'Grotesque': Fury over fencing around London's Primrose Hill to stop New Year's Eve revelry

"People living near Primrose Hill have told of their anger after opaque green hoarding was installed around the park in an unprecedented measure to prevent revellers from entering to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks. Some of the park has been cordoned off with solid hoarding and temporary fencing, while other parts have just the temporary fencing to prevent would-be spectators from entering."

"But a spokesperson for the force said: The decision to close Primrose Hill on New Year's Eve is one taken by the Royal Parks, not the police. It is not accurate to suggest the decision was necessary as a result of the disbanding of the Royal Parks policing team. Officers from that team made up just 15 of the more than 145 officers who were deployed to Primrose Hill on New Year's Eve last year. This is similar to the makeup of deployments in previous years."

Opaque green hoarding and temporary fencing were installed around parts of Primrose Hill to prevent revellers from entering to watch New Year's Eve fireworks. Some areas have solid hoarding while others have only temporary fencing, leaving sections of the park blocked off. Local residents and volunteers expressed anger and described the measures as grotesque and unprecedented for a public park. The Royal Parks charity cited diminished capacity to manage large crowds following the closure of the Metropolitan Police's Royal Parks Operational Command Unit. Police noted the closure decision was taken by Royal Parks and defended deployment numbers, citing previous-year staffing composition. Royal Parks estimated about 30,000 visitors watched the fireworks from Primrose Hill last year and described that gathering as an unorganised assembly in open parkland.

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