We've crossed the line with protests

So once again, I am hugely disappointed that St George’s Day in Brighton and Hove has been hijacked by groups of mindless thugs from other parts of the country, intent on causing as much damage to this city and its reputation as possible.

The cost to taxpayers of policing this “event” is huge; the loss of income to our seafront and city centre business is probably even greater.

Now is the time to stand up and say enough is enough. It has to stop.

The Conservative group on the council has called for a wide-ranging review of protests to see what can be done to prevent these ugly and damaging scenes ever happening in Brighton and Hove again. I hope this will be supported.

But it is not just the so-called March for England; ever since the Greens decided that Brighton and Hove should become a “protest city” where all demonstrators are welcome with open arms, virtually every weekend we have some group or another causing disruption to residents, visitors and businesses alike.

I am as much in favour of free speech and the right to protest as the next person but a line must be drawn when it starts to impinge on residents’ lives and traders’ livelihoods. That line has now been crossed.

Councillor Dawn Barnett, Conservative, Hangleton and Knoll ward, Brighton and Hove City Council

Back

© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/trade_directory/