May 2012 Archives

A CREDIT union service aimed at providing affordable and ethical banking services to everyone in the borough has been approved.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has rubber-stamped plans for the new Your Credit Union Kensington and Chelsea after it submitted a 500-page application last September.

The not-for-profit banking service will provide borough residents, no matter what their circumstances, with an opportunity to save and borrow with a fair, ethical and local financial service.

It will allow residents to invest money in savings, and they will receive interest, but the money they have invested will be put to good use helping their neighbours.

Plans for a new leisure centre and academy have been submitted to Kensington and Chelsea Council by Studio E.

Over the past two years the council and the Aldridge Foundation have consulted widely on the emerging proposals through a series of drop-in events, workshops and exhibitions.

They also include enlarging Lancaster Green, new homes and improving access and better links to the area and an academy opening in September 2014.

CASH machines are set to return to Portobello and Golborne Road Market.

Councillors Dez O'Neill and Pat Mason have worked tirelessly since HSBC Bank closed their ATM's, in Portobello Road, to the anger of market traders, shops and residents.

And British Telecom are hoping to replace their telephone boxes at Talbot Road and Golborne Road to include the new cashpoints.

Mr O'Neill said: "This is welcome news since cash machines assist visitors to spend their money on Portobello and Golborne Market, and are very important for the local economy".

"Visitors now have less money to spend because of the recession, and if putting these new ATMs on the market helps them to spend more, then that will be a good thing," added Mrs Mason.

A BUDDING musician is on top of the world after winning the chance to record the soundtrack for a global Adidas advert.

Kayvon Razavi, who studied a Creative Music Producer Level 3 course at Kensington and Chelsea College and also goes by the recording name Scyfa, pitched his musical idea to bosses of the sportswear giants with the brief of creating a youthful sound with pace and rythym.

The 22-year-old, of Fulham, went on to win the chance to produce the soundtrack for their four-week international campaign that has aired online, on TV and radio in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland and Canada.

COUNCILLOR Christopher Buckmaster has been elected as the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea for the second time.

The 73-year-old becomes only the second person to win a second term in the prestigious role, his first coming in 2003/04, and follows in the footsteps of the late councillor Elizabeth Christmas MBE.

Elected to the council in 1994, Mr Buckmaster represents Campden Ward, was cabinet member for education, libraries and arts from 2001 to 2003 and has served as governor of Holland Park School for a decade.

ANGRY campaigners have hit out at transport bosses over plans to close a public footbridge at Olympia station.

Members of the MyOlympia group lost a battle to prevent the removal of the weekday District Line service to the station last year, and have now blasted Transport for London for its latest proposals.

TfL wants the footbridge - used as a cut-through by non-travelling pedestrians - to be blocked by ticket barriers on both sides.

HUNDREDS of concerned residents and traders packed into a threatened North Kensington pub amid fears it is being targeted by supermarket giant Sainsbury's.

The public meeting was called after eagle-eyed neighbours spotted surveyors for the chain in the historic North Pole pub, which dates back to 1840.

It is thought the pub, in North Pole Road, may have been earmarked for a new Sainsbury's Local store. It only recently reopened after running into financial trouble. New managers were only able to secure a short-term lease, which is coming to an end.

A NOTTING Hill woman has been praised by police for taking the witness stand in a court case against a priest who sexually assaulted her.

The 59-year-old woman was a parishioner at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church of St Mary of Debre Tsion, in Battersea.

The church was led by Gebrehana Semre (pictured) who subsequently used his position to visit the woman in September 2010 to bless her home and welcome her into the church.

RESIDENTS can voice their concerns about basement developments in Kensington and Chelsea through a public consultation.

The council is reviewing its powers to control basement conversions and admits it is impossible to say how many there are in the borough, as in some cases homeowners do not need planning permission.

The consultation runs until Friday, June 8. Visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningandconservation.aspx to read the 'Basement Extensions: Issues' paper and email planningpolicy@rbkc.gov.uk with your views.

New websites have been launched to promote Portobello and Golborne Markets.

The Portobello and Golborne Management Committee will publish maps, transport details and opening hours at www.shopportobello.co.uk and through their new twitter page @PortobelloNews.

Councillor Nick Paget-Brown, Kensington and Chelsea Council's deputy leader, said: "Portobello and Golborne are fantastic markets with something for everyone and this new website is a great way of finding out just what is on offer, how to get around and more about the many special events that take place in both markets throughout the year."