'We would have gone ahead with show', say police (From Your Local Guardian)

'We would have gone ahead with show', say police

7:50am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Rachel Blundy

Council chiefs have been accused of “lying” after police said they would have gone ahead with the borough’s showpiece festival despite council claims it posed a ‘security risk’.

Lambeth Council claimed last week police had advised it not to hold the Lambeth Country Show at the same time as the Olympics because there would not be enough officers to ensure public safety.

But Lambeth police have since denied the claim, insisting it was the council’s decision whether to stage the event, adding that they would have supported the decision to hold it.

Borough commander, Chief Superintendent Matt Bell, said police had not issued any advice to the council and said there was no reason to cancel the show.

He said: “It was not on the advice of the police. I’d say it’s a busy time, but that’s not a reason to cancel or move it.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Ashley Lumsden accused the council of lying to absolve itself of responsibility for the cancellation.

He said: “Now we know there is no reason not to go ahead with the country show in July. “The council should come clean. It seems like it was a lie to get them out of a difficult decision.

“If they really had some evidence that there was a gang targeting things, then that would be one thing. “But it does seem very unlikely that [the police] would say that.”

The council has said the decision to cancel the show is not final, and remains a recommendation which will be discussed by councillors.

But it is yet to confirm how much money will be available for community groups looking to hold a replacement show.

Coun Lumsden said the show’s budget, which is usually around £100,000, had already been allocated, but the council could still decide to reallocate the funds.

Budget papers from February last year suggest the council was considering corporate sponsorship to ensure the show’s future viability, following cuts from central government.

The report said: “Corporate sponsorship should be explored more widely to reduce cuts. For example, residents would prefer a fee paid or sponsored Lambeth Country Show than it being stopped.”

In response, a council spokesman said on Tuesday: “We always aim to achieve sponsorship for the Country Show and clearly in the Olympic year it is more difficult for any event to achieve this, but it is not a requirement.”

Almost 1,700 people have now signed a petition to reinstate the show, which attracts more than 160,000 revellers to Brockwell Park each year.