Wandsworth Council has tightened restrictions on events held on Wandsworth Common, limiting them to Category A events with a maximum of 2,499 attendees.

The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting on Monday 14 July 2025, follows a review of the council's Events Policy for parks, commons and open spaces, excluding Battersea Park.

The move aims to balance community access to events with the need to protect green spaces and mitigate the impact on local residents. The changes to the policy were driven by consultation feedback, including concerns that led to prohibiting large events on Wandsworth Common for over 2,499 people. The Friends of Tooting Common noted they were surprised and rather puzzled by the additional statement now included in the latest version...that no large events, events over 2,500, will be permitted on Wandsworth Common.

Councillor Paul White, Cabinet Member for the Environment, highlighted the council's commitment to creating a fairer, more compassionate, and more sustainable borough. He said the revised policy sought to:

  • Enable more residents in more parts of the borough to access events
  • Improve the management and mitigation of event impacts
  • Be a listening council
  • Secure additional social benefits from events

Key changes to the Events Policy, driven by consultation feedback, include:

  • Explicitly banning events with over 10,000 attendees in any greenspace other than Battersea Park.
  • Strengthening the involvement of tree and ecology experts in assessing event sites.
  • Increasing democratic oversight by requiring officers to consult with the relevant Cabinet member before taking certain decisions under the policy.

Peter Rommel, representing the Friends of Tooting Common, addressed the Cabinet, expressing surprise at the additional statement excluding large events from Wandsworth Common. He requested an explanation for the decision and assurances that it would not lead to increased pressure for more large events on Tooting Common.

Councillor White responded, stating that the changes reflect a genuine effort to respond to concerns raised and strike a better balance between community events and the protection of green spaces. He reassured the Friends of Tooting Common that the new policy aims to control how commons are used and ensure a balance that does not disrupt or undermine them.

Councillor Deekton clarified that the issue of displacement of events from Wandsworth Common is not a risk, as there are currently very few events held there.

The revised Events Policy was approved by the Cabinet, with Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Council, thanking Councillor White and Councillor Gasser for their work in improving the policy and cherishing the borough's green spaces.