Camden New Journal - News: Celebrities disagree over Fitzroy Square ‘nuisance’

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Camden New Journal - by SARA NEWMAN
Published: 04 October 2007

Griff Rhys Jones

‘We won’t stand for youths on benches’

Celebrities disagree over Fitzroy Square ‘nuisance’

HIGH-PROFILE residents of Fitzroy Square are at odds over public benches that have led to complaints about late-night disturbances.
Food critic Fay Maschler and her television scriptwriter husband Reg Gadney want seats in the Bloomsbury square to be removed.
But neighbour Griff Rhys Jones, the TV presenter comedian, insists he does not want to accessibility to the square, sections of which are already fenced off, to be reduced.
Residents have been asked to give their opinions on plans drawn up by Camden Council and English Heritage to widen and resurface the pavement using York Stone flagstones.
Ms Maschler is hoping the makeover will include the removal of the benches that are posted on the perimeter of the gardens.
She said: “We hope they’ll get rid of the benches which we feel are the real bugbear because of the people hanging around in a sinister way.”
Mr Gadney added: “The benches are a focal point for youths, or whatever you want to call them – gangs. It has been nasty, threatening and menacing. A lot of the residents feel that removing the benches will go some way to taking away the focal point of the meetings.”
Mr Rhys Jones said: “In the summer it gets a bit boring when people generally have a party in the square until four in the morning.”
But he added: “Anything I can do to increase the accessibility of the square to the public has to be a good thing.”
Later, in the spirit of good neighbourliness, he quipped: “If the feeling is that the benches should go then I’m going to sit on the benches on this one.”
Founding member of Fitzrovia Youth in Action, Andre Schott, believes removing the benches would not deter youths from congregating in the square.
He said: “If they don’t sit on the benches they’ll sit on the doorsteps. For a lot of them it is overcrowded at home.
“They need to be outside and meet with their friends. Young people need to understand residents’ needs for peace and quiet and the residents need to understand that young people are much less of a threat than is made out in the media.”
Fitzroy Square, which was designed by 18th-century architect Robert Adams, has been home to the likes of George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf and is rare for its stone frontages.
The Georgian Group, which is based at Fitzroy Square, has welcomed English Heritage’s moves to improve historical squares throughout London, including Russell Square, Bedford Square and Fitzroy Square.
Secretary Robert Bargey said: “Fitzroy is one of the most complete Georgian squares in London. Judging by the number of local youths they seem to like it too. They are not malevolent or malicious, but in many ways they are a nuisance.”

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