Following the news last week that English Heritage were cancelling its concert programme at North London stately home Kenwood House because of new restrictions put on them by Camden Council in response to complaints from neighbours, an online petition has been organised calling for the Council to reconsider, and 500 people have already added their names to it.
As previously reported, local residents complained about Kenwood House's concert programme after an increasing number of pop and rock events were added to the traditionally classical and jazz line up. Camden Council cut the number of events English Heritage were allowed to stage, which, the heritage body said, made the concert programme unviable. Hence their decision to cancel the programme for 2007.
English Heritage themselves have set up the petition to lobby Camden Council to change its restrictions. As names started to appear on the petition, a spokesman for the body said: "There are a lot of people out there who want the concerts to return", adding that they launched the petition because of the "many calls from people who were keen to support the concerts".
One signatory on the petition added the comment: "This is an absolute disgrace. Because of a few people's complaints, an integral part of the summer for all Londoners is being discontinued".
Responding, Camden Council said it was "disappointed to learn that English Heritage has cancelled [its concerts] this year", saying "Camden's licensing policy acknowledges the value of entertainment and live music in the borough. But the Licensing Authority must also balance the needs of premises with those of residents".