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By SUNITA RAPPAI
 

Bill Oddie
Wildlife plan is 'quackers'

WILDLIFE experts – including the broadcaster Bill Oddie – have reacted with horror to proposals to move fish, ducks and swans wholesale from Kenwood to make way for the annual concerts in the grounds of the Hampstead mansion.
The scheme, which ecologists say is unworkable, is part of a raft of proposals that include building a floating stage in the middle of a lake and increasing the sound levels from 12 to 15 decibels.
Hampstead-based bird expert Bill Oddie said the plans for the wildlife were “nonsense”.
He said: “Thankfully that is not a wildlife pond – there can’t be much in there because it is very peaty. But it’s complete nonsense to say you can take things out and put them back in. They don’t know what they are talking about.”
John Hunt, chairman of the Marylebone Birdwatching Society said that any increase in noise levels would upset the delicate ecology of the Heath.
He said: “The concerts have already affected bird life on the Heath. I think the harm has been done already. They should be lowering the noise levels and reducing the quantity of the fireworks displays.”
This year’s concerts, which start on June 24, include performances by Ronan Keating, The Beautiful South, Art Garfunkel, and Dirty Dancing: The Musical, based on the cult 1980’s film starring Patrick Swayze.
A spokesperson from International Management Group (IMG) which organises the lucrative dates for English Heritage, said: “Any wildlife will be removed with care and attention for the season and then put back humanely.”
They added the new soundproofed stage – using a dome to reduce the noise – would be “moved forward over the pond so there won’t be such a vast distance from the audience to the stage”.
The plans to increase the size of the sound system has dismayed fed-up Kenwood neighbours, who have waged a long-running battle with IMG over noise pollution.
Heath and Hampstead Society vice-chairman Tony Ghilchik said: “The mind boggles. If you look at the area of the stage at the moment you can’t imagine how it’s going to work on water. We need to find out exactly what they are planning before we start jumping around but I can’t see how it’s going to be acceptable.”
Mr Ghilchik added: “Increasing the sound limit from 12 to 15 decibels may not sound very much but it is effectively doubling the sound levels which is a horrific idea. There is no justification for it.”
Harley Atkinson, an IT consultant from Fitzroy Park whose home backs on to the concert area and who had sound engineers in his garden last year to measure the amount of noise from the concerts said he was “completely and utterly” fed up with the latest proposals.
Mr Atkinson was forced to tranquilise his dog with valium last year because of noise from the concert’s firework displays.
He said: “What they are proposing in terms of reducing the noise leakage is pretty speculative. If they get away with this application, things would be even worse.”
Robin Fairlie, chairman of the Highgate Society, accused IMG bosses of pushing their luck, adding: “They have broken all the conditions set for them each year but despite this they keep on pushing and angling for more. It’s disgraceful.”
Questioned about the proposals, an IMG spokeswoman said it would be “inappropriate for the company to make a comment at this stage”.
 
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