A petition has been set up to have the Notting Hill Carnival recognised as UNESCO Heritage site over fears it may be moved.
It comes after a report compiled by Kensington MP Victoria Borwick showed changing the world famous event’s format away from its traditional route should be considered.
It also revealed that many people living along the route leave their homes over the August Bank Holiday weekend to flee the crowds because of anti-social behaviour .
Now a group called Green Westway is petitioning Lady Borwick to have the carnival placed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, to help secure the historic event’s future on the streets it was born in.
The MP, who has previously suggested revellers should be charged to attend Notting Hill Carnival in a bid to drive down police costs, said her findings showed more must be done to protect people who have to live with Notting Hill Carnival.
She said that 90% who live within its footprint avoid the carnival, citing anti-social behaviour and noise from amplified music as major reasons. Other complaints included revellers urinating in public .
'Lessons should be learnt from other big events'
More than 70% of the 1,026 living in the carnival footprint which replied to Lady Borwick’s questionnaire also supported it moving from the traditional Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday slot to Saturday and Sunday.
And the report revealed businesses did not benefit from the event, with 6% reporting any uplift or positive impact. The majority bemoaned the costs of boarding up their shops, cleaning up and having to close their business for the weekend.
Looking at the possibility of hosting a music festival from Wormwood Scrubs or Little Wormwood Scrubs parks, she used other London events as examples.
She said: “In the long term, lessons could be learnt from other big events in London, such as Pride in London, which holds the street parade in one area and the music festival a short walk away.
“This has worked successfully for Pride in London and should be considered for Notting Hill Carnival.”
'Carnival unites Notting Hill community'
The petition states the carnival deserves UNESCO status because it is “a symbol of change and multiculturalism in the UK”.
It reads: “Safeguarding the carnival’s future as a festival in the streets of Notting Hill rather than behind a perimeter of local park is important for a number of reasons.
“The carnival was born in local social movements from the burning ambers of hatred and racism.
"Over the years, its marriage of Caribbean culture to West London streets has turned this situation on its head and momentary carnival experiences have led to lasting social unity, which as recent days have shown us, should certainly not be taken for granted.”
The petition aims for 1,000 signatures before it is presented to Lady Borwick, who they hope will then the issue in Parliament. At the time of writing it was just over 100 short of its target.
This year's Notting Hill Carnival takes place on August 28 and 29.
The petition can be viewed at change.org.
