Lambeth Council owns and manages the whole of the Common, even though the land to the west of the cycle path lies in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Lambeth Council has a Parks Manager who is responsible for Clapham Common and some other parks and open spaces.  The Parks Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Common, including monitoring the performance of the various contractors appointed to maintain the Common (undertaking tasks such as collecting rubbish, mowing the grass, pruning the trees), and managing the budget for larger maintenance works, such as repairing buildings, paths and drains.

If you have a concern about something you’ve noticed, you can contact Lambeth Council by email – parks@lambeth.gov.uk.

Legal rules about activities on the Common, including sports, bikes and cars, and access to playgrounds, are set out in the bylaws.

If you think someone is committing a criminal offence, you can call the local police on 101.

As well as being called a ‘common’, Clapham is legally defined as a common and not a park. This comes from a historic need to protect commons as ‘common land’ for all people. The legal rules about what Lambeth Council is allowed to do, including building and holding commercial events, are set out in an Act of Parliament.