The Licensing Sub-Committee of Wandsworth Council met on Friday, 23 January 2026, to consider an application for a new time-limited premises licence for the Country on the Common music festival. The committee granted the licence, subject to a number of conditions aimed at promoting the licensing objectives.

Country on the Common Festival Licence Granted

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new time-limited premises licence for the Country on the Common festival to be held at the Lido Field on Tooting Common. The licence permits the sale of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment for a two-day period between 1 May and 30 September 2026. The decision was made after considering representations from the applicant, Enable Leisure & Culture, and objections from local residents.

The application sought permission for the sale of alcohol from 12:00 to 22:00 on Saturday and 12:00 to 21:00 on Sunday, and for regulated entertainment from 12:00 to 22:30 on Saturday and 12:00 to 21:30 on Sunday. The proposed capacity for the event is 7,500 attendees per day.

Arguments for the Licence: Enable Leisure & Culture, a not-for-profit organisation managing public services for Wandsworth Council, highlighted that the event had been held successfully in 2025. They presented a comprehensive operating schedule and a detailed noise management strategy, developed by consultants Joynes Nash, outlining numerous conditions and procedures to mitigate potential issues. These included robust plans for crowd management, traffic management, stewarding, security, fire safety, medical arrangements, waste control, and noise monitoring. The applicant also committed to a pre-event letter drop to local residents, a resident hotline, and an incident log to address concerns.

Objections and Concerns: Several residents raised objections, primarily focusing on concerns about public nuisance due to noise, potential increases in crime and disorder, and insufficient resources for public safety. John and Sheila O'Sullivan, and Norah O'Sullivan, expressed concerns about noise carrying into their homes. Tony Edkins objected to the timing of the application, citing it as underhand and undemocratic, and raised concerns about a lack of independent assessment of noise control, insufficient police resources, and safety in emergencies. The Friends of Tooting Common (FOTC) also provided comments, acknowledging the applicant's efforts but reiterating concerns about noise, setup and takedown times, potential damage to the ground, and the implications for future events.

Decision and Conditions: The Sub-Committee decided to grant the licence. The decision was informed by the applicant's detailed proposals and the conditions outlined in the operating schedule, which are designed to promote the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

Key conditions attached to the licence include:

• A maximum capacity of 7,500 per day.
• The prohibition of glassware on the premises.
• A requirement for under 18s to be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or over.
• Mandatory CCTV coverage and the use of body-worn cameras by security staff.
• The maintenance of an incident log.
• The submission of an Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP) to the Wandsworth Safety Advisory Group at least 60 days before the event.
• A noise management plan with an independent noise monitoring team on-site throughout the event.
• A resident hotline and email address to be operational throughout the event phases.
• A pre-event letter drop to properties around the Common.
• Security and stewarding staff at a ratio of 1:100, with a minimum of 20 SIA registered personnel on duty at any one time.
• Controlled entry with SIA Registered Supervisors to ensure search and screening.
• Staff training on legal responsibilities, including Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training.
• A Challenge 25 scheme for alcohol sales.
• A designated Lost Persons point on-site.

The decision notice, outlining the full reasons and any rights of appeal, will be confirmed in writing within five working days. The meeting concluded with members of the Subcommittee moving to a separate confidential meeting to make their decision.