LabouR

1. I will fight to rebuild our local NHS services, including NHS dentistry.
2. I will work to tackle the housing crisis by reforming the planning system to make it easier for our councils to deliver truly affordable housing to the local residents who need it.
3. I will work to tackle the cost of living crisis, reduce energy bills and deliver clean renewable energy to meet the climate emergency.

Pete Elliot – Green

1. Work tirelessly to support Southwark and Lambeth residents with housing issues and ensure their homes are safe, secure and insulated to the highest standards to reduce fuel bills and improve comfort.
2. Do everything in my power to prevent further privatization of the National Health Service, which will be under massive threat from a large Labor majority which started privatization under Tony Blair.
3. In everything I do as MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, social justice and environmental justice will drive my decision-making and priorities. Democracy is broken in this country and we need to bring our government structures into the 21st^St century and make politics more accessible to all.

Donna Harris – Liberal Democrat

1. Fix the housing crisis – safe, secure and warm homes for everyone.
2. Take action to save the NHS and social care – make sure everyone can get a GP or dentist appointment when they need it and reform mental health and CAMHS services so they are fit for purpose for all.
3. Put Britain back on the road to EU membership by rebuilding our trading relationship with our closest neighbours.

Leon Cook – Conservative

1. Remove LTNs to release congestion.
2. Overturning or preventing any VAT on schools which will blow up the state school sector.
3. Protect your green public spaces and make them more accessible, including for the elderly or disabled, by eradicating CPZs nearby.

Gary Stevens – The Reformation

1. Reduce street crime in Dulwich and West Norwood and make our streets safer.
2. Be the residents DAWN voice locally as well as nationally and support them whenever needed.
3. To work with all the various volunteer organizations within DAWN to help advance their goals.