[title]
There are some things Londoners accept will have to change eventually. Sure, they'll keep building more stupidly named skyscrapers and yes, the cost of a pint will keep going up, but there are some things that we hoped would never change – and the jerk-flavoured spectacle that is Notting Hill Carnival is definitely one of them. Since the first one in 1964, the annual street party has been a place for Caribbean communities to celebrate their culture for a weekend of live music, barbecued chicken and all round good vibes. But today it's emerged that the event could be ticketed in future, which would mean people having to pay to go for the first time. The proposals have been submitted by Conservative MP for Kensington Victoria Borwick, who has also suggested moving it to the Saturday and Sunday, rather than the Sunday and Monday, to reduce police overtime costs.
Surveys will be sent out to local residents in the new year and the results are expected in February. The idea is that making the event ticketed would help improve safety, which is obviously a good thing – but we can't help thinking that having to pay to go to Carnival (and be organised enough to get tickets in advance) would mean that August bank holiday weekends in London won't be quite the same.