The Open Spaces Society has written to Ealing Council to accuse it of breaching guidelines by approving plans for a five-day Oktoberfest event.

The festival, expected to be attended by around 1,500 people a day, was approved by the council in January and will take place in Acton Green Common from August 10-14 this year.

But general secretary of Open Spaces Society, Kate Ashbrook, believes the festival is in breach of the Greater London Parks and Open Spaces Order 1967.

She said: "Such events are in breach of the Greater London Parks and Open Spaces Order 1967 which outlaws certain activities on London’s commons and in its parks and requires ministerial consent for any works, including temporary ones, on the commons.

"Many parks were created in Victorian times to satisfy the human need for fresh air and tranquillity in an increasingly dense urban area.

"That need is greater now than ever.

"Of course local authorities are strapped for cash. Of course they must find savings and generate income.

"But they should not do so in ways which conflict with the ethos of those far-sighted people, some of them our founders, who secured these open spaces in the first place."

'Users' needs have been considered'

The decision had sparked fears of noise, anti-social behavior and the condition of the venue following the festival.

But the council, who said residents were consulted and views considered as part of the process, said it will be the only "commercial event" on the green this year.

The added that the applicant, Carsten Raun, must demonstrate that he can deliver the event with minimal impact on the park, users and neighbours.

In response to allegations from Open Spaces Society that the festival is a breach of law, a council spokesperson said: "The council is very careful to ensure that we consider the needs and wants of all users of common land and has done everything possible to ensure that any proposals to use the land for public events fall within the scope of legislation governing its use."

Carsten Raun has told getwestlondon that his application has met all the requirements of the Greater London Parks and Open Spaces Order 1967.

According to organisers London Oktoberfest, staff will be dressed in traditional Dirndls and Lederhosen to serve beer produced in Bavaria, Germany.

A fee will be given to the council for hiring the park but the council has not provided a figure because it is "commercially sensitive information".

An estimated 20,000 litres of beer will be transported to Ealing for the event.