Villagers hit out at ‘broken promise’ not to let Shakedown return to Stanmer

People living and working in Stanmer Park are furious that the council has agreed to allow Shakedown to hold another festival there this year, saying it has broken a promise not to let it return.

The festival took place in Stanmer from 2010 to 2013, which residents said led to damage to the park, excessive noise and access problems. In 2014, it moved to Waterhall for two years, but asked the council for permission to move back to Stanmer this year, which was granted in November.

A petition asking the council to move the festival to a more suitable location has now been signed by more than 100 people, and the issue is due to be discussed at a meeting of the Stanmer Stakeholders later this month.

But the council says no such promise was ever made, and that the festival would boost tourism to the city.

The Stanmer Preservation Society said: “If Shakedown takes place it is clear following previous history that the park will be destroyed once again, and much harm and upset will take place.

“Prepare yourself for more mud, bad language being broadcast at high volume, drugs, drunken behaviour, fights and if you’re really lucky even a stabbing. All this was reported at the last Shakedown.”

Christina Summers, chair of the Stanmer Park Stakeholders Group and former Hollingdean and Stanmer councillor, said: “It’s surprising that after two years at Waterhall suddenly there’s a decision to come back to Stanmer Park, against all the residents’ wishes.”

A council spokesperson said: “We are unclear as to how the claim has come about that the council allegedly promised there would be no further Shakedown festivals at Stanmer Park after 2013 ever again.

“At the council’s economic development and culture committee it was clearly stated that the event was moving after 2013 to Waterhall.  However, no commitment to ‘never return’ to Stanmer Park was either spoken or implied.

“We consider the specific area of Stanmer Park in question regarding Shakedown to be a natural event space. It is indeed licensed for this function. The park is, like other parks in the city, for the enjoyment of the whole city and visitors as well as people who actually live in the park.

“We are currently in discussions with the promoters of Shakedown and will be setting a number of robust conditions to minimise damage to the park and disruption for  residents.

“This will include asking the promoters to set aside £10,000 to cover the cost of reinstating the park after the event.

“Tourism is central to the city’s economy, and events of this sort have a vital part to play in our overall tourism offer.

“We do not consider that occasional events of this sort are an unacceptable imposition on the residents of the park.”

Shakedown is hoping to attract a 20,000 strong crowd to the one-day festival on 17 September this year.

Previous festivals have attracted trouble, with a young man stabbed in the crowd in 2012 and the following year, a man’s face was slashed. Last year, police released a picture of a “carpet” of so-called hippy crack canisters littering the dance tent after the festival-goers had gone.

Organisers requested a change back to its original venue because it has better access than Waterhall and is closer to the universities and therefore students, its main customers.

During November’s economic development committee meeting, at which permission was granted, councillors were reassured that the festival would be controlled through licensing, and that the operators would have to look after the site more widely, including Coldean and Stanmer Woods.

Shakedown was approached for comment but had not replied at the time of publication.