Notting Hill Carnival Strategic Review - Intelligent Space

The Carnival Route
Recommendation
13. The Carnival Public Safety Project and the work of Intelligent Space has been instrumental in
objectively highlighting the relationship between the design of the Carnival route, location of
entertainment sites and the associated public safety risks of crowd build-up and congestion. The
impact of this work has been clearly evidenced by the partial route change and relocation of the
Judging Point, which was initiated in 2002. Having considered all aspects of the research, its
findings and the views of all stakeholders, it is our recommendation that any future change to the
Carnival route must address the issue of public safety and be risk assessed, as far as is possible, in
accordance with the GLA’s Carnival Design Guidance. In addition, the guidance should be
developed further in partnership with the Carnival Arenas to include the positive work undertaken
by the Caribbean Music Association (CMA) in its ‘On de Road’ code of best practice and the
NHMBA’s ‘Route Management Plan’.
14. Our interim recommendations called for the introduction of a non-circular route and the possible
use of Hyde Park for Carnival-related activities. These particular recommendations have been the
subject of much debate and whilst the Intelligent Space findings provided the catalyst for a
partial route change in 2002, we do not believe that these changes go far enough to reduce
crowd density and ensure public safety. The Intelligent Space study found that the 2002 route
was unlikely to deliver any gains in public safety, raised serious concerns in relation to the new
risks presented and was unable to provide the level of flexibility required to safely accommodate
the Carnival’s future growth. Without a fundamental route change to reduce crowd density and
enhance the cultural spectacle, we do not believe that the Notting Hill Carnival can fulfil its
economic and social potential as a ‘World Carnival’. We therefore recommend that:
(a) Hyde Park, the Bayswater Road and the Harrow Road must be considered as part of a new
route for Carnival 2005. Such a fundamental change will require detailed discussions and
consultation with all key stakeholders, nevertheless we believe that the Carnival Arenas in
partnership with the Carnival organisers, should be supported to take ownership and lead on
these discussions to determine their ‘route of the future’; and
(b) the Operational Planning and Safety Group (OPSG) seek additional expert guidance during
the detailed planning and implementation stages of any new route. This will ensure that (i)
all safety issues and implications are identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity; (ii)
risk assessments are kept up to date; and (iii) every assistance is made available to those
stakeholders who experience practical difficulties when implementing recommended risk
reduction measures.
15. Whilst, as a starting point, it is necessary to review the design of the Carnival route in order to
make future Carnivals safer, we believe that it is also important to review the design of the whole
entertainment area. From a crowd safety viewpoint, the route, the sound systems, and to a lesser
extent, the stalls are all integral and interrelated parts of the Carnival. These elements must
therefore be considered together as a package in order reduce crowd density and achieve
increased levels of safety at the Carnival. We therefore recommend that in addition to the route,
an assessment of the Carnival’s entertainment area should be undertaken with the view of
achieving a safer overall package for future Carnivals.
A Time for Change
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