By Ned Simons - 17th March 2011
What should be a jewel in London’s heritage, and an open space to be enjoyed at the heart of the country’s democracy, is closed off and boarded up
Colin Barrow, leader of Westminster council
Anti-war protestor Brian Haw has lost his fight against eviction from the edge of Parliament Square.
The 62 year old demonstrator is a familiar figure to those who work in Westminster, having staged a continuous demonstration against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
Today Boris Johnson won a High Court ruling that will see Haw removed, pending an appeal which must be lodged by March 28.
London's mayor has already successfully won a battle to have the so-called 'Democracy Village' camp removed from Parliament Square's green.
But as Haw's protest takes place on the pavement on the edge of the square he was not covered by the ruling.
The protest has attracted criticism for being an eyesore as well as a noisy disruption to those working near by – including MPs and peers.
But others have defended Haw, arguing that Parliament Square is precisely the place where demonstrations should be allowed to take place.
A spokesman for the Mayor welcomed the court's decision to overturn the previous "special case" made for Brian Haw and his co-protestor Barbara Tucker that enabled them to sleep on the grass area controlled by the Greater London Authority on a temporary basis while their case was referred back to the High Court.
He said: "The Mayor is pleased that the High Court has supported previous rulings to return possession of Parliament Square Gardens to the GLA."
Efforts to remove demonstrators and encampments from Parliament Square have run into many difficulties, including the competing jurisdictions under which the area falls under.
While the pavements on the southern and western edges of the square are owned by Westminster Council, the pavements on the northern and eastern side are owned by the GLA – as is the grass in the middle.
The capital's authorities are particularly keen to sweep protestors out of the square in advance of the royal wedding, when the world's media are expected to descend on Westminster Abby.
Writing in The House Magazine last week the Colin Barrow, the leader of Westminster council, said that while he had no problem with "lawful and peaceful protest", recent demonstrations had moved towards "unauthorised occupation"
"What should be a jewel in London's heritage, and an open space to be enjoyed at the heart of the country’s democracy, is closed off and boarded up," he said.
"The royal wedding provides a unique opportunity to showcase everything that is great in the capital with Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey at its focal point."
Barrow proposes that the square should be handed over to voluntary groups such as the scouts, armed forces cadets and the Red Cross to showcase their work.
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