Don't turn a petrol giveaway into a sofa riot

Looking at the web this morning, there are 355 reports of Lynne Featherstone's critical comments on the now infamous petrol giveaway in Stroud Green on Friday. Lynne was in Wood Green at the time, but went down to Stroud Green to explain to the broadcast media why she thought it was irresponsible.

Lynne was right. We all enjoy a freebie and I wouldn’t begrudge anyone a free tank of petrol, but there was traffic chaos in the morning rush hour, with traffic and the W3 bus disrupted for over an hour.

If the stunt achieved exactly what was intended – free global publicity – it did so at the expense of local residents. We were lucky it didn’t descend into worse chaos. Remember the infamous Ikea Sofa Riots in Edmonton, just up the road.

I’m sure Electronic Arts, the games company behind the stunt, have already monetised the benefits of the free global publicity they have received. They should do the decent thing and make a substantial donation to a local charity, to acknowledge the nuisance they caused. I’m on the case.
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