A final push to stop electric car racing from returning to Battersea Park was unsuccessful, as Wandsworth Council voted in favour of the contentious event.

After the council’s community services overview and scrutiny committee voted the Formula E event through on November 24, Labour opposition councillors referred the matter to full council for a further debate.

Wandsworth Times:

Campaigners outside Wandsworth Council on November 24.

November 27: Wandsworth council welcomes decision to bring Formula E back to Battersea Park for two years

November 25: Formula E will return to Battersea Park for two years despite protests at Wandsworth council gates

November 20: Formula E Battersea Park: Wandsworth's Labour councillors pledge to vote against return

On December 9, councillors voted in favour of the return of the event, with Wandsworth Council stating it will generate £600,000 for the park before 2017.

In June, the park held the first Formula E event, pictured, which was approved with a contract of five years including two break clauses, allowing councillors to change their minds after the first event and the third event.

Councillors have now guaranteed that the races will return in 2016 and 2017.

Frances Radcliffe, chairman of the Friends of Battersea Park, said: “The Friends remain overwhelmingly opposed to Formula E, so this is extremely disappointing news. “For almost three weeks in high summer, the park will be taken over by industrial activity on a huge scale, and will be at high risk of damage especially if the weather is wet.

“We do not want to see this lovely green space so abused.”

November 24: Formula E: Campaigners question "critical" support as decision day looms for Battersea Park

November 17: Promises of a quieter Formula E 2016 as five groups object to its Battersea Park return

November 10: Greenpeace challenged by campaigners after it supports Formula E event in Battersea Park

The Friends of Battersea Park was one of five groups that made speeches against the return of the event to the scrutiny committee at the November meeting.

Community services spokesman Councillor Jonathan Cook said: “Projects that we have wanted to do for years, but have simply not had the money for can now be done.

“There is a substantial sum of cash that’s now become available that can pay for some of the improvements and enhancements that groups and parks users have long wanted to see.

“It is also worth pointing out that the dire warnings that some protesters made beforehand – that the park would be devastated and ruined – proved to be totally unfounded as we knew they would be.”