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The Mayor of London has succeeded in evicting a so-called 'democracy village' from Parliament Square.
The unsightly protest has been in place for several weeks, and a large number of people are camped out in the square.
Today, after weeks of legal wrangling, Mr Justice Griffith Williams ruled in favour of the Mayor and the GLA, which has responsibility for the green space.
"I am satisfied the Greater London Authority and the Mayor are being prevented from exercising their necessary powers of control management and care of Parliament Square Gardens," he said.
The judge said the protesters had no toilets or running water and there is evidence of criminal damage to flowerbeds, graffiti and heavy drinking in the so-called 'camp'.
They will be evicted by 4pm on Friday.
Colin Barrow, leader of Westminster council, said the square had been hijacked.
"We all support peaceful protest, but it is completely unacceptable for parts of our city to be occupied and turned into no-go areas by vociferous minorities," he said.
A spokesman for the Mayor, Boris Johnson, said the "scale and impact of the protest, which has gone on since 1 May, has caused considerable damage to the square and prevented its peaceful use by other Londoners, including those who may have wished to conduct an authorised protest".
"Parliament Square sits alongside a world heritage site and is a top tourist attraction that is visited by thousands of people and broadcast around the world each day."
Brian Haw, the anti-war protester who has been camped outside parliament since 2001, is not affected by today's ruling.
Article Comments
This decision is an affront to all those who believe in demcracy! Peaceful demonstration has been the backbone as a catalyst for change in this country from time immemorial! Black day for London!
Ann Shepherd
29th Jun 2010 at 5:41 pm
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