Residents near Primrose Hill in London are experiencing significant restrictions as fencing and other barriers have been put up to prevent access to the park during the Mayor’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Camden Park, which provides sweeping views of the city, attracted an estimated 30,000 attendees for the New Year’s celebration in 2024.
This year, however, the gates will be shut from 8 PM on December 31st until 6 AM on New Year’s Day. The Metropolitan Police is using social media to communicate these restrictions to the community and reinforce patrols to ensure compliance.
Heavy-duty screens and temporary fencing have been installed in various parts of the park, with some areas featuring only temporary barriers to keep visitors out.
Local resident Amy McCune mentioned that she decided to leave the neighborhood on Monday to celebrate New Year’s Eve with her family elsewhere. She remarked, “This is a public park where people can come and watch fireworks. That’s what we should be encouraging people to do.”
A spokesperson representing Royal Parks, the organization that oversees Primrose Hill, discussed the decision on Monday, stating that closing the park on New Year’s Eve wasn’t an easy choice. Last year, around 30,000 people visited to view the fireworks display.
They explained that this gathering wasn’t an organized event but rather an informal assembly in a public space; therefore, the options to ensure safety are limited. Consequently, they decided to close and lock Primrose Hill from 8 PM on December 30th until January 1st.
They are collaborating with the Metropolitan Police, urging anyone without a ticket for the Mayor’s display to seek other plans.
Scotland Yard confirmed that police will be present at Primrose Hill to tackle crime but clarified that preventing public access to the park isn’t their responsibility, according to reports.
