Residents are once again furious after a park event has left the ground churned up and unusable.
Hot on the heels of swathes of Hove Park being turned into a swamp by a Levellers gig, half of Victoria Gardens has been left as a muddy wasteland in the wake of Revel Puck Circus.
The Friends of Valley Gardens say it proves the site, which was also used by Spiegel Gardens during the May festival, should not be let out so intensively by the council’s park events team.
A spokeswoman said: “The entire site from Victoria Statue to the Mazda Fountain is utterly trashed.
“It was bad already when Spiegel Gardens packed up with ground fully compacted by HGVs, dozens of vehicles and heavy structures and equipment.
“Revel Puck has just made it far worse.
“Who is going to pay for this? It needs returfing from one end to the other.
“The weather cannot be blamed for bad decisions.”
Luke Hallgarten, the artistic director and CEO of Revel Puck, said he “completely understood” the group’s concerns. He said the circus had delayed their departure by a few days because heavy downpours meant moving vehicles would have damaged the ground even more.
He said: “The gardens were already under real strain when we arrived. The summer drought had left the grass extremely dry and thin, and the site appeared to have been well used throughout the year, so the ground was well worn when we arrived.
“Throughout our stay we did everything we could to protect it, including ground protection on walkways for the public, and ensuring toilet servicing vehicles only being allowed on the hard standing.
“On our way out we washed down the paths and raked any affected areas of the grounds.
“We’re taking the lead from the council regarding reinstatement and will play our full part in the process.”
A spokesperson for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Victoria Gardens is scheduled to undergo planned maintenance after this year’s events programme.
“This is part of our wider commitment to managing public spaces which host a number of events throughout the year.
“We are aware of concerns around how the space was left following the recent Revel Puck Circus.
“The site and impact of the event will be fully assessed and any additional repairs or restoration that is needed will be funded by the event organiser at no extra cost to the taxpayer.”
I should give up complaining/reporting on these instances, the council clearly have no intention of doing anything about it. They’ve just spent millions on VG3 and by this time next year that will be ruined too. This is/will be a fact.
Ps. I can also report that this area, contrary to what people seem to think, was a lot nicer 40 odd years ago when the council new what annual maintenance meant, and they had a decent parks department.
We have had the hottest dryest summer on record so the fact the rest of vally gardens, where there wasn’t any events are in exactly the same condition tells you the drought probably has a lot to do with it.
Saying that, the Spiegel thing should be on the level, same with lady boys and revel puck.
The north side of valley gardens was ruined last yr when speigel gardens decided to cover almost the whole length for over a month scrub grass took over the south side has never had a chance to recover from endless events the bald spot in the middle is where all the main tents go as there’s no trees there and during the hot summer on windy days you could see the top soil blowing away ! Now all that’s left is the sand the original turf was laid on ! The whole thing needs digging up and turf relaying ! Pavillion gardens looks good after the drought as turf was laid and allowed to root before it got hot
Or better still, at Black Rock.
we also have Black Rock which remains empty
This is just rinse and repeat from the events department – every year since 2023 after every event has significantly damaged the land, the same old excuses and empty promises are trotted out. It was the weather, too hot, too cold, too wet, the birds ate the grass seed, lessons learned; it was a trial; it’s on the schedule for repairs date unspecified, it’s not the right time of year to re-seed/repair; it wasn’t us, it didn’t happen, the dog ate my homework.
Revel Puck Circus is not at fault here. The Ground was already severely damaged by Spiegel Gardens (and arguably it wasn’t entirely their fault either) who were in situ for 51 days; 23 days illegally without planning permission in place (again the event departments fail) who were allowed with to park a massive HGV on site; multiple large vehicles, tractors, staff cars; huge heavy structures; heavy equipment – all tightly packed into every available inch of space including surrounding and blocking out the iconic Mazda Fountain from sight – even utilising the electricity supply causing the Fountain to be turned off for 51 days, in a heatwave depriving birdlife of water. All placed on fragile Green Park space not designed for heavy equipment or over 30,000 bouncy people dancing on it for the duration of the festival.
