Millions of Londoners are set to hit the streets for Notting Hill Carnival this bank holiday weekend to enjoy Europe’s biggest street party of its kind, despite earlier concerns over safety and funding.
Although the Carnival has been a landmark cultural event in London since 1959, the future of the event came under threat this year after its organisers commissioned a review into crowd control, supported by the Metropolitan police, which revealed more funding would be required to hold the event safely in 2025.
The review also revealed the event had additional organisational shortfalls, a lack of suitable and sufficient risk assessments and no full and clear site plan.
Although organisers pleaded with the Government for support with additional funding requirements, they made the decision not to provide any financial support to this year’s event.
Emergency funding was provided by Kensington and Chelsea council, Westminster City Council and the Greater London Authority to ensure safety recommendations could be met for the event.
Kensington and Chelsea council provided a staggering £232,000 in grant funding to the Carnival, in addition to a free seaside trip for 21 older residents to avoid the disruption caused by the event at a cost of £25,618.
Deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Kim Taylor-Smith, said: “Following Government funding proposals, this Council is now facing significant funding pressures over the next three years, with budget gaps of around £80 million. So we have to be really clear that this is additional funding for this year only.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “The Met fully supported the event organisers’ decision to commission an independent review into crowd safety after the number of situations in recent years where crowd density reached dangerous levels.
“It was welcome news that some additional funding was secured to allow the organisers to implement a number of the review’s recommendations, but they have only had a limited time to do so meaning it’s inevitable not all the risks will have been mitigated.
“Crowd safety remains a serious concern that must be carefully monitored and managed this year.”
Last year 61 officers were assaulted at the Carnival and the Met Police said they will take “decisive action” against anybody targeting officers at the event this year.
Transport for London (TfL) urged people travelling to the carnival to plan their journeys in advance as it warned some stations could be much busier than usual. Night Tube and Night Overground services will not run on Sunday or Monday nights.
Several stations will face periodic closures across the weekend including Latimer Road, Notting Hill Gate and Westbourne Park. Ladbroke Grove will be closed all day during the festivities.
Attendees this year can expect to enjoy parades, steel drum competitions, and sound systems among other live performances over the course of the weekend.
Festivities will kick off from 4pm on Saturday at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance park, the official launch pad of the Notting Hill Carnival, followed by a steel band competition.
The formal Carnival will take place on Sunday, with the main event of the day – the Children’s Day Parade and Carnival – setting off at 10am from Ladbroke Grove.
The Adults parade, dubbed the “Dutty Mas”, will run from 12pm to 8.30pm on Saturday down the parade route, while static sound systems and street food stalls will be dotted around the area.
Monday will see more parades from 10am to 8.30pm, along with live music and street vending.
