Cllr Ian Wingfield, profiled this week as he becomes Southwark’s longest-ever serving councillor, said in relation to the redevelopment of the Heygate Estate that it was important for the borough to move with the times. Clearly, some people feel that locals were left behind by this change.
It’s similar with the MIK K-pop festival in Southwark Park – we don’t want to stop any change from happening here; it’s vital that Bermondsey, and Southwark more broadly, keep developing, but in a way that reflects the wishes of the people who live here.
Judging by the responses to organisers Magic Sounds’ announcement that they had got the licence for the festival, there are plenty of people who want K-pop in Southwark Park. It’s not clear if there are many local people who are in favour.
The argument is that some of the money will go towards the Bermondsey Carnival, a truly organic, diverse, community-led event. The carnival, which previously received as much as £80,000 from the council, has got a £10,000 fund this year. The rest of the money will go towards events across Southwark. This isn’t good enough – if the people of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are going to lose part of their park for two weeks this summer, their carnival should get more in return.