Notting Hill Carnival saved by fresh funding
The future of Notting Hill Carnival has been saved, after almost £1 million of fresh funding has been invested into the huge annual cultural event in London.
Last month, leaked documents released by BBC News revealed that the carnival was in jeopardy if “urgent funding” was not sourced. Its chairman, Ian Comfort, appealed to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy for additional finances to protect “the future and public safety of this iconic event.”
However, it emerged late last week that the carnival has now been granted £958,000 raised between London’s City Hall, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea councils, which will safeguard this year’s event.
Per The Guardian, Comfort said the news was a “much-needed and welcome commitment,” which rescued the carnival just in time, before it is due to take place between August 23rd and 25th this year.
He added: “This support reinforces the importance of Notting Hill Carnival as a cultural institution – central to London’s identity and to the nation’s creative and economic life.”
Among Comfort’s primary concerns for the Caribbean celebration was the cut in police numbers sent to the event in recent years, which he said posed a huge risk to the safety of carnival-goers due to the decreased crowd control present in busy areas.
However, since local councils have issued the funding and not the government, this raises concerns about how the Notting Hill Carnival will operate beyond the immediate future, as Kensington and Chelsea council deputy leader Kim Taylor-Smith said they would be able to provide the cash “for this year only.”
In a statement, Taylor-Smith said the council had stepped in because “the government have not yet indicated any support,” but that by taking this action, she hopes Westminster “recognises its importance to the community and will lend its support for the future.”
