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Press Releases

See below for a list of the most recent press releases

Current press releases

  • Shops flock to join retail loyalty card scheme  - 3 February 2010
    Over 200 independent local shops have signed up to join the free borough-wide retail loyalty card scheme which launches on 24 March.
  • Children in Kensington and Chelsea achieving top marks - 2 February 2010
    Children who receive free school meals in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea get better GCSE results than children on free school meals in any other local authority according to Department for Children, Schools and Families.
  • Live webcast - air quality in the Royal Borough - 2 February 2010
    The borough's air quality will be the subject of a seminar held on Tuesday 19 February at 6.30pm.
  • Apprenticeship scheme helps young people into work - 1 February 2010
    Young adults in the Royal Borough are taking their first steps into a new career thanks to an innovative apprenticeship scheme.
  • Apprenticeship scheme raises the profile of social care careers - 1 February 2010
    Vulnerable and elderly residents in the Royal Borough are set to benefit from a scheme that will create adult social care apprenticeships and raise the profile of the profession.
  • Don't lose your vote - 29 January 2010
    This year the residents of Kensington and Chelsea can choose who is in charge of the Council and the country. Local elections are scheduled for 6 May 2010 but people will only be able to vote if their name is on the Electoral Register.
  • Residents can step up for St Charles - 29 January 2010
    Residents of St Charles ward in North Kensington are invited to attend the second `Step Up, St Charles!' event to find out more about making a difference in their own area. They will get a chance to meet neighbours and see how they can help support the organisations that work in the community.
  • Youth Parliament candidates hold live debate - 28 January 2010
    Six young people have put themselves forward to be elected as the Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) for Kensington and Chelsea and will be taking part in a debate on Monday 1 February.
  • Albert Bridge closing - 25 January 2010
    Works will begin to renovate the grade 2 listed Albert Bridge on Monday 15 February. The work is the result of a partnership between Kensington and Chelsea Council and Transport for London (TfL) and will take up to 18 months to complete.
  • Knuckling down to boxing success - 25 January 2010
    Success in the boxing ring is helping a young resident turn her life around with the support of her family, boxing trainer and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Youth Offending Team.
  • Go it alone Council "breaks the mould" on child protection IT - 25 January 2010
    A Council that turned its back on a £147,000 Government grant to develop a child protection IT system, has just seen the system it developed independently scoop a prestigious national e-government award.
  • Chelsea swimming pool closes for emergency repairs - 20 January 2010
    The swimming pool at Chelsea Sports Centre will be closed from 8pm hours on Monday 25 January to Thursday 28 January for emergency repair work. An old cast iron pipe underneath the pool is leaking and must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid a major break and serious flood risk.
  • Enjoy a wild half-term - 19 January 2010      Children aged five to ten can get close to the borough's wildlife in their half-term break thanks to an action packed programme of events run by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Ecology Centre.
  • Royal Borough open for business despite arctic conditions - 18 January 2010
    The Royal Borough remained open for business despite the unprecedented snow and sub-zero temperatures that rapidly depleted the Council's well-stocked salt supplies.
  • Jail for benefit fraudster - 18 January 2010
    A man who falsely claimed £32,000 of housing and council tax benefit to spend on clothes and holidays to Spain has been given a 20-week custodial sentence.
  • Royal Borough schools continue to shine - 14 January 2010
    Students in Royal Borough secondary schools are top in the country when it comes to getting five or more A* to C GCSEs according to figures released by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).
  • Council Tax frozen in the Royal Borough - 12 January 2010
    Council tax in Kensington and Chelsea will be frozen in 2010/11, the Council's Cabinet agreed last night (Tuesday 12 January 2010).
  • Artists' works find Royal Borough home - 11 January 2010
    An exhibition of work by local artists who are homeless, or have previously been homeless in the borough, is on display in the Chelsea Gallery at Chelsea Old Town Hall.
  • Royal Borough school flushed with success - 7 January 2010
    When Park Walk Primary School's youngest children spend a penny they do so in the best nursery toilet facilities in the country, according to the British Toilet Association (BTA).
