The anti-monarchy group Republic said it was taking legal advice today after Camden Council in London rejected its application for a republican street party that would not celebrate the royal wedding.
They say Camden council is discriminating on the grounds of political belief for banning the street party.
Camden initially gave the go ahead in March for Earlham Street in Covent Garden to be the site of Republic’s party. But with just three weeks to go the Council has refused to provide a temporary traffic order to close Earlham Street, effectively banning the event altogether.
Republic say the police and the council had confirmed last week they had no problem with the nature of the event and were happy that there were no public safety concerns.
Its head Graham Smith vowed the party would go ahead:
This is a disgraceful attack on the rights of republicans to make their voice heard and to hold a fun and peaceful event. Camden Council is allowing a few vocal residents and businesses to veto any event in central London they do not support.
Our street party is designed to be a peaceful, fun, family event with food, music and stalls. The police, local businesses and the council’s own staff have been fully supportive of our plans. We can only assume this is a politically motivated ban and we will challenge it all the way.
We are now taking legal advice to see if we can overturn this decision in the courts.
According to Political Scrapbook, Camden council have issued this statement saying they were told by local business it would “directly contradict the Royal Wedding theme in terms of their merchandise”.
“Taking into consideration the feeling of the local community the council have decided to refuse the application and Earlham Street will not be closed on 29 April 2011,” they added. Full statement here.
They say Camden council is discriminating on the grounds of political belief for banning the street party.
Camden initially gave the go ahead in March for Earlham Street in Covent Garden to be the site of Republic’s party. But with just three weeks to go the Council has refused to provide a temporary traffic order to close Earlham Street, effectively banning the event altogether.
Republic say the police and the council had confirmed last week they had no problem with the nature of the event and were happy that there were no public safety concerns.
Its head Graham Smith vowed the party would go ahead:
This is a disgraceful attack on the rights of republicans to make their voice heard and to hold a fun and peaceful event. Camden Council is allowing a few vocal residents and businesses to veto any event in central London they do not support.
Our street party is designed to be a peaceful, fun, family event with food, music and stalls. The police, local businesses and the council’s own staff have been fully supportive of our plans. We can only assume this is a politically motivated ban and we will challenge it all the way.
We are now taking legal advice to see if we can overturn this decision in the courts.
According to Political Scrapbook, Camden council have issued this statement saying they were told by local business it would “directly contradict the Royal Wedding theme in terms of their merchandise”.
“Taking into consideration the feeling of the local community the council have decided to refuse the application and Earlham Street will not be closed on 29 April 2011,” they added. Full statement here.
