Hillgate Village Residents’ Association
May/June update
Dear Members & Supporters,
In this update we will cover Newcombe House, SOS and these wider topics :
- Kensington Society AGM (June 16th) and Simon Jenkins
- Royal College of Music
- SAVE Britain’s Heritage
- Victorian Society (Vic Soc).
Newcombe House
We received complaints in mid May about noise from work continuing until 7 pm. Polity apologised on behalf of Beltane, and we are assured this will not happen again
More seriously, Campden Hill Residents' Association (CHRA) spotted a significant problem with a pending “amending application” making “minor changes” to the design. It lowers the ceiling level in the delivery bay at the south end of the site, to be used by commercial vehicles (including rubbish collection). This is critical: if any HGVs cannot use the delivery bay effectively, as in the approved plans, there will be obvious risks in terms of safety / congestion in Kensington Place/Newcombe St, or even on other frontages of the development. This is not acceptable.
We are pursuing this with Councillors and officers, and are grateful to CHRA, as this issue was not flagged at the last Beltane presentation meeting.
Holland Park Roundabout/Save Our Streets (SOS)
We continue to support SOS in resisting TfL’s proposals, which would have the serious effects explained at SOS10.co.uk. Please visit that website for further detail.
SOS is trying to clarify whether or not our MP, Joe Powell, is supporting the scheme.
The recent judgement in the West Dulwich Action Group case raised the political profile of these issues even further, and SOS has contacted WDAG.
You can read more about that case on the WDAG Facebook page, which includes a press release and the 53 page presentation which was favourably mentioned by Judge Smith in his judgement. These can be foundhereandhere.
Kensington Society
HVRA is affiliated to KS and we would encourage our members/supporters to consider becoming individual members, at:
https://www.kensingtonsociety.org/
At their town hall AGM on June 16th the guest speaker is Simon Jenkins – who recently wrote in the Times about tower blocks. This should be an interesting evening for new and existing members.
Their latest annual report, available via the website, includes an in-depth article on our two remaining major development sites – Kensal Canalside and Earls Court.
From our neighbours, the Royal College of Music:
As your South Kensington neighbour, the Royal College of Music invites you to explore everything on offer at this global no.1 Institution for Music and Performance Arts. Attend a concert or hire one of their stunning venues, and support their students and activity. Why not enjoy a tour of the historic building, or visit the RCM Museum. To learn more about how you can support the future of music, or arrange a visit, please email RSVPdevelopment@rcm.ac.uk
SAVE Britain's Heritage
As we all live in a conservation area, you may like to be consider supporting/joining SAVE. Their focus is on finding suitable re-uses for redundant historic buildings and on promoting sustainable development in historic settings. Notable buildings saved for the nation as a result of campaigns by by SAVE include Tate Modern and Wentworth Woodhouse. Current projects include Smithfield Market, which is in the process of being transformed into the new Museum of London and the Customs House riverside public realm. SAVE is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a series of interesting talks and conferences in London and around the UK. As an independent heritage group their work is funded entirely by public donation and membership.
See https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/ for further information.
Victorian Society
The Vic Soc has a special association with Kensington; it was founded in 1958 by Lady Rosse, the granddaughter of Edward Linley Sambourne, who was responsible for the preservation of Sambourne House at 18 Stafford Terrace.
The Vic Soc instigated an excellent series of online lectures since Covid, which are available on playback. They include an eclectic range of topics, eg colonial architecture, Scottish shooting Estates etc.
For more information, please visit Victoriansociety.org.uk