A Blackfen father-of-three has vowed to bring back Danson Festival after being "horrified" to hear it will not happen this year.

Dal Robertson, 41, started the online campaign group on Monday evening (Feb 16) to save the popular event, which often attracts crowds of 60,000 people.

Last Thursday (Feb 19) News Shopper revealed the campaign had around 3,000 members and now the total's exceeded 3,500. 

Bexley Council revealed this year the annual festival will not be running again, "due to poor ground conditions" after cancelling the show last year for the same reason - the council's website suggests no large-scale events will happen again in the park.

Mr Robertson, of Ridgeway West, Blackfen, said:  "I Googled the festival to find out what date it was and was horrified to find it was never happening again. I felt the statement the council put online was hidden. 

"I thought no, I’m not having this. It’s been done in quite a sly way.

"I think it’s all down to cuts and I will fight it all the way.

Mr Robertson is considering all options for how the festival could be bought back.

He said: "Perhaps we could run the festival with a small charge.

"It will be amicable first of all but I would consider a protest if we can’t reach a  compromise.

"We’ve organised a meeting with Councillor Alex Sawyer, next month, which is a step forward."

There was outcry in April last year when news broke that the popular event was being cancelled and it seems this year residents are similarly upset.

Previous revellers at the festival

News Shopper: Danson Festival 2013

Mr Robertson's Save Our Danson Festival Facebook group has around 3,500 members and a related online petition which has over 500 signatories.

Bexley Council spokesman blamed the decision was due to environmental factors.

 

The statement released on the website last month says: "Danson mid-park is no longer suitable for large scale events such as the Danson Festival.

"Although the location and size of Danson Park lends itself to major events, the geology of the park is far from ideal.

"The subsoil is largely clay, which results in poor drainage, pooling of water on the surface and the washing away of the topsoil when there is heavy rain. 

Fairground at a previous Danson Festival

News Shopper: Danson Festival 2013

"Continued use of the park for such events would result in serious damage to the park, which is the largest and most popular in the borough.

"There are other large scale events booked in for this year, however we do avoid the area which was used by Danson Festival."

Visit change.org/p/london-borough-of-bexley-save-our-danson-festival