|
|
 |
| |
The controversial concert stage |
Visitors pay price after concerts axe
Kenwood to consider charging
KENWOOD guardians English Heritage have refused to rule out the introduction of charges for the historic house, following their decision on Tuesday to pull the plug on this year’s concerts.
Yesterday (Wednesday) a spokeswoman for the organisation confirmed that managers had relied on profits from the annual picnic concerts to make up a £1.1million shortfall in the House’s annual budget.
Asked whether managers would now be forced to introduce charges for entry to Kenwood House, she said English Heritage “would either have to find alternative sources of income or take steps to cut costs”. She refused to rule out the introduction of charging.
Kenwood chiefs blamed the move to scrap the concerts on last year’s decision by the Town Hall to reduce the number of concerts from 10 to eight making the season “financially unviable”.
They have refused to reveal exact details of any losses or their contract with IMG – hired by English Heritage to run the concerts seven years ago
Instead, concert chiefs have laid down the gauntlet to both the Town Hall and residents to work together with them to bring back the shows.
Rebecca Kane, English Heritage’s head of visitor operations, said: “What we desperately don’t want to happen is a permanent end to the concerts, but we have been forced into a situation where we can’t do this anymore. Camden need to find a way bring the concerts back in 2008.”
The summer concerts have attracted increasing complaints from residents, notably from the actor Warren Mitchell, over recent years, both for increased sound pollution and for “dumbing down” the previously mainly classical line-up.
Last year’s Town Hall decision to slash two concerts from the line-up of followed more than 30 complaints from residents about noise and increased traffic congestion.
Yesterday, one of the councillors on the original licensing panel, Labour councillor Sue Vincent, defended its decision.
She said: “If they can not make money out of these concerts they should bring in people that can. The residents are entitled to some semblance of peace during summer.”
Harley Atkinson, whose house backs on to Kenwood and who gave evidence at last year’s hearings, said he had been surprised by English Heritage’s decision.
He said: “They told us only a few weeks ago that they were going ahead with eight concerts.
“I am frankly a bit sorry that they decided they could not do it but it’s wrong to say that it’s down to the objections.”
|
 |
|
|
|