The overall festival people love as it brings money and joy to the city (and some low income, minimum wage, temporary jobs) – but at what cost when poor decisions cause so much damage that the land is unusable by any residents or community groups for months and months long after the wagons roll away into the sunset.
Events are great but in the hands of professionals and in the right locations on ground best suited to the size and weight of equipment, the footfall, the duration and commensurate with beneficial income including an immediate full repairing lease.
None of that assessment takes place formally or with any supervisory oversight and sense checking.
The result is the destruction of one space after another, disregard for residents close by and residents’ money overall.
Contracting the right events management firms (loads of local talent), selecting a site fit for purpose, in an appropriate location matched to the event type; is not an unreasonable ask. Unless the council events department lacks public sector experience, skills and respect required of the task. Pre-2022 events ran smoothly following due process placing residents, the environment and its assets ahead of commercial interests.
Historically B&H was a revered Spa town; a health and well-being reputation we should build upon and seek to attract top health and lifestyle brands who have as large, if not larger marketing budgets than the commercial booze companies.
The balance needs restoring, urgently. Some areas are suited to partying ; huge music gigs, revelry but green space in residential areas should be reserved for health, sports, fun lifestyle, innovation, arts and cultural events.
It’s time for a complete shake up and re-think to end this systematic and repetitive destruction of our Green Spaces and with it, causing reputational damage.
BHCC nor its residents or indeed the city overall are benefitting enough from the current scenario.
Please run for Major.
Hear hear!
We need to do something about this. Do you know if there is a movement we could join to propagade end of this missuse of our green spaces? Maybe time for a riot?
Rubbish organisation, rubbish council overseeing it.
Festival and events organisers must be laughing at how easily they are let off the hook in Brighton And Hove.
How can events, especially weekend events, be managed on behalf of the community when council staff go home at lunchtime on a Friday?
It’s pathetic
Mayor
VG1 and VG2 ‘improvements’ now look like sh1te
VG3 will soon follow….with the potential for more injuries and congestion/pollution as a result of the completely stupid design
I don’t think that at all Mike Beasley, I quite like the improvements Charlie Herbert.
I’m so fed up with our green spaces being treated in such disrespectful manner. The labour party with Bella Stanky at the helm have no idea how important nature is for our wellbeing. They, especially Bella, prioritise small financial gains over our long term health. Look what she’s doing to Pavilion Gardens. The Garden has been given a huge amount of money for a much needed revamp and she’s basically blocking it in preference for her neoliberal agenda, ie.the ever so damaging ice rink. We must stop voting for people with such vile politics who do not represent us but rather are in it for themselves, for power and a pretty paragraph on their CV whilst they destroy our nature without which none of us would be here. Why can’t they leave the green spaces be! We need them. There are enough pubs and clubs for all the events. Leave our green spaces alone! Preston Park, the Level, the gardens between Pavilion and St Peters church are under constant strain. People using these spaces daily are ousted for overpriced events with such enormous consequences. No wonder we’re all sick and anxious. It’s so frustrating. Why oh why is it the greedy running this town?!!!
The events department has already caused major damage to Victoria Gardens South ….. so may as well put the Ice Rink there and enable Pavilion Gardens project to commence.
On the proviso that
a) after the event is finished the entire VGS site is immediately returfed by the event organiser /Ltd Company
b) A £1 charge per ticket is paid into a fund for overdue repairs to all sections of Valley Gardens 1&2
c) Victoria Gardens South is rested completely for 2027
d) the original Brighton Spiegel Tent returns to the hard standing at the Steine for the May 2027 festival;
e) benches are returned to St.Peters Square
The events department has already caused major damage to Victoria Gardens South ….. so may as well put the Ice Rink there and enable Pavilion Gardens project to commence.
On the proviso that
a) after the event is finished the entire VGS site is immediately returfed by the event organiser /Ltd Company
b) A £1 charge per ticket is paid into a fund for overdue repairs to all sections of Valley Gardens 1&2
c) Victoria Gardens South is rested completely for 2027
d) the original Brighton Spiegel Tent returns to the hard standing at the Steine for the May 2027 festival;
e) benches are returned to St.Peters Square