I'll be in bed by 10pm but couldn't help but feel a bit miffed to discover that they've erected a wall around Primrose Hill to deter NYE revellers (and everyone else) from entering the park from 20:00 on the 30th until 1st Jan.

For what this wall cost would it not have been a bit less lame for them to post a handful of POs here so people who don't want to spend £££s on a disappointing night out in central London (or a night in watching Jools' dreaded Hootenanny) have a nice way to see in the New Year?

Appreciate the disruption to wildlife and NIMBYs but this just seems shitty

by MarthaFarcuss

28 comments

  1. A kid got murdered the year before last. Don’t suspect they want to have to deal with that again

  2. They have probably done it due to issues caused in previous years. I can’t begin to think about all the litter than would be there on 1st January.

  4. I think you are severely overestimating how much it costs to put up temporary barriers. 

  5. Real shame. I just moved to the area and was looking for a low-key local spot to watch before heading home to sleep.

  6. They have the barriers in St James’s Park as well…

  7. I agree its shit, but I think the cost is paid for by the crown estate. Its simply a response to the stabbing from a couple years ago. Bit of a shame though but I guess public safety and not having to deal with the mess of a stabbing is probably their driving reason.

    I imagine a lot of people will still try on NYE.

  10. > Appreciate the disruption to wildlife and NIMBYs

    When your brain is so fried by Reddit opinions that you regard any closure of parks for private festivals a “NIMBY opinion” but you object to the closure of parks on safety grounds

  12. I understand why they’ve done it, but it’s depressing that the response is to just close off one of the best viewing points rather than trying to address the underlying issue or through additional policing.

    It’s easier to close something than carry out risk management, but from that perspective you could end up closing anything.

  13. London isn’t really for Londoners anymore. Before 2000 Londoners celebrated NYE anywhere they liked without tickets. I miss the Trafalgar Square mayhem.

  15. It’s many people’s tradition to go up the hill and watch the fireworks. Hate this.

    I’ve been a few times, albeit a a good 8 years ago and it was tame as fuck.

  16. I was annoyed by similar in Brockwell Park this summer.

  17. That’s crazy. Still, it will be nice and quiet for anyone who gets over the fence.

  18. I used to go to PH for NYE and one of the last times was maybe 6 years ago when kids were running around spraying random couples with whatever alcohol they had.

    I remember thinking that if they did that to me and my gf, I’d probably end up in hospital with stab wounds and I’ve not considered going back since.

    Police would have made sense but I’d assume they’re already at their ‘limits’ as I’ve spent many in Central too and that was feral AF.

  19. Brilliant. Stops all the loud annoying anti-social chavs from ruining it for the rest of us.  

  20. Yet another abuse of the public commons. This is Starmer’s turf so perhaps everyone should write to him about it.

  21. Popular event with potential safety issues of overcrowding. An inconvenience for a week to keep people safe. I’m sure you’ll cope. (Admittedly also a money spinner for the council).

  22. Isn’t this where that young lad was murdered last NYE? I can imagine why they don’t want to have to deal with this.

  23. it used to get trashed… and there are no facilities for loos etc so it’s not geared up for the number of people who would try to turn up

  24. Looks flimsy. Doesn’t even need a ladder. Very lame. 

  25. There shall be designated and ticketed fun only. All fun-having will be strictly regulated by HM Department of Diversion and Happiness. Unregulated fun will be henceforth deemed, ‘not fun’, and strictly forbidden.

  26. unfortunately because someone got stabbed here 2ish years ago, this is necessary.

  27. Is there anything similar at Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath) or is this going to be open?

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