With Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello Market a police presence there is a 'No Brainer'
Dear All,
Work has begun on trying to retain a police presence in North Kensington.
As you might be aware Royalty Studios is due to close and consultation begins in June and Notting Hill Station is earmarked for sale.
Despite a number of attempts MOPAC has failed to engage with police or local groups on this.
We suspect this is a delaying tactic until after the Mayoral elections and they have said consultations will start in June.
Sadly, we have the experience of NH police station 'consultation' clear in our memories and how that was not in any way a 'consultation we, therefore, feel we need to take action sooner rather than later on this.
Today, two petitions are live.
One has been started by Felicity Buchan MP and the other a core working group.
We want to keep Party Politics out of this, the main point is the need for a police presence in North Kensington.
As an interested party, please sign either of the petitions if you want to maintain a police presence in North Kensington. And, please send this to whoever might have an interest in signing it.
There are several opportunities for a mini-police station in empty retail premises on or near Portobello Road.
ReplyDeleteOne belongs to RBKC. It was bought - doubtless at the top of the market - in order to acquire the residential spaces above.
They were apparently meant for some of the survivors of the Grenfell tragedy. Unfortunately the survivors declined to live in them. So both the shops and flats remain empty. The property is a group of 3 units, currently being refurbished. It's high time all the spaces were occupied.
A short distance away are two other single units, also owned by RKBC. A couple of years ago the Council let them as 2 competing Vape shops, about 50m from each other. Unsurprisingly, both closed some time before Covid. Either would be perfect for a small community police centre at the heart of the community. Similarly small premises elsewhere can surely be used for the public benefit.
In fact, what you are suggesting 16:48 is not dissimilar to the police kiosks you find in Tokyo. It really does work knowing that there is a neighbourhood presence
ReplyDeleteBut isn't that exactly what Royalty Studios are?
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor is seeking to sell off the Royalty Studios, leaving vast swathes of north Kensington without a police presence. It's demented. George Osborne cut police numbers by 20,000. Then Boris Johnson recruited 20,000 new officers. Now Mayor Khan intends to sell of the few remaining police stations. These people are well paid to mess up! A strong police presence is surely vital everywhere now, if only to protect children from killing each other.
ReplyDelete