§ 81. Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the disadvantages of keeping Hyde Park open all night.
§ Mr. ChannonThe disadvantages flow from the fact that it would be quite impossible to control the use of the Parks adequately during the night. Damage to flower beds, trees and deck chairs would occur. Day-time users of the Park would be faced with recumbent bodies, litter and probably with fouling of the Park. The task of the police and the park-keeping staff, already very heavy, would be made well-nigh impossible. The disadvantages are not theoretical: they arose when Green Park was left open at night as an experiment in 1969.