Westminster residents beg council to ditch King’s coronation party plans

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have kicked off about park party plans for the King’s coronation and say they’re already suffering enough from noise pollution.

Neighbours say proposals to cordon off parts of Green Park, St James’ Park and Hyde Park for the event during the early May Bank Holiday weekend is a step too far, council documents revealed.

One resident begged Westminster council to ditch proposals for revellers to party in Green Park saying there was “far too much noise in this area already”.

It comes as an application for the festivities was submitted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which is responsible for running some of the celebrations during the coronation.

It has applied to sell late-night refreshments from Friday, May 5 through to Sunday night, May 7.

In a letter to the council, one resident wrote: “Please NO NO NO… Let us families enjoy the park and feel comfortable taking our kids to the park to skate, walk and enjoy the wildlife. This is FAR TOO INTRUSIVE. There are other venues available for this kind of activity. Please direct the applicants to other enclosed venues.”

But Westminster council said the event will only last a few days and measures will be put in place to minimise the impact on residents.

A letter by the council’s lawyer to objectors said the events had been “carefully planned and programmed” to ensure people could enjoy the coronation at their local park.

The letter read: “Noise consultants have been engaged and are working with the environmental health team at Westminster so as to ensure that the activities do not unreasonably intrude.

“Careful consideration has been given to the siting of the screens for public viewing as well as the alcohol and food dispense points from which licensable activities will be conducted.”

They stressed the event was time limited to the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

They wrote: “Whilst we are respectful of the concerns that you have made, this application is specifically directed toward allowing everyone, including families and others, to enjoy this historic event in the parks and other areas around the ceremonial footprint.

“We would also observe that the application is limited to an enclosed space designated specifically for the purpose, it does not extend up toward Speakers Corner.”

Parties are expected to take over the southwest corner of Hyde Park with festivities kicking off on Saturday from 9am until 7pm and will restart again on Sunday evening from 4pm when screens will be rolled out for a live BBC concert at Windsor Castle.

Revellers will also be able to watch King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey and his later appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

Westminster City council is expected to decide an outcome during a licensing committee meeting on Thursday.

Pictured top: King Charles (Picture: Dan Marsh/Flickr)