Norwood Park’s Summer Sizzle license sparks controversy as Council considers 10,000 capacity event

A license for Summer Sizzle, a one-day music festival planned for Norwood Park, will be considered when the Lambeth licensing sub-committee meets at the Town Hall on June 13.

Organisers, Colchester-based Global Entertainment Ltd, want to stage the event for 9,999 people at the community park on July 27.

Jamaican dancehall singer Mavado is featured as the headliner. He has previously attracted criticism for homophobic lyrics. Mavado has since apologized for these.

The license applied for requires a start time of 10:00, ending at 23:00. This includes alcohol which will be sold between 1pm and 9pm. It will not be possible to bring your own drink into the event if it is given the green light.

Lambeth’s licensing team describes the park at Gipsy Hill as ‘a local park surrounded by residential areas.”

The officer’s report notes that:

“There is insufficient information in the application to alleviate their concerns and ensure that the premises will be operated and managed safely to protect the health, safety and welfare of customers.”

Twenty-five actions against the application were received.

These include:

“Norwood Park is completely unsuitable for a 9,999 capacity music event. The park is not big enough to accommodate that number, it is surrounded on all sides by residents. We are also concerned about reports that some acts appearing at this event glorify gun violence, misogyny and homophobia.”

“This will destroy the park, which is already in a bad state, destroy the wildlife and cause a lot of noise pollution and waste. It will also cause great disruption to the local neighbourhood.”

“I object to the planned live and recorded music event headlined by Mavado, on the grounds of his homophobic lyrics and history of gun violations, the massive scale of the event, given that Norwood Park has been designated a nature reserve and , finally, the local population of the population. families with school-age children.”

“This performer named Mavado promotes homophobia and gun violence. Also, the fact that over 9,000 people will be attending will result in negative impact on our wonderful park as well as wildlife and neighbours.”

The concern was also raised by the Met Police. In its submission before the licensing meeting, MPS adds:

“MPS does not consider that the application sufficiently demonstrates how the licensing objectives will be furthered in relation to the following:

Prevention of crime and disorder

Prevention of public nuisance

Public safety

Protecting children from harm.”

The Friends Gipsy Hill also oppose Summer Sizzle:

“The local area has a history of gang related crime and shootings. The proposed event is not community focused and the promoter’s potential line-up of artists may be unsuitable for families and poses a risk of incitement to violence and a danger to local youth groups.”