A Plymouth MP has described the police's decision to marshal G7 protesters on Plymouth Hoe - 76 miles away from where G7 leaders will be meeting next month - as a "disaster waiting to happen."

Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said he has written to both the Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, and newly re-elected Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez to highlight his concerns and to consider relocating the site to Central Park.

He said the Hoe was well known for its "parade of historic statues and war memorials, views of Plymouth Sound, and close proximity to the Barbican and the city centre" and that it was very likely protesters from across the country and even further afield would be making the journey to the South West as world leaders meet in Carbis Bay in Cornwall.

He recognised that travelling G7 protesters were being "encouraged to protest in South West locations to prevent St Ives and Cornwall being overwhelmed."

However, he has told Devon and Cornwall Police's top cop that the Hoe is not "best suited to host such large protests".

Luke Pollard MP fears Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going to reveal extensive cuts to the Armed Forces in Plymouth
Luke Pollard MP said locating G7 protest on the Hoe was a "disaster waiting to happen"

He said: "The Hoe is the wrong location for a large protest. It is in our historic heart of our city, with limited ways in and out and would require protesters to travel through our city centre and Barbican. It is a disaster waiting to happen.

"I want the police to consider moving the protest to Central Park which has more space and is a location that is familiar to the Police because of policing Argyle games at Home Park.

"I support the right to peaceful protest, which is essential for any democracy. I share the concerns of environmental campaigners - we are in a Climate and Ecological Emergency. Action to cut carbon and preserve wildlife habitats has so far been too little too late. We need meaningful structural change from our world leaders.

"I am very worried that if protests at former G7 summits are anything to go by, the Hoe could be trashed and people could get hurt.

"The safety and well-being of local people, the police, legitimate protesters and everyone in Plymouth has to be the top priority. That is why I want the protest location moved away from the Hoe."

The Resist G7 Coalition has already suggested protesters boycott the official sites and have called for three days of action.

The decision by Devon and Cornwall Police and local councils to create four separate protest zones across the region - Truro, Falmouth, Plymouth and Exeter - has also been ridiculed by satirical and current affairs news magazine Private Eye.

In it's latest edition, the magazine noted that at a recent pre-G7 meeting in London, foreign ministers issued a statement criticising countries like Russia and China try to "influence, pressure or threaten individuals with the intent of preventing them from exercising their legitimate human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression" such as the right to peaceful protest.

The magazine went on to highlight that the voices of peaceful protesters at the G7 meeting in Carbis Bay will be especially faint - if even audible - noting that Truro is 23 miles from Carbis Bay, Falmouth is 26 miles, Plymouth Hoe is 76 miles and "a playing field in Exeter, some 106 miles from Carbis Bay."

Pictures from the Hoe which is extremely busy on Good Friday
Plymouth Hoe has recently been a go-to place for young revellers as lockdown eased

Their report concludes: "Local Knacker will be supported by 5,000 extra police officers from other forces, to ensure people exercise their legitimate human rights in the authorised manner."

Sophie Hosking, Cornwall Council’s strategic director for neighbourhoods, previously told the media: "We recognise people’s right to protest, and will work with our colleagues to ensure this can take place in a safe and controlled manner, allowing people to have their voices heard while minimising the impact on local residents and businesses."

More stories from Plymouth:

A38 motorcyclist's life 'flashed before eyes' as he faced head-on crash after car drove on wrong side

Low-time dealer busted at Heathrow linked to Liverpool 'playboy' gangster 'The Lam'