The Kensington Society news blog

In Memoriam: Christopher Buckmaster

Christopher Buckmaster, who was councillor for the Campden ward from 1994 to 2014 and RBKC mayor twice, very sadly died from Covid-19 at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital on 2 November. While in hospital, he turned 82.
Read more

In Memoriam: David Campion

On 18 August 2020, Councillor David Campion passed away after a long illness. He was 86 years old. When he retired from his councillor seat in 2018, he had been representing the Pembridge ward residents for an impressive 51 years. He was also one of the founders of the Pembridge Association and its longest serving chairman.
Read more

Borough-wide 20mph speed limit from tomorrow!

RBKC may have been the last borough in central London to introduce a 20mph speed limit, but when they did, it was very swift: on Thursday 12 November the council suddenly announced that all roads controlled by the borough would have that speed limit - from the very next day, Friday 13 November!
Read more

Subscribe to the council’s Covid newsletters

The council’s weekly email newsletters (at times even more often) are probably the best way for Kensington residents to be stay updated about changes to council services and new government instructions during the Covid-19 pandemic - and it’s very easy to subscribe to them.
Read more

Building work allowed until 9pm – every day except Sunday

With immediate effect, building sites can extend their working hours without seeking permission if it is "short term" or "modest", or seek permission to extend the hours in residential areas up to to 9pm every day, Monday-Saturday. Councils are basically under orders from the government to approve all such applications, and do so within 10 working days.
Read more

Notting Hill Carnival cancelled this year

Because of Covid-19, there will be no Notting Hill Carnival in late August this year. The arrangers recognise that social distancing would be impossible for an event that tends to attract one million people.
Read more

Too Big For The Bin is back

When the council closed down much of its services on 18 March, one of the victims was Too Big For The Bin, the paid-for rubbish collection of items to big or bulky for the regular bin. Well, now it's back and collections can be booked online. The recycling centres at Smugglers Way and Cringle Street have also reopened, but only for delivery of garden waste and general black bagged waste.
Read more

The Kensington Society annual for 2019-2020 is here!

Although the Kensington Society AGM has been postponed until Covid-19 has been beaten (or at least severely wounded), the annual for 2019-2020 is ready and will be mailed to all members within the next few days.
Read more

When the library is closed: go digital!

Kensington's libraries may be closed because of Covid-19, but the online services available for those with a library card are still available, offering books, newspapers, magazines and music. And the Metropolitan Police have useful digital booklets about internet scams, while the NHS offers advice about how to stay sane when scared of viruses and being isolated. Your PC or mobile phone gives you access to it all!
Read more

RBKC: much is closed, but parks remain open (updated 04/04/2020)

Following the government's increasingly stricter Covid-19 rules, the council has now stopped almost all its activities, although parks continue to remain open for now, as do food stalls at the Portobello Road and Golborne Road markets and the three farmers markets.
Read more

No Kensington Magazine in the letterbox this month – but it’s available online

The April 2020 edition of the Kensington Magazine will not be distributed to the households, due to Covid-19 production problems, but it can be read online, containing important local Covid-19 related news.
Read more

The new rules: These shops may remain open

On Monday 24 March, new and stricter rules were imposed on individuals as well as shops, churches, councils and businesses. Basically, everyone who can should stay at home and not go out except to buy food, and most shops and other businesses must keep their premises closed. But there are many exceptions, and some of them can be surprising.
Read more