A long-standing Notting Hill Carnival sound system has been stopped from playing at this year’s event due to "public nuisance and safety concerns" after the applicant failed to turn up to a meeting.
Kensington and Chelsea Council issued Starliner Diamond Sound System and Bar Site with a counter notice, effectively rejecting their application for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).
The decision was made after the applicant, Noel Gardner, failed to attend a licensing meeting on May 27 or provide a risk assessment or event management plan.
Starliner applied to provide "regulated entertainment" and to sell alcohol between midday and 7pm on Sunday, August 24, and Monday, August 25, at the junction of Appleford Road, Southern Row and Bosworth Road.
The council's Environmental Health team objected citing concerns over public nuisance and safety. They said this stemmed from the lack of a risk assessment and event management plan approved by Notting Hill Carnival Limited, the event organiser.
Cllrs Dori Schmetterling and Linda Wade questioned how the site would be managed without Mr Gardner being present to answer questions. The committee noted discussions had taken place with the applicant prior to the meeting and that there was a possibility the application would be withdrawn.
The council's legal officer said a risk assessment and event management plan were essential for the committee to make an informed decision on the TEN. She also said Notting Hill Carnival Limited was expected to sign off on all TENs for sound systems and associated bars, a new requirement being implemented this year.
The committee agreed that in the absence of Mr Gardner and the required paperwork, it would refuse the application on the grounds of preventing public nuisance and ensuring public safety.
The council's policy states event organisers should give at least 28 days' notice of a planned event, and recommends that TENs for events within the Notting Hill Carnival footprint are submitted at least 12 weeks in advance.
The policy also refers to multiple TENs being given in close proximity to each other, and the need to ensure that the maximum number of attendees does not exceed 499.
Notting Hill Carnival is Europe's biggest street festival, and is second only to Rio de Janiero worldwide, attracting well over a million visitors over the weekend. The event takes place annually in the north of the borough on the weekend of each August Bank Holiday.
According to its entry on the Notting Hill Carnival website, Starliner Diamond, founded by Mr Gardner and Khalil Treasure, has been established for over 40 years “with the name being modified and modernised to fit the times.”
I said: “We play a variety of music i.e. Reggae, Soca, Afro-Beats, Funky Soul etc garnering a strong following of all ages and have been playing at Carnival consistently. Our sound system site is full of good music that creates good vibes and has always been a trouble free zone. “
It was not immediately clear at the time of publication if the applicant could reapply for a licence ahead of the event.
