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Preparation for events in Berkely Square |
Gardens: growing concern
Council accused of 'privatising' parks and squares by allowing programme of events
WESTMINSTER Council has been accused of stealth privatisation of its historic squares and gardens.
Open spaces in Marylebone, Mayfair and Soho are increasingly closed, residents, politicians claimed, following increased pressure to stage corporate events to pay for upkeep.
Recreational grounds in Paddington and Regent’s Park are under threat, politicians and community leaders across Westminster claim.
Ron Whelan, chairman of the Mayfair Action Group, this week hit out at a month of events planned for Berkley Square, Manchester Square and Regent’s Park.
In March Berkeley Square saw pop star Mika anger wealthy residents living in the opulent square with a ticketed gig.
And Hanover Square has been re-branded “Martini Terraza” with evening film screenings with free alcoholic drinks thrown in.
Ron Whelan, chairman of the Mayfair Action Group, said: “Clearly there is a council policy to maximise revenue from these public gardens by letting them out to private and commercial concerns. In effect, what the council is doing is a form of privatisation.
“Where the Thatcher Government in the 1980s started the process of selling off public assets permanently, Westminster Council has established a process of selling control of public assets on a temporary basis, for several months of the year.
“I can’t recall there ever being any public discussion on this policy, although I could be wrong. I certainly don’t think that the Westminster electorate would support such a policy, if they were ever to be given the option of voting on it.”
Councillor Audrey Lewis said: “I understand that this is a Temporary Event Notice under the Licensing Act 2003 only the police have the powers to object and then only on the grounds of crime and disorder. That objection can only be made within 48 hours from the moment of the application being made.
“There can be no consultation by the Council because they have no powers at all to object – whatever the views of local visitors or businesses or councillors. They cannot take any licensing step to stop or condition any nuisance the event might cause. They will however take all possible steps if it results in a statuatory noise nuisance. “
West End ward councillor Glenys Roberts said: “The argument is that the parks cannot sustain themselves without these events – but this is completely ridiculous.
“They cause such havoc and we do not need them. We have 24-hour everything here – why don’t we keep a space free just to go and enjoy the ducks?
“I know there are many residents without gardens that would be happy to help with gardening if needs be.
“I would argue that the organisers of these events should be made to pay a fee to help to replant the grass they have destroyed. I know they are very angry about constant events in Soho Square.”
Resident Katherine William-Powlett was so fed up that her children had nowhere to play that she set up the Soho Green project – to reclaim a previously “no-go” area for the community.
Ms Powlett said: “We are constantly being approached by businesses, but because St Anne’s Church owns the freehold they have a policy that prevents it.
“I think as long as events take place in the evening, and do not disturb residents, it can be OK – but where is the money going?”
To the west of the borough, in Paddington Recreation Ground, three new multi-purpose sports pitches were built. But the celebrations were tinged following claims that youths were being edged out by white-collar businessmen because of high rates.
MP Karen Buck said: “The pitches funded by the Football Foundation in Paddington recreation ground is consistently let out to high-paying sports clubs from outside the area when local children could use them.
“Many of the children are from deprived backgrounds and they are pushed away from those facilities because they are not able to pay the kind of charges that are demanded by Westminster Council’s private leisure contractor.”
But perhaps the biggest threat to open spaces in Westminster comes from the Royal Parks Agency themselves.
Council planners are under huge pressure to spike a planning application to concrete-over four acres of meadowland in Regents Park.
The Royal Parks Agency and Goals Soccer Centres want to build 10 five-a-side football pitches, a licensed bar and a car park.
The plans sparked a high-profile campaign from more than 1,200 members of the Friends of Regents Park including Lord Levene, Baron Claus Moser of Regent’s Park and human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson, QC.
Councillor Danny Astaire said that a lack of government funding was forcing the Royal Parks to consider using corporate events to plug a black hole in accounts.
The council will make its decision on Regent’s Park in early July. |
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