Kensal Green residents blast MP’s Notting Hill Carnival survey over ‘leading’ questions
Kensal rise residents have criticized the MP's Notting Hill Carnival survey for "leading" questions - Credit: Archant
Kensal Green residents have accused their MP of attempting to “kill” Notting Hill Carnival after handing out a survey that they claim asks leading questions about ticketing the annual street party in future.
Kensington MP Victoria Borwick wants residents' opinions on Notting Hill Carnival - Credit: PA WIRE
Residents living in the Kensington parliamentary constituency received the two-page questionnaire from Conservative MP Victoria Borwick through their doors last week.
The tick-box survey, which was sent out to 15,000 constituents living on the carnival procession route, asks for their views on the length, cost and impact of the two-day event, which draws over one million revellers to central London over the August bank-holiday weekend.
But a number of residents have claimed the survey asks a number of leading questions, designed to persuade residents to ticket the carnival to help fund the £8.2 million policing and clear-up costs of the festivities.
One question asks: “Ticketing has recently been introduced to help improve safety during New Year’s Eve in London. Would you be in favour of ticketing Notting Hill Carnival?”
Carnival revellers enjoy the annual parade which runs through Kensal Green (Pic: PA images) - Credit: PA WIRE
A number of questions refer to problems of violence, anti-social behaviour and street-drinking associated with the carnival, which last year saw more than 400 arrests and 21 assaults on police officers.
Brent activist Sujata Aurora said: “I think it’s an attempt to kill it – there’s no doubt ticketing would kill it.
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“I just don’t think the survey asked people what they liked about the carnival – it was all the negative aspects like knife crime and it was asking very leading questions.”
A spokeswoman for Ms Borwick said: “We sent out the survey because we really wanted to open the conversation and see what people wanted.
“Victoria hasn’t got a strong bias either way, but this is part of starting the debate.”
The results of the survey will be published in the coming months in a bid to kickstart public debate on ticketing and other issues related to the continued running of the carnival.
Are you a Kensal Green resident living on the carnival route? Do you think the event should be ticketed? Contact: Hannah.mcgrath@archant.co.uk
