Westminster Council will meet tomorrow to discuss recommended changes to the park’s event license, after a "sharp increase" in resident complaints about noise from concerts.
The recommendations suggest reducing maximum sound levels from 75 to 73 decibels and crowd capacity to 65,000 people or fewer. They also propose cutting the number of concerts that can be held per year to six from 13.
If approved, the restrictions could have an impact on the
John Probyn, chief operating officer of Live Nation, which is organising the events, said: "The sound levels allowed in Hyde Park are already lower than any other venue in the country. If they reduce it any more then artists simply will not want to play the venue."
Westminster Council told Event it was not seeking to ban concerts in the park. It said in a statement: "The review application has been made by the council’s environmental health team in response to a sharp increase in resident complaints. It proposes changes to the Royal Parks’ existing license including changes to noise levels, capacity and the number of events and will be heard on Friday."
A council spokesperson said the recommended restriction of 73 decibels was the sound level recorded at last year’s Proms events.
Brian Connell, cabinet member for enterprise and volunteering at Westminster Council said: "In all cases where the council licenses premises for large scale events, we need to consider the needs of all involved – including local residents, concert goers and concert organisers. I am confident Friday’s committee will take into account and consider all representations in making their decision."
A Greater London Authority spokesperson said the Mayor of London was supportive of the proposals but "concerned that any changes might result in the future viability of the summer concerts programme".
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