On Friday 17th August 2007, the hypocritical Labour politician the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone had the central part of Parliament Square i.e. Parliament Square Gardens fenced off with ugly chain link "security" fencing. - see this BBC report
What this has to do with the eviction of some "unsightly" illegal campers, an operation which also managed to harass the "legitimate" campers who are part of Brian Haw's 6 year protest camp, which is on the Pavement outside of the Greater London Authority controlled Parliament Square Gardens, is a mystery.
Surely the presence of this temporary fencing is itself not only an eyesore, but will also be danger to public health and safety, the next time that a large crowd gathers in Parliament Square for a peaceful (authorised) demonstration or other event ?
If there are any crowd surges, then either members of the Public or of the Police are going to get crushed against the fence and possibly injured.
Why provide ammunition for any violent troublemakers who want to throw things at the Police or at rival demonstrators ? This has happened on numerous occasions in the past with exactly this sort of fencing.
Why does this ugly fencing encroach on and cause an obstruction on the Pavement on the Northern i.e. Whitehall side of the central part of Parliament Square ? Surely this Pavement is under the jurisdiction of Westminster Council and only the grassy area is owned by the Greater London Authority ?
See this extract from BBC Jam cam image (the traffic CCTV spy camera often, but not always shows this view of Parliament Square):
How much money has this potentially dangerous eyesore Fence, which is no barrier to illegal campers, cost the taxpayers of London ?