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Concert cut ‘could spell the end of Kenwood’
AXING two concerts from Kenwood will mean the end of the season forever – and the introduction of charges at Kenwood House, a licensing court hearing was told yesterday (Wednesday).
Jasper Hope, a vice-president at IMG who organises the annual concerts for English Heritage, told a hearing at Highbury Magistrates Court that reducing the number of concerts from ten to eight would make the season “financially unviable”.
IMG and English Heritage are currently appealing a decision by Camden licensing chiefs last month to axe the concerts from the schedule and introduce a free weekend every fortnight to give residents a respite.
Mr Hope, who said bosses had spent £200,000 on new noise reduction measures this year, told the court: “IMG would not get even close to the return required (if there was more than one break in the season). It would not be suitable for anyone to carry on, on that basis. It is a commercial operation.”
Rebecca Kane, from English Heritage, said that income from the concerts was crucial in keeping the house open and free. According to Ms Kane, the house currently costs £1.8 million to run – but loses an average of £1.1 million every year. The organisation receives a 45 per cent share of revenue from the season.
Asked what would happen to Kenwood without the concerts, Ms Kane said: “One of the things we would have to look at is the possibility of charging.”
But Alan Horrox, a resident of Stormont Road, told the court that noise levels from the concert had got “progressively worse” over the last few year.
He said: “We have double glazing but sitting inside with doors and windows closed, we can still hear the thumping sound of the bass from the pop concerts.”
The hearing was postponed until June 7 when a decision on the future of the season is expected. |
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