London cuts demo clean-up to cost 'tens of thousands'

London cuts demo clean-up to cost 'tens of thousands'

BBC
27 March 2011

The clear-up after violent activists targeted central London following anti-cuts protests could cost "tens of thousands" of pounds, a council said.

Westminster Council said about 100 street cleaners worked until 0600 BST on Sunday to clean graffiti and litter.

Some activists clashed with police in Oxford Circus, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square, after up to 500,000 people took part in a peaceful march to Hyde Park.

The 2012 clock, the memorial, the Ritz and Fortnum and Mason were attacked.

Police arrested 201 people over the violence.

In December, Westminster Council spent £50,000 to clear-up the damage around Parliament Square following violent protests after MPs voted to raise tuition fees in England.

Violent Clashes

Saturday's anti-spending cuts march from Embankment to Hyde Park was organised by the TUC. The organisation has condemned the violence that followed the rally.

Violence erupted after some activists broke away from the main protest and gathered in Oxford Circus, before spilling on to Piccadilly and finally converging in Trafalgar Square.

The group clashed with police until the early hours of the morning.

Westminster Council was responsible for clearing the streets in the West End and central London and restoring the historic square.

On a normal Saturday night 30 to 40 cleaners work in the area, but 100 street cleaners were working from 2200 GMT until 0600 BST on Sunday following the demonstrations, a council spokeswoman said.

Councillor Brian Connell, the council's cabinet member for business, said: "Its ironic and regrettable that a minority of people claiming to defend jobs are content to damage the livelihoods of the thousands employed in heart of the capital."

The Olympic Countdown Clock in Trafalgar Square was also targeted by protesters. It had paint and scratches on it, which its makers Omega described as "superficial damage".

The operation of the clock has not been affected but a team of experts will assess the clock during the week, an Omega spokesman said.

The New West End Company, which represents retailers in the shopping area, said cleaners were at work overnight but it is yet to assess the costs of the demonstrations and impact on the businesses.

Most shops were expected to be open for business.

This was pretty disgraceful and it seems that the people who did this damage were not particularly interested in protesting the cuts as they broke away from the main protest quite early. They were clearly just anarchists out for an excuse to smash things up.

The_Amber_Spyglass wrote:This was pretty disgraceful and it seems that the people who did this damage were not particularly interested in protesting the cuts as they broke away from the main protest quite early. They were clearly just anarchists out for an excuse to smash things up.

It's kinda what I thought when I saw these on the news yesterday. Just a bunch of punks acting like asses... because they can.