Famous faces give red card to Regent's Park World Cup event
Published: 11 February 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM
BROADCASTER Sue MacGregor and journalist Sir Simon Jenkins have accused Regent’s Park bosses of trying to turn the prized green space into “Wembley Stadium”.
The attack on the Royal Parks Agency comes after the Mayor of London’s Office unveiled plans for a huge “Fan Zone” during this summer’s football World Cup. They want to erect a self-contained arena complete with giant screen, grandstand, hospitality area, and room for 20,000 supporters on Gloucester Green in the north of the park, during the month-long tournament. A licensing application has been submitted to Camden Council and is due to be considered next month.
Sir Simon, who is a former editor of The Times, lives in Primrose Hill. He heaped opprobrium on the agency for backing the event that has sponsorship ties with Sony, Kia Motors and Emirates, and urged the Friends of Regent’s Park group to mount a legal challenge.
Ms MacGregor, who presented BBC Radio 4’s Today programme for 18 years and lives in Park Village East, said she was deeply worried about the combination of football fans and alcohol and lamented what she described as a “change in character” of the park in recent years.
Alcohol will be sold from noon to 10pm during the tournament which kicks off on June 11 and ends on July 3.
Sir Simon said: “I think the treatment of Regent’s Park by the Royal Parks Agency is an absolute disgrace. They just want to make money. It’s illegal for commercial trade to take place in the park.
“Now we have the Royal Parks Agency effectively selling off the park. I think it’s completely unbelievable. As far as I can see there’s no control over the Agency at all at the moment.”
A Royal Parks spokeswoman said: “It is not illegal to have commercial activity in the park. We make sure these are suitable for the park.”