Latest news with #KensingtonChelsea
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Albert Bridge closed to drivers for a week for repair work
Albert Bridge in Chelsea will be closed to vehicles for a week to allow the council to carry out essential maintenance.A diversion will be in place - via either Chelsea or Battersea Bridge - from 07:00 BST on 27 May to 06:00 BST on 2 and Chelsea Council said the work is taking place during summer half term to minimise the impact on to the bridge deck, street lighting and expansion joints will be done while pavement repairs will be done in stages so that one footway will be open to pedestrians at all times. Cyclists can cross if they dismount. The bridge deck is made up of 715 individual panels fixed to the timber section. The panels deteriorate with the weather, and traffic can affect the surface of the carriageway and allow water into the timber 10% of the deck is said to be deteriorating and will be placed between the joints to prevent water reaching the bearing beneath the bridge, will also be replaced. Johnny Thalassites, from the council, said: "Keeping an iconic listed bridge operational does take regular maintenance. "We have to be responsible stewards of Albert Bridge which is both a landmark of the London skyline and a vital crossing point."He added that he was grateful for drivers being patient with the "short-term inconvenience". In January 2024, the council began to enforce a three-tonne weight restriction for goods vehicles in order to protect the structure, with fines for vehicles breaching the weight Local Democracy Reporting Service found the council made just over £630,000 by fining drivers breaking the restriction.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Kensington Palace: Princess Diana playground granted £3m makeover
A £3m refurbishment of a playground built in memory of Princess Diana is going ahead after planning permission was granted by a west London near Kensington Palace and opened in 2000, it is visited by more than one million children a year, making it one of London's most popular play to upgrade the playground were approved by Kensington and Chelsea Council on 8 May following a public consultation which ended last Williams, park manager for Kensington Gardens, said the makeover will be funded by the Royal Parks charity and through a mixture of private and public donations. "Working with play specialist providers, our own landscape teams, and the local community we have developed proposals that will continue to make this playground an experience like no other," Mr Williams said."The planned accessibility improvements will mean that the playground is open and welcoming to all children." As part of the £3m upgrade, the Peter Pan-themed area will get a pirate ship upgrade, as well as a multiple-level tree current galleon ship at the playground will be replaced with a new galleon - complete with a crow's nest, ship's wheel and telescope. Built over three levels, it will be wheelchair accessible and will take about six months to complete. The Royal Parks charity, which is responsible for the playground in Kensington Gardens, insisted the approved plans would "retain the characteristics of the existing Peter Pan-inspired playground".Previously, the charity said it would also "provide more accessible and inclusive play, as well as challenging physical play, so that children of all abilities can enjoy creative and imaginative play together".In addition to the more accessible galleon ship, the tree house will have a suspension bridge, while the Mermaid Fountain will also be redesigned to expand the water and sand play area.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Mapped: Where UK councils have collected £360 million from parking permits over five years
Councils across the country have collected almost £360 million from residential parking permits in the last five years, new research has revealed. The 10 highest-earning councils generated more than £238 million alone, making up almost two-thirds of the total revenue, according to the figures. Only 128 councils responded with their figures, and in total, they raised a combined £359,939,225. Wandsworth Borough Council in south London topped the list, raising over £38.2 million from April 2020 to April 2024, according to the research from Cinch. Nine out of the ten councils which raised the most revenue from residential parking permits were London boroughs. Brighton and Hove City Council came third, raising £28,375,023 from 2020 to 2024. The map below shows how much London Borough councils raised from parking permits, according to Cinch: The top 10 councils by total revenue from residential permits were: Wandsworth Borough Council – £38,243,000 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council – £31,519,135 Brighton and Hove City Council – £28,375,023 Islington Borough Council – £23,175,010 Hackney Borough Council – £23,070,334 Haringey Borough Council – £17,797,946 Lambeth Borough Council – £17,786,315 Waltham Forest Borough Council – £16,744,131 Brent Borough Council – £14,383,918 Tower Hamlets Borough Council – £13,770,108 Some councils across the country have seen significant growth in residential parking permit revenues in the past four years. Nottingham City Council saw the biggest percentage increase in the past four years, with a 2,009 per cent rise in revenue. The council received £4,280 in 2020, but that increased to £90,270 by 2024. Coventry City Council saw one of the largest increases in residential parking permit revenue over the past five years. In 2020, the council brought in £15,551, but by 2024, this figure had soared to £100,031 – a 543 per cent increase. The top 10 councils by revenue growth from residential permits were: Nottingham City Council – 2,009% Coventry City Council – 543% Aberdeenshire Council – 500% Hampshire County Council – 364% Hillingdon Borough Council – 282% Thurrock Borough Council – 269% Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead – 215% Cardiff Council – 214% Bracknell Forest Borough Council – 186% Powys County Council – 179%
