Latest news with #RoyalBoroughofKensingtonandChelsea
The Sun
31-07-2025
- The Sun
We live on street made famous by Hollywood films & TV shows – but we're trapped in our homes due to thoughtless council
RESIDENTS who live on a famous street thanks to it featuring in Hollywood films and TV shows say they are trapped in their homes due to a thoughtless council. Portobello Road in West London is also well-known thanks to its markets which attracts visitors from far afield all year round. 4 4 Locals in the area say though that they feel 'trapped in their homes' due to the terror curbs that have been implemented. It comes after the road underwent significant renovation which saw a number of improvements made to the area. A legal challenge is being launched by residents and traders over the anti-terrorism measures which prevent vehicles from gaining access during the day. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which oversees the market, erected barriers and implemented traffic restrictions due to fears of vehicles being driven into pedestrians. The vehicle ban is in operation between 10am and 4pm for either three or seven days a week, depending on the section, and this has given rise to concerns by residents that they won't be able to leave or that emergency services, deliveries or taxis won't be able to reach them. Patrick Somers, who lives in Portobello Mews, said residents only found out about the restrictions just a few days before they were implemented on July 1. Mr Somers is now leading a legal challenge by residents and local traders against the council's decision. He told The Times: 'We absolutely support anti-terror measures. Who wouldn't? We want to protect people. We want to protect ourselves. We want people to visit this lovely area. 'But you've got to balance it, because if you talk to the police or a risk consultant, they'll say, 'don't go out, lock yourselves in and you'll be fine'. "But most people can't live that way — and with that approach, the terrorists win as well.' Our famous London road will go through a big change... we're overrun by tourists and need help but we like it how it is Although the barriers are meant to open for emergency services, Mr Somers alleged that when a resident called for an ambulance for a young child who was having difficulty breathing, paramedics had to park beyond the barriers and carry their kit in. He added: 'It doesn't matter if you would like to get to the airport or get to the hospital appointment or you have an emergency or whatever. It's banned to all traffic. 'No taxis can come between ten and four o'clock, between three and seven days a week. That has in effect trapped people in their homes.' The council has said it had consulted with emergency services to ensure their vehicles could get through. Antiques dealer Geoff Knowles told the paper the council had advised traders they could arrive before 10am and leave after 4pm, but he added that was not how many traders operated. He said that the majority of traders that operated on Westbourne Grove usually got there at around 5-6am on a Saturday and then normally left about 1-2pm, making the new restrictions 'a bit of a pain'. He added that some traders needed to park near their stalls or had to go out to restock during the day. Mr Knowles said that a fruit and veg stall holder would maybe turn up with tons of potatoes and carrots and would need to park near his stall; they wouldn't be able to drag a sack of potatoes 300 yards every time he sold out of them. A Kensington and Chelsea council spokesperson said the measures had been implemented following advice from the Metropolitan Police's counterterrorism security adviser. They added the council had set up new blue badge bays and drop-off areas along the side streets and that blue badge holders in the closed sections could enter and leave. The spokesperson said: 'Our top priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the community and we believe the current measures strike a reasonable balance between protecting the public and supporting the needs of individuals. 'The temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order on Portobello Road was introduced to protect residents, traders and visitors from the potential threat of vehicle attacks during busy trading periods, following advice from counter-terrorism police. 'We continue to speak with residents and businesses, addressing concerns case by case to help inform proposals for a permanent scheme.' 4 4
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Residents near Grenfell estate to get compensation
Residents living in the shadow of Grenfell Tower are to get £400 compensation from the local council for each household because of delays to a scheme to refurbish their years ago the government and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea promised to build a "model 21st-century estate" at the Lancaster West Estate after the fatal fire at the project remains unfinished and with an £85m hole in its a meeting of the estate's tenants in Parliament on Monday evening, residents said they had been "living on a building site for the last seven years". Abbas Dadou is a resident on the estate. He said the compensation offered was "nowhere near enough for what the residents are going through"."We had a 2.5% rent increase, so it doesn't even balance out the rent increase and service charges. The process has been painful and really long, and residents are suffering through living in a building site."We and many residents are worried that many of the blocks will be left without any refurbishment, and the promise of the 21st-century model estate is highly unlikely."Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, the Conservative leader of Kensington and Chelsea, said the authority would work with government to try to secure the £85m needed to finish the refurbishment of the estate. She told BBC London: "In the aftermath of Grenfell for the legacy of the future, for the future of the whole area, we promised together with the government that we would deliver a 21st-century estate... We made that commitment with the government that we would both finance at 50-50 and we're waiting for the government to really deliver that promise."We have a duty to the people on the Lancaster West Estate to do what we promised... you can understand why so many of them are so angry."She added that the council intended to pay the £400 in compensation "in recognition of that". Joe Powell, Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, said there were "legitimate questions" because some of the people who live near Grenfell Tower, "most notably in the Lancaster West Estate, had been living on a building site since even before the fire"."I totally understand why they are frustrated about the pace of the major works and I think the key message from tonight is they want the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and this central government, Labour government to come together and find a solution," he Powell said there was "an £85m gap in the budget to complete the refurbishment of the entire estate, which was promised to the residents directly after the fire".He added: "I would far rather the government and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea come together and figure out how to close that gap rather than to give people false hope." The building safety minister, Alex Norris, who was at the meeting, would not be drawn on whether the government would find all of the money. It will be eight years since the Grenfell fire tragedy on 14 June and it will be the last anniversary before work starts in the autumn to take down the tower.
