Key information
Request reference number: MGLA100522-0535
Date of response:
Summary of request
You requested:
1. Any communications and data relating to the decision to close Trafalgar Square on New
Year's Eve 2021 to the public despite the UK Government allowing parties and celebrations to take place in England.
2. The costs, including any staffing costs, of the Ramadan and Eid celebrations recently
hosted in Trafalgar Square, including in the planning and promotion of them.
Our response:
1. With regards to the closure of Trafalgar Square on 31 December 2021, no specific
decision was made in relation to closing Trafalgar Square in 2021. It is standard
procedure for the Greater London Authority to protect historical assets with a fencing
plan on New Year’s Eve in the interest of public safety and protection of historical
assets. The GLA does not hold information within the scope of your request.
2. The GLA does not hold information about the costs of the Open Iftar event which took
place on Friday 29 April 2022. This was organised by the Ramadan Tent Project so you
may wish to contact them directly with regards to costs for this.
With regards to Eid in the Square, which took place on Saturday 7 May 2022, we are
still reconciling our final budget so we do not yet hold the final costs but it is in the
region of £110,000.
If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact me, quoting the
reference MGLA100522-0535.