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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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Council statements