Council secures injunction against garden fete that lacked proper risk assessment

In a statement announcing the injunction, Stevenage said Mr Justice Mould ruled that the community event could not go ahead due to a "potential risk to public safety caused by a lack of planning and proper risk assessment".

The court found the event also had further issues including a lack of public liability insurance and a lack of traffic and waste management plans, according to the council.

The event was scheduled to take place on 24 and 25 August in Shephalbury Park, Stevenage and promised Morris dancers, a speakers corner, live music and a dog show, alongside a selection of stalls.

However, Mould J granted the injunction just two days before the event was set to take place (22 August).

The injunction order names organiser James M R Smith as a defendant, alongside "persons unknown (being the members of the committee of the longmeadow and bragbury end residents' group)" and "persons unknown (being individuals who are organising or promoting an event known as 'stevenage bwd24' or 'stevenage broadwater day 2024' or 'bwd 2024 one big weekend' in shephalbury park,  stevenage from 24-25 august 2024)".

Smith had applied to discharge the injunction, but this was refused. The judge also refused Smith's application for permission to appeal.

In a note posted to the event's Facebook group a day after the injunction was granted, the organisers said: "Garden Fete is off this weekend. Weather is terrible and you lot ain't got no money till the end of the month. We will be back soon bigger and better.

"Much love. Is it better to ask for forgiveness or permission?"

Speaking to Local Government Lawyer, Smith said his group had received word of the injunction on short notice, adding: "We feel these kinds of injunctions are normally used in Non Molestation cases and thus inappropriate for local government.

"As the location was the High Court and very short notice none of my volunteers were able to attend."

He said that the group sent paper work to the council for the event in February, but only received a response in August, which asked for a series of changes to be made.

"There was no way we were going to be able to comply with the requirements and restrictions on our event."

Adam Carey