Blow to anti-monarchy campaign group Republic - ‘Not the Royal Wedding’ event axed in Earlham Street

Published: 14 April 2011
by TOM FOOT

COVENT Garden’s biggest landlord, Shaftesbury plc, helped stop a group of republicans from staging a street party on the day of the royal wedding.

The £1.5-billion property investment group objected to the “Not the Royal Wedding” family fun day in Earlham Street, fearing it could be targeted by violent extremists and disrupt an anticipated retail bonanza.

Its chief executive, Jonathan Lane, recently predicted Kate and Wills’ big day would bring a massive windfall for his company. “People love the Queen,” he told the news agency Reuters. “There will be two weeks of holidays and people will come down to London.”

City analysts recently tipped the firm’s share price to rocket as a result of the royal wedding hysteria. 

Shaftesbury owns most of the property at  the Earlham Street parade where lobby group Re­public had hoped to stage a counter-royal wedding party on April 29. 

The party has been cancelled after senior Town Hall officials refused to provide a temporary traffic order, despite earlier emails to Republic saying the event could go ahead.

A council spokesman said the application was refused after objections from Shaftesbury Plc, some unnamed residents – the council has refused to say how many – and Covent Garden Community Association. 

He added: “They were strongly opposed to the event, as they felt it would negatively impact on their sales. They also raised public safety concerns as to how the event would be managed.”

When the New Journal spoke to residents and traders on Tuesday only two were aware of the plans and offered no opposition. 

The same council department has agreed to close five roads in Camden to allow pro-wedding street parties on the same day. There are nine more Camden wedding party applications. 

Covent Garden Labour councillor Sue Vincent said: “Shaftesbury didn’t want it and neither did the residents.

“Personally, I think it is a shame, which is why I’ve tried to get it moved to Lincoln’s Inn Fields.”

Republic campaign manager Graham Smith said: “This is a disgraceful attack on the rights of republicans to make their voice heard and to hold a fun and peaceful event.”

Republic chairwoman Emily Robinson, a politics lecturer at the University of East Anglia, said the council and emergency services had had no objection to the application. 

“At the very least there has been insinuations that we are connected in some way with anarchist groups, even though the police are satisfied this is not the case,” she added.

The street party row has revealed clear divisions between Camden Conservatives and Lib Dems, recent coalition partners running the Town Hall.

Lib Dem deputy leader Councillor Matt Sanders said: “Camden Council need to stop acting like killjoys.” 

But Belsize Conser­vative councillor Jonny Bucknell said: “It would be just like Labour Camden if they chose to help this republican mob.” 

A spokesman for Shaftesbury declined to comment. 

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