Camden New Journal - News: Plans to increase crowd numbers for Kenwood

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Camden New Journal - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 27 September 2007

Plans to increase crowd numbers for Kenwood

ENGLISH Heritage unveiled their plans for next summer’s Kenwood concerts season at a public meeting on Tuesday night.
The conservation body plans to ask the Town Hall for a licence to hold eight concerts running from the second week in July through to the August bank holiday weekend. Their application will be submitted in October.
Kenwood operations director Rebecca Kane told the meeting at Hampstead town hall that the concerts brought in crucial cash that goes towards the upkeep of the house and its priceless collection of Old Masters.
She said: “Our income has not kept up with inflation and we need to look at as many ways of generating money as we can.
“The concerts are a crucial part of this.”
This year the series was cancelled after the number of events allowed was cut from 10 to eight – the first time the shows have not been held since they started in 1951.
This year English Heritage plans to make up the shortfall of eight instead of 10 shows by having 20 per cent more tickets on sale, taking the capacity from 8,000 people to 10,000.
But it heard complaints from people living near to Kenwood ranging from parking problems through to noise.
Hampstead Lane resident John Bott attacked English Heritage for its methods in measuring sound.
He said: “It is an inalienable right of every British person to enjoy the peace and quiet of their home without disturbance.
“They have never done a proper soundcheck to see the effect the series has on my home.”
But other neighbours in the Hampstead Lane area said they missed the shows.
Janice Parues, who has lived in Sheldon Avenue for 30 years, said she missed the excitement of the summer concerts.
“I am horrified at the thought of the concerts disappearing permanently,” she said.

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