GALA Festival 2024 Stakeholder Debrief

[malumbu]

Not helpful to use the T word as you may lose the moral high ground.  Yes, some of the posts are provocative, and perhaps overstep a line.  But they are genuine views 

I have the T word used against me from time to time, so maybe more sensitive than others.

 

[first mate]

I think Angelina's post is spot on:

"To have a proper review, with full intention to follow up on any lessons learned, there should be a full fact find.

This should be accessible to ALL residents (not just those invited) and should embrace other methods than one in-person session (they could send out a survey via Southwark website, or local social media). The council should be involved as well.

There should be a compilation of the main issues raised and importance. 

Follow up should be based on addressing each point. The council should be involved. There should be accountability and a clear way forward, as agreed by all.

So - the gap between what has been set up as a one day by invite meeting, is far, far away from what it should be, if the organisers truly wanted to listen and make improvements.

Perhaps a clue would be that the meeting is set up by the Public Relations team - it's just a tick box. to be seen to be doing the right thing."

[Dulwich dweller]

On 23/07/2024 at 07:50, first mate said:

It would be better to hold a meeting adjacent to the venue, as has been done in the past. Let's not pretend that holding the meeting further away from the venue is not a useful deterrence to attendance.

It's four bus stops away so hardly a deterrent unless one has mobility issues. Gala nor any other events organisers are under obligation to do what they've agreed to do. I'm sure if those who are serious and want to be heard will make the effort to attend the meeting. Whether their concerns have an impact or are taken seriously. Unless you can prove Gala have purposely chosen Peckham Levels as a means to deter people from attending i don't think it helps matters by implying that there's some sort of agenda or conspiracy going on. From following this thread it appears that's it's you with the agenda. Your display of arrogance in the post above ( Let's not pretend ) suggests that we're all in agreement with you.

[Ben Wile]

As long as there are other ways to offer feedback, but also to speak to the council about this matter, then 1-1 feedback to GALA is not a problem, but an additional option. 

[Penguin68]

Surely the simple issue here is (1) Is this just a box ticking exercise - 'we said we'd consult, we have consulted'? or (2) is there any genuine attempt to gain insight so that they could present a 'better' proposal for next year?

I'm a cynic, but I'm guessing that (1) is an odds-on favourite here.

In which case the choice of venue, and indeed the proposed process, is all about ensuring there will be little embarrassment (and nothing to record on surreptitious smartphones) which could be held against them. 

The fact that, apparently, they've invited stakeholders to meet quite far away from the site of the action - which is clearly a disincentive to participate, comes as no surprise. Yes, it's only a few bus stops away but...

[PeckhamRose]

An interesting series of responses here.  I think they're trying to do the divide thing too, rather than have us all together in one space near to the venue, and away from Peckham Rye Park.  By the way cyclemonkey, regarding postcodes.  Peckham Rye has two postcodes.  Peckham Rye Common is SE15 ie. Peckham postcode.  Peckham Rye Park is SE22 ie. East Dulwich.

But I have an idea.  Why don't we - as many of us who can - all arrive together around 7.30pm?  The email said they'd be taken us one by one to the Auditorium.  Well we can ALL sit in the Auditorium. By definition it is a big space. Let's do that!  I won't be able to get there much before then anyway.  We can demand to all be heard together and we all have the same questions. 

 

[first mate]

Not only that, the location chosen for feedback means they may be more likely to draw in more of those in favour, but who don't necessarily live adjacent to the event. 
 

The event is in the park, not on the common. A feedback location should be much closer to the event site, as it has always been before.

[PeckhamRose]

So let's all go for about 7.30pm?

 

[Dulwich dweller]

12 hours ago, first mate said:

Not only that, the location chosen for feedback means they may be more likely to draw in more of those in favour, but who don't necessarily live adjacent to the event. 
 

The event is in the park, not on the common. A feedback location should be much closer to the event site, as it has always been before.

Is the distance/ location going to stop you from going?

 

I really don't think that Gala will have any concerns about a meeting with concerned residents. They're under no obligation to do so. More browning points for them with the council and old bill. There is nothing that can be said that will prevent them from getting a future license for Peckham Rye. As explained previously it takes a lot more than complaints about noise and how the site is left/ reinstated before they get refused a licence. If it was a magnet for violence, open drug dealing and consumption then you might have a chance of getting whatever it is you want.

Edited July 29 by Dulwich dweller
spelling correction

[first mate]

It sounds like you think any objection is fruitless - is this because you think the event has full council backing, no matter what? 
 
Your reference to brownie points (at least I think that is what you meant) does make this feedback meeting sound like a tick box exercise, which is really disheartening.

I don't think the three day event will be stopped. My greatest concern is that the event is extended and then a precedent set for yet other festival, large private events to be held.

Edited July 29 by first mate

[Dulwich dweller]

7 hours ago, first mate said:

It sounds like you think any objection is fruitless

I have plenty of experience dealing with the council when it comes to events/ licensing and i know what does and doesn't carry weight when voicing concerns. I do think there are valid concerns/ issues but that's me and not the council or how their process works.

