 |
| CANOPY |
Planning Application for Opera Holland Park 2014
The Council has lodged a new planning application for the opera’s
temporary structures around Holland House. This communication is to
inform you of the position FHP Trustees have taken on the subject.
Last year. A strong objection from the local community caused the Council to
withdraw its application for the opera canopy to be in place all year
round. Further objection to the subsequent application for a full
eight months resulted in consent granted for the reduced period of 6½ months.
The past 6 months. FHP has been in dialogue with the Council to explore both whether
the 6½ months can be reduced to our preferred 5 months and also what options
exist for reducing the visual impact of the opera’s ancillary buildings.
Discussions have been constructive and detailed. However, improvements to make
a real difference will require significant capital investment. Consequently,
RBKC have put on hold the changes discussed while they explore ways of ensuring
a sound financial footing for the opera in future years that will justify the
investment. This means that no significant changes to the ancillary buildings
or the time the terrace is closed can take place in 2014.
The new planning application. It follows that the new planning application
is for consent to the same footprint, style of buildings and closure time (10
March to 30 Sept.) as in 2013. Whilst this is disappointing in the
short term for all concerned, FHP Trustees agree it makes sense to reduce the
Council subsidy of OHP, which is a burden on the ratepayer.
FHP’s position on the new planning application. We do not propose to object to the Council’s planning
application for OHP 2014. The proviso is that FHP is involved when
discussions on improvements are continued and we will write to the planning
officer to put this on record. Council officers and the Cabinet
Member responsible for the arts have assured us of FHP’s continued involvement
just as they have sought our view on many occasions during this year. Additionally English Heritage is monitoring the
discussion in line with their published view on consideration for the setting
of a Grade 1 listed building.
The Friends are not against the opera in itself, but wish to see its
impact on the park significantly reduced over time.
Performance dates. While dates of the terrace closure remain
unchanged, the Council has asked to alter the constraint imposed for 2013 that
performances may not start prior to 31 May or continue after 31 August. This
is to allow them a small window of opportunity to continue to accept other,
appropriate events that will generate income. Strict terms will
apply to prevent negative impact on the enjoyment of the Park and FHP will be
consulted.
If you wish to see the planning application in detail, it can be found
on the planning application search section of the RBKC website under planning
reference PP/14/00062.
If you have questions you wish to address to The Trustees of FHP, please
email either your Chairman: jennie.kettlewell@thefriendsofhollandpark.org,
or your Membership Secretary: rhoddy.wood@thefriendsofhollandpark.org
More salami slicing. The "no"s are holding the line but the business plan for the Opera remains a joke and the Council is indulging the frippery with £1 million subsidy every year paid for by hard pressed tax payers. This has been going on for 15 years. And it will get worse. Every year the losses increase. The initiative is not viable. Every other Local Council knows this and does not have an opera. But the Hornton Street plebs like to have their own opera. Even though there are two world class operas down the road at Covent Garden and the ENO (and the tickets are cheaper) and another world class opera up the road at Garsington where the Tory pensioners can get their "opera in the open" without stuffing ratepayers.
ReplyDeleteGet a grip Nick. Shunt it and stop the pain. Next year it will be worse and the year after that, even worse.
Its not only hard up Tory pensioners in K&C who are putting one over on taxpayers. The wealth managers at Investec are getting their thrills on the cheap too - courtesy of council tax payers. A disgrace
ReplyDeleteThat whole missive spells out "INACTION AND INDECISIVENESS" in ten foot high letters. Either the Opera is viable and able to stand on its own two feet or it isn't. And at the moment it clearly isn't and that shows no sign of changing any time soon.
ReplyDeleteFiddling with the start/end dates of the season and reserving a couple of dates before the 31st of May and after the 31st of August the for "other events" isn't going to turn round this £1 million/year monster of a subsidised frippery.
Just shut it down. Shut it down now.
Here we go again
ReplyDelete