Marble Arch Mound is made FREE for visitors as council chiefs drop £8 entrance charge for £2million project which critics say has ‘brought shame on Westminster across the world’
- Visitors in August won’t have to pay to go up the ridiculed Marble Arch Mound
- Westminster Council apologised for the botched launch of the £2m artificial hill
- Council’s Labour leader Adam Hug said the hill ‘brought shame on Westminster’
- The 82ft mound, which closed last week after two days, will reopen on Monday
Visitors in August won’t have to pay to go up the much-ridiculed Marble Arch Mound when it reopens on Monday.
Westminster Council has already apologised for the botched launch of the £2million artificial hill, which closed last week after just two days.
Tourists were charged up to £8 to climb the 82ft mound, which was billed as offering lush greenery and views across central London.
But visitors slammed the attraction, describing it as just a heap of scaffolding with turf and some trees.
Westminster Council has already apologised for the botched launch of the £2million Marble Arch Mound (pictured), which closed last week after just two days
Yesterday, the council’s Labour leader Adam Hug said it had ‘brought shame on Westminster across the world’.
He called on the council to say why the mound was allowed to open and how much it will cost taxpayers in total. Westminster Council was contacted for comment.
Last week, Westminster Council’s chief executive Stuart Love said in a statement: ‘We’re very sorry that the Marble Arch Mound wasn’t ready for visitors when it opened earlier this week.
‘London’s businesses and residents have suffered through the pandemic and we built the Mound as part of our bigger plan to get people back into the City and into the shops, restaurants, theatres and to see the amazing sights the West End has to offer.
The 82-ft tall mound, planned by Dutch architect company MVRDV, was designed (pictured) to give views of the capital’s Oxford Street, Hyde Park, Mayfair and Marylebone
‘We wanted to open the Mound in time for the summer holidays and we did not want to disappoint people who had already booked tickets.
‘We made a mistake and we apologise to everyone who hasn’t had a great experience on their visit.
‘With that in mind we’re going to make The Mound free for everyone to climb throughout August.’
He added: ‘We are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors back so they can enjoy everything London has to offer and can make their mind up about the Mound.’
The 82-ft tall mound, planned by Dutch architect company MVRDV, was designed to give views of the capital’s Oxford Street, Hyde Park, Mayfair and Marylebone.
It is part of a scheme to increase footfall in the shopping district as lockdown restrictions ease.
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