A campaign is calling for no more large events at a popular park until the public has had its say after recent “neglect and destruction”.

Haringey Liberal Democrats have hit out at the council over the frequency and scale of events hosted in Finsbury Park.

They claim damage was caused to the park during a Tough Mudder obstacle course event in April, as well as at Wireless and Krankbrother musical festivals this summer.

April’s mud run was branded an “environmental disgrace” by Tottenham MP David Lammy after it left behind a trail of churned grass across parts of the park.

The Lib Dems, the opposition group at Haringey Council, claim damage was also caused to “green areas and trees” during the two recent music festivals.

Liberal Democrat councillor Alessandra Rossetti said: “The council’s mission should be to preserve the park for future generations and allowing this sort of environmental vandalism is senseless – especially after declaring a climate emergency.”

In June, the authority agreed a deal to allow Wireless Festival, and other major events run by the same promoters, to take place in the park for a further five years.

Tom Hemsley, a Liberal Democrats campaigner in Stroud Green, says the council “mismanages” the space, and called for an ‘Independent Community Trust’ to take control over the park’s affairs.

The opposition group has launched a petition which also calls for a moratorium on all large events in the park until a public consultation takes place and a local referendum to confirm any decisions made on how the park is run.

Cllr Emily Arkell, Haringey’s cabinet member for culture, communities and leisure, said the authority was “immensely proud” of the park.

She said: “Management by the council ensures that the park is run in the interest of all residents.

“The high standards maintained by our team are demonstrated by its Green Flag Award, which the park has recently retained for 2023/24.

“The park has a long history of hosting events, and we are proud to continue this tradition by hosting some of the biggest names in music each summer.

“We are always looking to improve how events are managed, and regularly engage with stakeholders in Haringey, Islington and Hackney to ensure that negative impacts are minimised."

Cllr Arkell added: “We hold organisers to account and aren’t afraid to act if standards fall short – made abundantly clear this year when we ended our arrangement with Tough Mudder.”

Haringey Council said that events bring in around £1.2 million a year and that this money is reinvested into the park to benefit residents and local businesses.