The protestor who had charges against him for damaging London 2012 course markers in Greenwich Park abandoned has claimed a “moral victory”.
Prosecutors dropped their case against Edward Hill last Friday. They had previously described him as “anti-Olympics” – a tag he is keen to reject in a written response provided to Greenwich.co.uk.
Mr Hill says his actions were intended to prevent “further damage to Greenwich Park” and he calls for the equestrian events to be moved to Windsor.
Edward Hill’s full response to the CPS’s decision
With regard to the statement of the Crown Prosecution Service that my actions were ‘anti-Olympics’, I wish to make clear that I in fact share the educational and health ideals of the Olympic Charter. My actions were not in any sense generally ‘anti-Olympics’, but were solely aimed at preventing further damage to Greenwich Park from the works that are taking place due to the decision to hold the Olympic Equestrian Event there.
After 35 years living and working locally, and as a previous Artist in Residence for Greenwich Park, I probably know it as well as anyone. I have studied its archaeology and history, enjoyed its landscape and tried professionally to visualize its future.
I certainly see the dropping of the charges against me as a moral victory for common sense, and it may even be a sign of the authorities’ anxiety about the evidence which could have been stirred up by a court case.
Ever since it was first proposed that Greenwich Park should host the Olympics Equestrian Event, very many people have pointed out that Windsor has always been a better choice in every way. Windsor is iconic, it is an established site for equestrian events, it is easier for security, it is accessible, it is a 2012 Olympic Borough and was used in 1948 for an Olympic event which had to be moved, it has plenty of accommodation and other facilities, it is cheaper to build, and a legacy could be left.
Most importantly, the local community in Windsor would welcome the event. This change of venue should now take place, in the same way as when the Montreal Olympic Equestrian Event was moved to another venue at a similar stage of preparations, when it became apparent that it was the right thing to do.
Thanks to Peter Grahame Woolf for sending me this photo showing one of the course markers in Greenwich Park.