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Objectors keep park festival-free
Concerts and film shows barred
PLANS to stage concerts and film screenings at Primrose Hill
park were thrown out on Monday.
Fears had been raised by a licensing application from the Royal
Parks Agency, which runs London’s eight major parks. According
to objectors, it would have opened the way to the sale of alcohol
and the staging of summer festivals on Primrose Hill.
Residents living close to Primrose Hill and around the east
side of Regent’s Park protested that the application would
have allowed the staging of an Australian-themed fair, bringing
10,000 people to the park for dancing, music and barbecues.
Objectors were also worried that the annual Fruitstock festival
in Regent’s Park, which attracts crowds of up to 30,000
in August, would spill over into Primrose Hill. Councillors
were warned that the events would cause parking chaos, criminal
damage and disturb animals in London Zoo.
Because of changes to the licensing laws last year, the Royal
Parks Agency was forced to re-apply for a licence to sell alcohol
and stage events in the park.
Parks director Colin Buttery said the application would allow
annual events to continue. He added: “Until last year,
we were exempt from licensing requirements. We could have done
anything we wanted. We are not changing our policy.
“A poll has shown that Regent’s Park is the third
favourite park in London so we must be doing something right.”
Labour’s environment chief Councillor John Thane described
the application to sell alcohol in Regent’s Park 20 times
a year as “ambitious and unnecessary”.
Councillors agreed that, in Regent’s Park, alcohol can
be served 12 times a year until 9.30pm. Films can be shown until
midnight five times a year and major events – with crowds
up to 30,000 – staged five times a year. All major events
and the sale of alcohol were banned from Primrose Hill. |
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