AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

17th November 2021

Dear Members and Supporters,

Despite the lockdowns and the conclusion of the Newcombe saga last year, we have much to report on, starting with an item which is outside our area but is a similar example of overdevelopment of a transport hub in RBKC:

South Kensington underground redevelopment

At 6.30 tomorrow evening – November 18th - the planning committee will again consider proposals for the historic South Kensington underground station, described in this Save Britain’s Heritage press release, here.

The relevant RBKC webpage to view documents and lodge objections is here (note that the page is slow to load - please be patient!).

The committee chair is Cllr James Husband ( Abingdon Ward; none of our Campden Ward Councillors is currently on the Committee). Emma Dent Coad, Golborne Ward, was very helpful on Newcombe and will be sitting on this committee.

We will object, but as there is “strength in numbers“ we also encourage you to comment on the link above (if an objection, be sure to click on “object“ in the box at the top).

It would also help if you can email your comments direct to Cllrs Husband and Dent Coad and our own ward councillor Robert Freeman, who assisted us on Newcombe:
cllr.james.husband@rbkc.gov.uk
cllr.emma.dentcoad@rbkc.gov.uk
cllr.robert.freeman@rbkc.gov.uk

2021 Annual General Meeting deferral

Due to the ongoing Covid situation, we are deferring this year’s AGM until Spring 2022. Although we also missed our 2020 AGM, we feel this is the right decision. We will let you know as soon as we have decided on a date. At the same time, we will request membership subs for next year, having waived them for this year.

Newcombe House

We understand the developers intend to go ahead with the scheme, but as yet there is no sign of activity and the remaining tenants have not yet been given their three months' notices. If and when works do commence, HVRA will be active in monitoring any disturbance to the local community in line with the Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP).

Ruby Hotel

As you will have seen, construction on the old M&S site is well underway. We expect that the shell of the building will be up by the summer.
A new mosaic public art commission is planned for the façade. An advisory panel, including HVRA Chair Sophie alongside other local representatives, has been appointed to liaise with an independent art consultant over the design brief and choice of artist. This is potentially an exciting addition to the Gate and we look forward to updating you as the project progresses.

Akub Restaurant (ex Malabar)

Detailed planning permission was granted in August for the new restaurant at 27 Uxbridge Street (ex Malabar). Katrina Allen, a new member whose premises are next door, has volunteered to lead a monitoring group to check that the new restaurant complies with the relevant planning/licensing restrictions.

Please note that an amendment to the original application has been made and can be viewed on the RBK&C website and that public consultation will end on 3rd December. Katrina would like to hear from any other members living nearby. Please email Hillgatevillage@outlook.com if you would like to join this group.

Working with other Residents' Associations and RBK&C

We have liaised closely in recent years with the adjacent Pembridge Association (www.pembridgeassociation.london) on the north side of the Gate and Camden Hill Residents Association, CHRA which covers the area from Notting Hill Gate down to the High Street. Both supported us on Newcombe at the second planning enquiry, and are looking for more active members. We would ask readers to encourage any contacts who live in the CHRA or Pembridge areas to look at the relevant websites, and consider joining up.

The Pembridge Association: enquiries@pembridgeassociation.london

CHRA: campdenhillra@gmail.com

We continue to engage with RBK&C, with the intention of constructively contributing to plans for the future of the Gate. To this end, we recently joined the Pembridge Association and CHRA in a walking meeting with RBKC‘s Head of Spatial planning, around the Gate and Westbourne Grove, to discuss possible public realm improvements. We hope this will assist them in working on the local plan for Notting Hill. We will keep you posted on this.

Aircraft Noise

There is good news, for the time being, on planned changes to Heathrow flight paths. Following the December 2020 consultation, the government decided to extend existing night flight restrictions until October 2024. The noisiest class of aircraft is to be banned between 11.30pm and 6am, from October 2022. The intent is to limit the number of people significantly affected by night time aircraft.

Consultation on longer-term night flight policy closed on 3 September and a further consultation is planned for 2023.

Solar Panels

A current application for conventional solar panels on the roof of the Tabernacle (a listed building) in north Kensington would set a bad precedent for the rest of the borough. Therefore we propose to object, even though it is outside our area. If solar installations are to be mounted on listed buildings, or in conservation areas, we believe the new types which resemble roof tiles/slates would be far more appropriate, and discreet. Please do get in touch if you have expertise and/or views on this topic.

Kensington High Street (KHS) cycle lane

HVRA was active in the “SOS” campaign in 2019/20 in partnership with several local residents’ associations, successfully averting the unpopular scheme in Holland Park Avenue and proposing alternative measures. (See SOS10.co.uk ).

In response to the Covid emergency, last autumn RBK&C introduced experimental cycle lanes in Kensington High Street. These lanes were removed in December, based on this report on their adverse effects.

Better Streets, a cycling lobby group, have raised funds and filed a High Court claim for a judicial review of that decision. We await further news.

Volunteers

Since the conclusion of our campaign on Newcombe house, two founding committee members have stepped down – Tanya Alfille and John Learmonth. On behalf of the committee and our members, we would like to express our gratitude for their vital work over many years.

Although Newcombe was our main focus, and monitoring its implementation remains a high priority, there are other ongoing issues in the Village. We would therefore be interested to recruit one or two new committee members who are willing to contribute a little time and expertise to help us preserve the Village and surrounding areas. This is also an opportunity to get involved in your local community, so do please get in touch (hillgatevillage@outlook.com) if you are interested.

We would also be grateful if any members would like to act as “street representatives“ to keep an eye on their immediate neighbourhood. (We already have Jameson Street, Kensington Place and Uxbridge Street covered by committee members).

Los Mochis mural

One of our members who lives close to this restaurant (formerly Geales) was unhappy with its extensive new murals. Cllr Freeman has taken this up with RBK&C; it seems that such decoration cannot be controlled unless it is deemed to be an advertisement. If any readers have strong views on this (either way) you may wish to email us at our address above.

Further parking changes in Hillgate Village

Following the recent loss of 13 Respark bays in Hillgate Place to allow fire engine access, RBK&C are consulting on the conversion to Respark of 10 pay-by-phone parking bays. The proposal is to convert 5 four-hour and 5 two-hour bays on Uxbridge Street, either side of the junction with Hillgate Street. If you would like to comment on these proposals please do so to Lead Officer Chris Eales trafficorders@rbkc.gov.uk by 24 November 2021, quoting Proposal No: P0929.

Guided Walks

Finally, you may be interested in one or more of these guided walks by the noted London historian Caroline MacMillan, who wrote:

The days are shorter now but it is lovely seeing the last leaves tumble from the trees during these autumnal days and I have some new walks for you to enjoy.

FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER 10 am: MUSEUMS AND A PALACE Another new walk. The walk starts at Kensington Palace and then weaves its way through Kensington Gardens to Exhibition Road which is full of London’s most famous museums.

WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 10 am: SANDS END This part of Fulham is undergoing amazing redevelopment and gardens now replace the former factories and warehouses which once lined the river’s bank.

TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 10 am: HAMMERSMITH TO BARNES. And yet another new walk. Starting at Hammersmith Bridge the walk takes you past gracious villas and so to the village of Barnes with its lovely pond. Elegant houses grace the riverside and the walk returns via the Leg o’ Mutton Reservoir which is now a bird sanctuary, and finally back to St. Paul’s Boys School.

To reserve, please contact Caroline MacMillan
West London Walks
36 Wendell Road
London W12 9RS

07979751772

02087493010