  • Keeping children safe online - 6 January 2010
    `E-safety - young people and ICT', a short guide to using the internet safely, aimed at parents and young people, has been published by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
  • Open letter from The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to Guide Dogs for the Blind - 5 January 2010
    Following Lord Carlile of Berriew QC's refusal to grant permission to Guide Dogs for the Blind to apply for a judicial review against the Exhibition Road project, Cllr Merrick Cockell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has appealed to the charity to work with the Council to make Exhibition Road the most accessible cultural destination in the world for all users.
  • New sculpture for Napoleon Garden - 30 December 2009
    One of the premier sites for contemporary sculpture in London was graced with a new installation on Monday 21 December. Black Sun, by Douglas White, was installed in the Napoleon Garden, Holland Park, with the artist and Councillor Nick Paget-Brown present.
  • Closure of Holland Walk - 23 December 2009
    Holland Walk will be closed between the Duchess of Bedford Walk and Holland Park Avenue to pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Christmas tree recycling - 22 December 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea Council is again offering free Christmas tree recycling for residents as it continues to strive for a green 2010. Last year the Council collected 60 tonnes of Christmas trees and this year hopes to improve on that.
  • Mayor's Charity Christmas Carols 2009 - 22 December 2009
    Over 400 people packed Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square for the Mayor's Charity Christmas Carols, raising over £11,000 for Focus K&C.
  • It's E-asy - 15 December 2009
    Last week Kensington and Chelsea Council launched the first e-book scheme in London for its library service. Members of the borough's libraries can use the service free and have the choice of downloading 300 adult and 300 children's books. The books can be read using an e-reader, MP3 player or mobile phone.
  • Council welcomes Government decision to postpone nursery funding formula - 15 December 2009
    The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has welcomed the Government's decision to postpone the introduction of a new funding formula for nursery education.
  • Chelsea academy tops out - 14 December 2009
    The new Chelsea Academy reached a major milestone today (11 December) when a topping out ceremony was performed on the roof of the Lots road building.
  • Airports rethink must follow climate report - 9 December 2009
    Today's report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) setting new limits on aviation growth will force ministers to redraw airport expansion policies across the UK.
  • Counters Creek secures protection from flooding - 4 December 2009
    The risk of damaging floods like those seen in 2007 will be greatly reduced following Office of Water Services (OFWAT) decision to award funding to protection projects in the Counters Creek area.
  • Mayor of London visits potential Crossrail site in North Kensington-  4 December 2009
    The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited North Kensington to hear Kensington and Chelsea Council's case for a new Crossrail station yesterday (Thursday 3 December).
  • Residents reassured on Wornington Green redevelopment - 1 December 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea Council has received a planning application from Kensington Housing Trust (KHT) for the complete redevelopment of the Wornington Green estate in North Kensington.
  • Opportunity for young entrepreneurs to shine - 27 November 2009
    Budding entrepreneurs in the Royal Borough are being given the opportunity to start up their own business thanks to an innovative pilot being run by the Council.
  • Young actors' talents not "wasted" - 27 November 2009
    Three young people are taking their first steps as actors in `Wasted', a modern take on Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' at the Intermission Theatre in SW3.
  • Public meeting to discuss upgrade for Counters Creek Sewer - 26 November 2009
    Thames Water is holding a public meeting on Thursday 3 December at Kensington Town Hall to discuss its plans to upgrade the Counters Creek Sewer by developing a storm relief tunnel network which will help reduce the risk of flooding to local properties.
  • French market at Kensington Town Hall - 20 November 2009
    Residents and visitors to Kensington and Chelsea can come to a genuine French market at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street W8 on Friday 27 November.
  • Lights, camera, action as young filmmakers scoop award - 20 November 2009
    A ten-day filmmaking project, developed by Kensington and Chelsea Council, was the inspiration for a group of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities to go on to become award-winning filmmakers.
