The organisers of a massive anti-war march have condemned a decision to ban them from rallying in Hyde Park.
The Stop the War' coalition says 500,000 people will descend on central London on February 15 to protest against conflict against Iraq.
The marchers will set off from two points and were to rally in Hyde Park in the afternoon.
Royal Parks have refused permission for marchers to hold a rally in the park, claiming it could lead to injuries from people being crushed in crowds and that it would damage the grass.
A spokesman for the anti-war coalition said the decision had probably been influenced by Government meddling.
"I don't think it's just the parks people not wanting to get their grass walked on," he said.
The decision could also cause crowd problems because marchers now had nowhere to gather and listen to speakers.
"We are going to have half a million people on the street- where are they going to go?"
It was "stupid" to have a massive crowd in the city then stop them from having a rally to hear speeches to bring the protest to a natural end, the spokesman told This is Local London.
March organisers were to meet today to decide their next move, he said.
"We will definitely hold a rally in central London."
January 30, 2003 08:30
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