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Debate over royal parks reaches conclusion
A discussion between London’s royal parks chiefs and local residents has resulted in a limit on the number of events to be held in Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Kensington Gardens and Green Park each year.
The debate was sparked by a licence application submitted to Westminster City Council under the new law which states that in principle, events could be held in the parks on any day of the year. Lord Coe, Ken Livingstone, the BBC and the London Marathon backed the new legislation. Prior to the new law, which came into effect last November, the royal parks had to apply for occasional licenses.
However, local residents put pressure on the council to reject the application, due to concerns over an increase in noise and pollution.
The new licence would have allowed up to 79,999 people to attend 20 events a year at Hyde Park, 9,999 people to 12 events a year at St James’s Park, and 14,999 people to seven events a year at Kensington Gardens.
But Nick Dines, spokesman for Westminster City Council, said, following the debate, that Kensington would only be hosting five major events with 5,000-15,000 people, St James’s four events with the same number, and Hyde Park would host 13 events, eight of which with 5,000-15,000 and the remaining five events with 50,000-80,000 people.