Heavies on alert as meeting gets heated

Security guards were brought in by Kensington and Chelsea Council following claims by the authority that a bomb threat had been posted on social networking site Facebook.

Councillors sitting on the planning committee rejected the shop's application stating that it was 'out of character with the entire area'.

Protesters shouted and heckled at a representative from All Saints who said the store 'made a vital contribution to the vibrancy of the retail area.'

A council spokesman said: "All Saints Retail Ltd put up shop fronts and advertising signage without securing the appropriate consent from the council and submitted retrospective applications in February.

"We decided to refuse planning permission for the shop fronts on Westbourne Grove and Portobello Road because the materials used result in a poor finish and are out of character not only with the appearance of the building, but the entire area.

"We are also refusing advertisement consent for three illuminated projecting sewing machine signs above the Westbourne Grove shop front and will be taking legal action to secure their removal.

"Ensuring a good standard of shop front design is a priority for us

and we are absolutely determined that All Saints will meet that standard."

He added: "However, this application is purely about shop front design.

"The change at the premises from antique retail to clothing retail does not require planning permission and, consequently, is something over which the council has no control whatsoever."

Facebook campaign page Save The Portobello Market has now attracted more than 31,230 supporters.

News of the small victory was met enthusiastically with one supporter writing 'the first battle is won in what I expect will be a long war.'.

Organiser of the protest, Costas Kleanthous, chairman of the Portobello Antiques Dealers' Association said: "We were all happy that the council came to this decision, especially because the shop had been allowed to break the planning permission rules all this time.

"The shop doesn't actually have to make the changes for another six months so it means we will have to keep looking at the monstrosity.

"We've just been thrilled that so many people have supported us - not just antique traders but visitors from all around the world who love the market."