  • Young Parliamentarians Needed - 19 November 2009
    Young and aspiring politicians in the borough are invited to put themselves forward to become Kensington and Chelsea's Member of Youth Parliament (MYP). Elections will be held in February 2010 and nominations are now open.
  • Disabled badge cheats left feeling blue - 19 November 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea Council seized 20 disabled (blue) parking badges in a two-day clampdown. Officers from the Council joined forces with the police to target those suspected of misusing the badges around Kensington High Street.
  • Council seeks big savings - 17 November 2009
    Up to £9.5 million of savings were agreed by Kensington and Chelsea Council's Cabinet last night (16 November) as part of budget preparations for 2010/11. Freezing the pay of senior staff and Councillors and getting better deals from the utility companies were just two of the many areas identified to save money.
  • Remembrance Sunday - 12 November 2009
    The Royal Borough took time to remember the fallen from two world wars and the many other conflicts of the past century at two ceremonies on Sunday 8 November. The Remembrance Sunday ceremonies took place at the war memorials in Sloane Square and outside St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington High Street.
  • BEST BAR NONE - 12 November 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea's best licensed premises were recognised at the Best Bar None awards ceremony recently when the Drayton Arms, Old Brompton Road, was named the overall winner and Best Pub.
  • Light relief for Christmas - 11 November 2009
    Kensington High Street will have Christmas lights for the first time in many years. The lights are being funded by the High Street's retailers and the scheme has been organised by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea as part of its drive to promote the borough's retail areas and encourage people to shop locally.
  • Potential adoptors urged to come forward - 10 November 2009
    Potential adopters, particularly from the black and minority ethnic community, are being urged to come forward and adopt a child from Kensington and Chelsea.
  • Young sports stars show their skills - 9 November 2009
    Future sports stars were showing their talents at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Primary Schools Festival 2009 at Westway Sports Centre on Thursday 5 November.
  • Back to work opportunities for parents - 5 November 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea Council are running two free workshops at Holmfield House, Golborne Rd W10, aimed at developing the skills needed to achieve a Level 2 National Certificate in the security industry and offering basic job training for security officers.
  • A crafty Christmas is on the cards - 5 November 2009
    Residents of Kensington and Chelsea will have the opportunity to explore their creative skills at a crafts and cards workshop at Chelsea Theatre on 11 and 12 November. With Christmas fast approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to impress your friends and family with your innovative card-making skills.
  • Healthy eating tasters - 5 November 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea residents will have the opportunity to learn about the benefits of healthy eating at two free workshops organised by the Council.
  • Remembrance Sunday commemoration 2009 - 3 November 2009
    The Mayor, Cllr Timothy Coleridge and Mayoress of Kensington and Chelsea will lead the borough's Act of Remembrance at St. Mary Abbots Church this Sunday, 8 November.
  • Ladbroke Grove lift plans terminated - 3 November 2009
    Step-free access at Ladbroke Grove Underground station is among the local casualties of London Underground's budget-cutting, following an announcement that the project to install lifts at the station has been postponed.
  • Natural History Museum tops olympic poll - 2 November 2009
    Kensington and Chelsea residents have chosen the Natural History Museum to represent their local area in the build-up to the 2012 Olympic Games.
  • Nominate a local hero for the Mayor's Awards - 30 October 2009
    Nominations are now being accepted for the Mayor's Awards, the annual award that recognises the local people who made a difference in the local community.
  • Help decide what your library buys - 28 October 2009
    During November the Council is inviting residents to come along to their local library to chat with the team and let them know what sort of books they would like stocked in the future.
  • Exercise works out for Royal Borough pupils - 26 October 2009
    Pupils in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's primary and secondary school have the second highest participation in school-based exercise in England.
  • Come and have your say on Transport in London - 26 October 2009
    Let the Mayor of London know what you think about plans to abolish the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge, and find out about a variety of other projects.
  • Step up for St Charles ward - 23 October 2009
    Residents of St Charles ward in north Kensington are being encouraged to `Step up' to make a real difference to their neighbourhood by supporting community groups.

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