Permission has been granted by Lambeth Council for a giant campsite on Clapham Common for the Royal Wedding.
On Friday, Lambeth announced its formal approval Eleven Events Ltd’s plans to fence off a large part of the common and turn it into a three day campsite.
Organisers are offering 4,000 tickets for the camping site, which is set to accommodate 1,806 tents for three days. A big screen is going to be set up on the Common so an extra 5,000 revellers can watch Prince William an Kate Middleton tie the knot.
It is believed council is set to make £45,000 from allowing Eleven Events Ltd to use the Common for the event.
Streatham MP Chuka Umunna had previously raised the issue in Parliament and questioned the quality of the company behind Camp Royale, Eleven Events Ltd.
Mr Umunna raised concerns over the potential environmental degradation of the common as well as the safety implications of the event.
He said: ”I’m not going to make any more comments on this. I’ve made my position very clear - I’m opposed to it and my position is unchanged.”
A Lambeth Council spokeswoman said the council met with Friends of Clapham Common to listen to their concerns. Officers also met with residents, councillors and responded to letters and emails received about the issue.
Although one-day festivals take place annually on Clapham Common such as Ben and Jerry’s Summer Sundae and Get Loaded on the Common, a three-day event with camping is unprecedented on the public open space.
As well as camping space, organisers are offering luxury 18ft tipis for those wanting a "boutique hotel" experience.
A camping pass is set to cost £75 from April 28 to May 1. Luxury tipis are £2,000 each and can hold up to six people.
Councillor Florence Nosegbe Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and the 2012 Olympic Games said: “We’ve listened very carefully to all the views expressed and while we understand that residents are concerned about camping on the common, we would like to reassure everyone that Eleven Events have satisfied us that they have taken all possible precautions to prevent damage to the common and stage a safe event.
“The Council has recently formalised procedures to ensure that any damage to open spaces as a result of events is paid for by the organizers.
“We will also do a post event assessment, which will include CCMAC to explore the effect of camping on the common for future events but again, residents should be assured that Camp Royale will take up less than 10% of the common.
“We have to balance using the common to increase revenue streams in order to protect services for all Lambeth citizens and enabling new and exciting events for residents and visitors, whilst respecting the needs of residents who live nearby, we will continue to work with CCMAC and residents to get this balance right.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here