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Joan Bakewell |
Joan and peer voice their fears over park concerts
Warning that music festivals bid comes as gangs menace mounts
BAFTA-winning broadcaster Joan Bakewell and life peer Lord
Moser are among protesters pleading with licensing chiefs to
reject plans to hold music festivals in Regent’s Park.
Councillors will decide on Monday whether the Royal Parks Agency,
which manages the 197-hectare grounds, which include Primrose
Hill, can have permission to stage concerts and show films on
projectors on a regular basis.
Park bosses have said they would use a new licence sparingly
and close beer tents at 10.30pm but their application would
effectively give them permission to stage events on a daily
basis if they chose to.
Dozens of residents living on the fringes of the park fear the
licence application is part of a long-term goal to raise money.
Ms Bakewell, who lives in nearby Chalcot Square, Primrose Hill,
has warned the council that the licence will lead to public
disorder.
The broadcaster – an objector to late-night opening at
her local pub last year – said in a letter to the council:
“Primrose Hill is a small grassy area hemmed in by densely
populated housing, much of which is home to families with small
children.
“At the best of times the roads are choked and parking
is difficult. Any entertainments on Primrose Hill would aggravate
a situation that is only held within bounds at present with
considerable tension.
“There has been increasing crime, with gangs causing trouble
in the neighbourhood.”
She said she backed Camden Council’s decision four years
ago to end the Primrose Hill fireworks display. Ms Bakewell,
who presented the BBC current affairs programme The Heart Of
The Matter, added: “Healthy and safety were greatly at
risk and Camden wisely decided to stop them.”
Many residents fear Regent’s Park could follow the example
of Hyde Park, which this summer will host concerts by rock stars
Bon Jovi and Shania Twain.
Close on 30,000 people would be allowed to attend events in
Regent’s Park.
Lord Moser, who lives in Regent’s Park Terrace, Regent’s
Park, said he was “horrified” by the applications.
He said the park and Primrose Hill “are very important
as natural breathing spaces of peace and quiet within an area
awash with noise and traffic”.
Lord Moser, a former chairman of the Royal Opera House, added:
“Large events will disrupt this atmosphere, not just for
the evening but for a considerable time both before and after
the event in the setting up and dismantling.”
He said he would be raising the issue with colleagues in Parliament,
adding: “If the intention is to raise money for the upkeep
of the parks this is not the way to do it.”
Others who have objected include the Friends of Regent’s
Park and Primrose Hill Community Association. Labour councillors
have called on the Royal Parks Agency to provide new zebra crossings
on the ring road around the park.
An Agency statement said that most events would attract only
modest crowds, as opposed to the near-30,000 limit, adding:
“In practice, only major events are expected to reach that
number of visitors.
“Many instances of regulated entertainment will attract
an audience under 5,000 people.
“Similarly, this application is for the sale of alcohol
but in practice alcohol will only be supplied at a very few
major events each year.
“Many of the events are charitable with no commercial profit.
Income from commercial events in the park is used for the upkeep
of the royal parks.”
• Ms Bakewell is backing a campaign to opening another
post office branch in Belsize Park. In a letter to the New Journal
she said: “I hope its not too late for an effective protest.” |
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