Safety first

Published: 25 February 2010

• DF GOWERS talks about objectors to the World Cup football fest in Regent’s Park, as being “nimbys” (Football must win, February 18).
He totally fails to see the pertinent points in our objections, which are around controlling a crowd of 20,000 people, some of whom will be slightly drunk, others very drunk.
This will not only pose problems for those in the crowd who want to watch the football, without any trouble occurring, but also when this “merry band of fans”’ leave the park they will migrate to areas such as Primrose Hill, and cause anti-social behaviour in that area.
When Anzac Day was last celebrated in Regent’s Park, 5,000 supporters attended, afterwards a small number migrated to the public houses around Camden Town and Primrose Hill and several publicans had to call on the police to restore order.
That evening passed without serious injury to anyone.
However, we are now being asked to approve four times that number of people (20,000).
How are the Royal Parks going to protect then? And the local people who live in the areas surrounding the park? The straight answer is that they are not going to be able to!
So far from being nimbys we are trying to promote public safety and look after residents in Camden and also visitors to Camden.
CLLR PAT CALLAGHAN
ROBERT HIGSON
THOMAS NEUMARK
Camden Town with Primrose Hill Labour Action Team