What next F1 racing?

• As a Camden councillor I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are very concerned indeed about the ill-thought through proposals for nearly a month of non-stop World Cup screenings in Regent’s Park.

Do we really need this? (‘We’ll pay big penalty for football fan zone’, February 5). 

Maybe a day or two for the finals and semi-finals, but a whole month? And why us? 

I had been told that we would be one of many London venues, but I now understand we would be by far the largest.

Has anyone thought about the intrusion on people’s lives from all the early morning sound tests and late night crowd dispersal that any event like this brings with it? If this goes ahead I think we must insist on no disruption overnight.

Has anyone thought about the effects on other park users nearby, the zoo, where we know animals are distressed after only a day or two of events; the open-air theatre; everyone who goes there for a peaceful jog or stroll? 

Who is it who stands to gain from this, with bars set up to supply 20,000 people running all day? This is potentially a licence to print money. Where will this money go and how much of it will stay with us locally to pay for extra policing, local litter clearing and worse?

Where’s there’s a really good reason, when we host the Olympics for instance, we should make an exception and offer this kind of facility.

If we agree to this proposal will we soon have a month of football in our park every year or two ? Then why not rugby, tennis, Formula 1?

Its a place for peaceful exercise and relaxation and 20,000 football fans drinking all day is not compatible with this. 

CLLR CHRIS NAYLOR
Liberal Democrat, Camden Town and Primrose Hill ward Camden Council