Campaigners have called for a halt to concerts and other big events they say are damaging Haringey’s biggest park and disturbing neighbours.

Members of Friends of Finsbury Park want Haringey Council to stop allowing Wireless Festival and other large-scale events from being held in the park every year.

Their latest call came after this year’s Hospitality and Abode music festivals sparked an “unprecedented” level of complaints when they were held on September 21 and 22.

A report by the council’s events and partnerships manager Sarah Jones reveals 42 calls were made to a special complaints line over the weekend of the festivals and 73 were made directly to the council.

Council bosses blamed the weather for worsening the noise and damage and said work was underway to restore the park to its previous state.

The damage to Finsbury Park was discussed at a meeting of Haringey’s environment and community safety scrutiny panel on Tuesday (November 5).

Friends member Martin Ball claimed the events were causing “absolute destruction of the environment”.

He said: “We need Wireless to go. We need these major events to stop so people can peacefully enjoy not just their park but also their home lives.”

Another Friends member, Clive Carter, said: “If the council and cabinet continue to exploit the park to the maximum possible extent, they run the risk of killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

“The reason I say this is I know two neighbouring boroughs are not happy with these events.”

When panel members came to discuss the issue later in the meeting, opinion was divided.

Ms Jones told the meeting that wind caused noise to travel further on the Sunday, and this was the likely cause of the spike in complaints.

Her report says unusually heavy rainfall was a factor in the damage to the ground.

Cllr Eldridge Culverwell, (Labour), Stroud Green, said many residents in his ward had contacted him to object to the concerts.

Cllr Julie Davies, (Labour), St Anns, added: “It really was absolutely intolerable. The Abode festival coincided with car-free Sunday. People were out on the streets in the borough having a nice time at events they had organised, and they were completely bombarded by drum and bass.”

But Cllr Kirsten Hearn, (Labour), cabinet member for climate change and sustainability, said the events raised money that was used to pay for improvements to the park.

She also pointed out that many people enjoyed going to the music festivals.

Cllr Hearn added: “Since I have been in charge, we have had fewer and fewer concerts each year. I think we can find a place of sensibleness that will enable us to get enough funds for the park.”

Ian Sygrave, a resident member of the committee who is a member of various community groups, said he could sympathise with both sides of the argument.

He said: “We are where we are, and I think it has improved when you think about how bad the concerts were.

“My own view is it has improved hugely, if we have to have the concerts.

“The bottom line is the park cannot survive without the funding, and we therefore have to find the least disruptive way for all parties to make that happen.”

In neighbouring Enfield, residents’ groups recently called on the council to rethink its events policy after Trent Park in Cockfosters sustained damage during Elrow Town and 51st State Festival.