A rave on Primrose Hill during the coronavirus lockdown

Edited extract of a letter sent to The Observer newspaper 

• AS a lifelong subscriber to The Guardian and The Observer, I was extremely disturbed by the one-sided report about Primrose Hill, (Anger as Starmer joins calls to restrict access to Primrose Hill, May 23).

Sir Keir Starmer, doing his job as our constituency MP, tried to help resolve issues that have plagued the local community since last year’s first lockdown.

With no places for people to congregate for a rave, Primrose Hill has become a magnet for people coming from far and wide to hold large parties.

They have no respect for Covid-19 restrictions, import sounds systems blaring out loud music till dawn. Anti-social behaviour includes leaving human faeces, urine, and litter, in the park and gardens and vandalised buildings.

The police say they do not have resources to deal with this. As an interim, short-term, measure, closure of all entrances at 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays is being tried to deal with the increasing problems.

This in no way precludes the use of the park to all-comers including the “small groups of socially distanced friends enjoying the view” during daylight hours 24/7, except at weekends after 10pm.

Had the reporter visited Primrose Hill before the 10pm closure was instigated or talked to other residents, those living on nearby council estates, in a large old people’s home, or many private homes, you could have presented a more balanced view and not used this article to politicise and polarise feelings that, owing to Covid-19 are already frayed and stretched to breaking point.

MARY BURD
Albert Street, NW1