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Veronica Brough, who supports the concerts, with her mother Geraldine |
Sound of summer silenced
Singer Lesley Garrett’s anger at loss of Kenwood’s ‘jewel in crown’ concerts
THIS Saturday evening, for the first time in more than 50 years, the streets around Kenwood House in Hampstead will remain eerily silent.
Where once thousands of concert-goers descended on the grounds of the historic house, picnic baskets in hand, to enjoy the first summer concert of the season, the broad, tree-lined streets will be empty.
The reason: English Heritage’s shock decision earlier this year to cancel the annual Kenwood concerts. It claimed that tighter restrictions by Camden Council – imposed after complaints from residents, among them Alf Garnett star Warren Mitchell – had made the concerts financially unviable.
This week, as popular soprano Lesley Garrett joined the debate by revealing how she regretted her absence from the stage at Kenwood this summer, a New Journal investigation has uncovered surprising divisions between those in the area who support the concerts – and those who feel the “dumbed down” events are a nuisance.
The divisions extend within families. Mother and daughter Geraldine and Veronica Brough, who live in Stormont Road, a stone’s throw from Kenwood, are on different sides of the fence.
“I was devastated when I heard the concerts had been cancelled,” Veronica, 26, said. “To me, they are the very essence of summer. It’s such a civil, fun thing to do so it’s a shame to abandon them completely.”
But Geraldine, 59, disagreed. “I am against what the concerts have become,” she said. “It’s just fireworks every weekend and the streets get crowded with people. I would like the old classical concerts back.”
Her neighbour, Jeff Worboys, agreed. “On concert days the parking situation is ridiculous,” he said. “It used to be classical music – now it’s middle-of-the-road popular music. I am in favour of the concerts but they need to demonstrate they can be managed better. And there is a commercial aspect to them now that also rankles.”
But this year’s cancellation of concerts has brought an increasing backlash from residents who feel they have been unfairly blamed for silencing the music. Many have signed an English Heritage petition calling on the council to relax its restrictions.
Mandy Glassberg, from Stormont Road, said: “We were really upset when we heard they had been cancelled. The parking has always been a problem, especially at weekends, but that does not matter. And the fireworks were wonderful. We definitely want them back.”
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “We loved the concerts – the noise did not bother us at all. Even the parking situation is not that bad. We are definitely in the camp that was upset when they were cancelled.”
Rosemary Marks, from Sheldon Avenue, described those who had complained about the concerts as “mean spirited”. “If anything, we’ve been disappointed because the level of noise has gone down rather than up,” she said. “We’ve always had people round to listen to the concerts. I don’t know what those people are complaining about.”
One resident, who wished to remain nameless, said she had been “devastated” by the cancellation, adding: “If you are lucky enough to live opposite an area like Kenwood, you should be willing to share.”
Speaking at an event in Camden Town last week, Lesley Garrett, who lives in Highgate, was outspoken about her support for the concerts. “I’d like to say I’m singing in Kenwood but of course I’m not,” she said. “I think every artist in the country is angry about it.
“It not only affects me as a performer but also as an audience member. They were a jewel in the crown for north London.”
Despite more than 12,000 people signing English Heritage’s petition (it has now closed), the future of the concerts still hangs in the balance.
English Heritage has begun a long and rigorous consultation process with residents, and hopes to submit a fresh – and uncontested – application to Camden to bring the concerts back next year.
Rebecca Kane, English Heritage’s head of visitor operations, is cautiously optimistic. “I am delighted by the level of support we have witnessed, particularly from people who live in the area,” she said. “But I’m not complacent that this means the concerts will come back. There’s still work to be done and we are working hard to answer the questions people have. What I am confident about is that this consultation process is working and we are starting to build a level of trust.”
Gordon Forbes, chairman of the Highgate Society, one of the residents’ groups that has consistently complained about concert noise, is more direct.
“Provided they can submit an application that does not cause environmental damage or exceed the noise levels stipulated by Camden, we will not stand in their way. Otherwise, we will oppose it.”” |
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