 

7 hours ago, first mate said:

is this because you think the event has full council backing, no matter what? 

Mostly so yes and because as i explained i just can't see the council blocking a future application from Gala/ or another similar event unless there's been complete disregard for contractual agreements, safety issues, antisocial behaviour, reports of violence, drug dealing and open consumption plus other criminality that's clearly related to the event. Those are the things that Gala and the council are likely to focus on/point to when on the defensive. I'm not saying don't go and air your views/ concerns but i would keep my expectations low in regard to the  outcome that you're hoping for.

 

7 hours ago, first mate said:

Your reference to brownie points (at least I think that is what you meant) does make this feedback meeting sound like a tick box exercise, which is really disheartening.

It's a PR exercise. They're not obliged to hold a meeting so perhaps not box ticking but their actions will show them in a good light and as being conscientious and caring. It's something that they and the council will no doubt point to if and when the need arises sometime in the future.

 

7 hours ago, first mate said:

I don't think the three day event will be stopped.

I agree with you and for the reasons given above.

 

 

7 hours ago, first mate said:

My greatest concern is that the event is extended and then a precedent set for yet other festival, large private events to be held.

It's possible but from my side of the fence i'd say it's doubtful because of the cost. Presuming the event was extended to two weekends the cost/ rental of the sound system, fencing, floor cover, rigging, lighting, security etc would multiply fourfold. It would be redundant during the week but that won't get you mates rates. They'd have to hike the ticket costs and risk pricing themselves out or range to their target audience. I'd imagine that the profit margins from a site the size of the Rye are not the highest given the running costs that such an event incurs.

 

All the best with your meeting!

Edited July 30 by Dulwich dweller
Spelling again.

[first mate]

As you know, they have already tried to get the event extended to 6 days and then backed off; my guess is they'll try again next year. 

Catherine Rose seems to have now been replaced as Cabinet Member for Parks, so I don't know if that will affect things. However, she was absolutely set on monetising park land.

As a matter of interest, would you support extension of this event as well as opening up the park for other similar events? 

I do wonder what would happen if it was proposed to rotate the event, so one year it is held in Peckham, the next in Dulwich Park. That way the pain and the pleasure is shared around (transport a barrier to the latter, I guess).

 

Edited July 30 by first mate

[Angelina]

I think Dulwich Park is much better suited to it. The transport is a factor but then same goes for a lot of other festivals. 

[DuncanW]

Dulwich Park had Pub in the Park running there for a while but that seems to have stopped. Does anyone know why? It still runs at other locations.

[Angelina]

they reduced the number of events and opted for fewer larger events instead - seems reasonable.

 

https://www.timeslocalnews.co.uk/local-news/pub-in-the-park-festival-no-longer-viable-for-town-organisers-say/

[Dulwich dweller]

8 hours ago, first mate said:

As you know, they have already tried to get the event extended to 6 days and then backed off;

I wasn't aware of that. I thought it was being mooted that is all.

 

8 hours ago, first mate said:

As a matter of interest, would you support extension of this event as well as opening up the park for other similar events? 

No. It's common land and shouldn't be used as a business venture.

 

 

[PeckhamRose]

Hello, how many of you went to the drop in meetings at Peckham Levels?  Me and a mate went at 7.30pm.  Three of the production people were there.  They admitted they did not like the tree cutting issue and could not answer to the higher volume this year that appeared to affect so many of us.  I did not believe there were only eight objections! But that didn't include those who complained directly to [email protected]    

They said they had explored the area that day and we had also been and I showed them photos of the large and many areas that still needed to be made good, four months on. They agreed and said they would be doing the 'making good' on that soon.

Anyway, the 3 Gala people said that they had had emails from people who said they could not make the drop in centre days, and so would be arranging for a zoom event with those of you who said they could not attend.

Gala may be an event you think is just to be discussed immediately before and after the event, but plans are started months ahead and post event analyses are worked on long after, as well as these post event meetings.  I told them that whilst they might be nice professional people I wished Gala would never come back for all the bad feeling and disruption it causes in OUR park to our residents.

[first mate]

Thank you for going. I could not attend.

About the tree cutting: was there an explanation as to who had authorised it?

I think a lot of people complained while the event was on. I wonder if those complaints were included? I know of someone who complained at the time and gave contact details. They were not invited to the feedback event at Peckham Levels.

[fishboy]

I was away for the whole of August, so couldn't attend, but have had an email from GALA which I'll be following up on & arranging a zoom call...

"We are proposing afternoon meetings between September 16th and September 24th for a zoom call.

If you would like to schedule this, please respond with your preferred date and time within this period. We will do our best to arrange a meeting that fits your timetable.

I have also attached the bird nesting report, which we can discuss with you alongside the biodiversity fund in the call.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Best regards,

GALA"