Large groups of people camping is not a phenomena unique to Occupy LSX. In the UK we have hundreds of festivals where people camp and have alcohol, naked flames, guy ropes etc. Glastonbury festival has in the region of 180,000 people camping and I have never heard of any health and safety issues. Granted, St Paul's is a building that could be at risk of fire (as well as the surrounding buildings) but I understand that the Fire Brigade were satisfied with the security arrangements of the Occupy camp.

@DAG

I wish you luck in getting the D&C minutes. I needed some from a Cathedral once, and only got them through a staff members leak.

@Random Person

Just under 2 million a year go through St Pauls Cathedral. Which makes about 5500 daily. Obviously many more in the Christmas season.

@Andrew

"How is "VIP security" a risk posed by the camp?"

Attack on the Prince of Wales and Camilla, anyone?

This is the same movement of which elements have been quite happy to use violence tactically, and if you've visited it the same groups have had plenty of publicity at the camp.

Why would it be any different, now?

>@Mr Divine
I've read that the salary of the Archbishop of Canterbury is well up into the triple figures and with the upkeep of his Lambeth Palace and his staff and his cars I'm surprised that the admission fee for St Pauls isn't way up there in the rafters.

About £70k.

St Paul's entry fee for tourists is about £16.00 I think. Free for worshippers. Quite high, but then they get no grant like the Natural History Museum etc.

Nick: I don't think these are "armchair health and safety experts". Most people who are liable for these kind of claims do no more than read the terms of their policy. Whether you run a church or have a little backstreet cafe you don't use outside consultancies, you just read the policy and make sure you are not breaking the terms. Not unreasonable.

I do think the decision to close seems mad, and Health and Safety may well be being used as an excuse for something. But maybe it is just a ( perhaps mistaken ) decision by the member of cathedral staff who is responsible for ensuring compliance.

A clear demonstation that the congregation St Paul's most values comes from the rich and shameless City (some of whom sit on its governing body), and that the god it worships is Mammon.

How many people / visitors are there normally in St Pauls ? Hundreds ? Thousands ?
If there was a fire inside or a bomb, then even though the exits are clear, the congestion in the area outside would slow down evacuation. Access for the emergency services would also be compromised by the camp.
No ?

Wow, it's a sad indictment on the mass media, but I'm amazed to read an article written by someone who has actually bothered to investigate the issue. Kudos to David Allen Green.

70,000 quid .. that's quadruple figures. And doesn't he get it tax free because he's a charity. And what about his free housing, cars, travel, food and clothing? Obviously the allowance doesn't extend to razor blades.

swantantra: Your wish is my command.

I've read that the salary of the Archbishop of Canterbury is well up into the triple figures and with the upkeep of his Lambeth Palace and his staff and his cars I'm surprised that the admission fee for St Pauls isn't way up there in the rafters.

Hi David,

I didn't realise you were a health and safety lawyer as well! So many strings to your bow eh? Perhaps you should consider that you aren't privy to St. Paul's professional advice and so can't reasonably second-guess their decision to act on their advice in a particular way.

You must also realise that if St. Paul's doesn't act in accordance with advice it may void its insurance.

As it happens, why isn't St. Paul's allowed to get its life back? A permanent protest camp clearly does get in the way of the normal operation of the cathedral. Is the right of the protesters to continue their protest indefinitely more important than the right of others to use the cathedral and the space around it?

I doubt anyone would be as indulgent of the "right to protest" of the EDL. Some consistency please.

Considering that the EDL have said publicly (on the internet) that they would burn the tents and kill at least one of the protesters, maybe the same tolerance do not apply.

Oops DAG may have lost his cool!
The fact is that if St Pauls doesn't lodge an official protest then it has 'licensed' the protestors within its precincts and would then be liable for the consequences on its land if things got out of hand, as they most probably will as the novelty wears off and tempers get frayed.

If St Pauls survived Hitlers firebombs I am sure it can survive a few demonstrators. Very poor show by St Pauls and their risible excuses fool noone

Mary Howard: I don't think what you say is true. I wish the EDL did not exist, but it does.

From what I can see, one member has made that threat on his blog. I can find nothing else ( on the internet ) .

The St. Paul's protest seems to have been peaceful, by and large. Let's not try to help trouble along, eh?

A funny response David.

I wonder what would happen if the protestors occupied inside the church.

David Allen Green

"Not at all, just thought it was an amusing response to a certain type of comment :-)"

What type of comment is that? One that disagrees with you?

Nice one - classy AND mature.

Why not occupy inside the church? That would really test the church authorities...would they bring the cops into the church? The legal ramifications would be very interesting if it happens.

Besides the church offers protection against the elements and winter is not a good time to camp.