HL Deb 11 July 2003 vol 651 cc66-7WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Albert Gate in Hyde Park is closed; what alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists have been signposted; and what is the cost to the taxpayer of the operations involved in the closures. [HL3836]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The decision to close the Albert Gate was made by the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday 17 June when a potentially dangerous protest (a man set fire to himself) was staged outside the adjacent French Embassy. Several further incidents took place over the next few days and the gate remained closed until the Metropolitan Police decided it was safe to reopen it on Monday 7 July.

Metropolitan Police officers were posted at the site throughout this period. They explained the situation to pedestrians and cyclists and directed them to alternative routes into Hyde Park. As Albert Gate does not give access to motor vehicles the closure did not cause disruption to traffic.

This was a Metropolitan Police operation, undertaken as part of their normal contingency planning for events around London. The Royal Parks co-operated fully in closing the gate, but this did not involve any additional costs for the Royal Parks.