number of Hyde Park concerts by Live Nation to be reduced

In a follow up to our story last November, (here), Westminster Council held a meeting on Friday where they reached a decision on the size and number of future concerts in Hyde Park.

	Hyde Park

During the all day meeting it was decided that from next year the number of concerts at the outdoor venue will be reduced from thirteen to nine.

The concerts held by Live Nation will also be reduced in capacity from a maximum of 80,000 to 65,000 and in some cases 50,000, from next year.

The Council had been forced to act following 109 complaints from residents last year about noise, around twice as many as in 2010.

Live Nation the largest producer of live music concerts in the world, who have used the park to host live events like Party in the Park, Live 8, Picnic in the Park, Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert as well as staging numerous large music concerts, and festivals, currently have an agreement with Royal Parks to continue to stage events including the festivals Wireless and Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park.

Westminster Council's licensing sub-committee also ruled that there would be improved safety for concert goers at the site after an event ends, including the provision of more stewards, and a bigger clean up programme, both in and around the park, with the Royal Parks footing the bill.

There was no enforced decibel reduction, but the Council decided there would be more monitoring points around the park for music with a repetitive bass beat, which will be tested through concerts this year with a reassessment on noise levels later in the year.

Live Nation are set host a Madonna concert, and also stage two special Celebration Concerts in Hyde Park to coincide with two key milestones of the London 2012 on Sunday 12th August.

John Probyn, chief operating officer of Live Nation, which are hosting Bruce Springsteen and Madonna at the park this summer, as well as the Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremony said, "Live Nation is delighted with the outcome of today's meeting. This is good news for the thousands of Londoners and visitors from overseas enjoying all concerts we have in place, and also the London 2012 events in Hyde Park this summer.

"We have listened to the concerns of the residents and will continue to do so while working closely with Westminster Council and the Royal Parks."

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