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Residents have expressed their anger at a “bizarre” green fence being erected around the property. primrose hill parking London in order to prevent Lunar New Year’s eve Revelers.
this Camden The park is a popular viewing spot in the capital famous firework displayoffering stunning views of the city.
In 2024, an estimated 30,000 people celebrated New Year’s Eve there.
But this year it has been closed revelers decision royal park The charity said the move was “not taken lightly” but was necessary “to ensure public safety”.
People living in the area criticized the decision as “ridiculous” and an “overreaction”.
Local resident Amy McKeown said she left the area on Monday to celebrate New Year’s Eve with family elsewhere.
“I have left the area,” she told the Press Association. “This is so weird.”
Ms McKeown, who is part of the Primrose Hill Keepers volunteer group, added: “The park has never been closed like this. It’s completely unprecedented.”
“This is a park where people should be able to come and watch the fireworks. That’s exactly what we should be encouraging people to do.
“2024 [event] Was successfully spotted by the police and passed without incident. We’ve gone from having an open event to using a lot of resources to keep people out of the park. “
Catherine Usiskin, who has lived in Primrose Hill for more than 40 years, said the fence around the park was an “overreaction”.
“This is ridiculous,” she said. “You can’t shut down society.”
Ms Usiskin said the closure would be damaging to restaurants and bars in the area, but she believed people would still try to climb the fence to gather in the park.
The Royal Parks Charity, which manages Primrose Hill, previously said its ability to manage the crowds that usually attend fireworks displays will be “severely reduced”, partly due to the closure of the Metropolitan Police Royal Parks Operations Command.
A spokesman for the charity said on Monday: “The decision to close Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve was not taken lightly. Last year an estimated 30,000 people traveled to Primrose Hill to watch the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display.”
“This is not an event organized by an event organiser, but a gathering in an open park and we have limited control measures in place to ensure public safety. As a result, we have taken the decision to close and lock Primrose Hill from 8pm on December 30 until January 1.
“We have been working closely with the Metropolitan Police to encourage anyone who does not have tickets to watch the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show to make alternative arrangements.”
The Metropolitan Police announced in November that it would disband Royal Parks Police, which has helped tackle serious crime in green spaces such as Hyde Park and Primrose Hill, in an attempt to plug a £260m funding gap.
But a police spokesman said: “The decision to close Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve was made by Royal Parks, not the police.
“It is inaccurate to suggest that this decision was necessary due to the disbandment of the Royal Parks Police Force.
“Of the more than 145 officers deployed to Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve last year, officers from this group comprised just 15 officers. This is a similar composition to previous years’ deployments.”
Nick John, commander of the Met’s New Year’s Eve policing, said: “Parks Royal is urging people not to attempt to gather at Primrose Hill this year and we will be responding to those appeals.
“Please make alternative plans. Anyone attempting to enter the park will find this impossible.”
Scotland Yard confirmed there will be a police presence at Primrose Hill to “respond to crime” but added it was not its responsibility to prevent access to the park.
teenager Harry Pittman He was stabbed to death during New Year’s Eve celebrations last year.
Additional reporting by the Press Association