THE GAZETTE HITS OUT AT LAND GRABBING COUNCIL

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Local children suffer so international property developers can make hundreds of millions......

THE DAME GETS A RAP OVER THE KNUCKLES

NO PLACE FOR POOTER!

The Dame never takes herself so seriously that she cannot reproduce unkind letters attacking her.
Though she was somewhat surprised when this rude email popped through her gold plated de luxe email box.

Dear Dame or Whoever you might be,

I hope you are thoroughly pleased with yourself.

Sources close to the Cabinet Office tell me though Sir Merrick's name was nominated, adverse publicity generated by the likes of envious types like you, forced its excision.

You must be delighted your mischief making has been so successful and so damaged this 'servant of the people'.

Your ruthless attacks rested solely on the fact that, occasionally, Sir Merrick used the Bentley and the utter lie that he forced its purchase so that he might use it. 

One agrees that his overseas travel did involve him travelling First Class, and equally, that he stayed in Business Class hotels. However, this should be set against the fact that when Sir Merrick travelled to foreign parts he was performing an ambassadorial role. 
As for his annual income from allowances....£135,000 is hardly a great income these days.

It is right and proper that someone of his importance and stature be treated with respect.

So now, thanks to your vicious and ruthless campaign we have lost the services of Sir Merrick in the House of Lords.

One hopes you are very proud.

I no longer read your blog.

Yours faithfully

Roger Fullerton-Blythe

EARLS COURT POST OFFICE CLOSURE: PUBLIC MEETING

Public meeting to discuss Post Office proposals to close Earls Court branch.

Tuesday 8 September, 7pm to 9pm. St Cuthbert’s Church, 50 Philbeach Gardens, SW5 9EB.

Come along and have your say http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/postoffice

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ODEON KENSINGTON AND THE GREED OF OUR TIMES

If you thought the Art Deco Odeon cinema in High Street Ken was safe you have been seriously misled.

Though 25,000 people have signed the PETITION to save the cinema the demolition will go ahead.

In just a few weeks time, whilst most of us are away on holiday, the bulldozers will move in on yet another much loved piece of Kensington.

The irony of all this is that Ritblat pere, whose son is behind the destruction, claims to be a lover and collector of antiquarian books!

To consolidate the image of the archetypical country squire Sir John also claims to be a bee keeper!
An architect said,"Their proposal It is a generic form of non-architecture taking reference from the recent soulless developments to the west end of Kensington High Street instead of the stylish deco edifices ( Barkers/ Derry and Toms ) to the East End."

Those in the know say that the council and planning officers bend over backwards to do the will of the Ritblats.

It also seems the fairly useless English Heritage are not innocent: it failed to intervene, despite knowing that under the modern shop fittings is hidden the cream of Art Deco architecture.

The Dame has been provided with images proving the point beyond any dispute.

Another long term resident had this to say....

"The essential character of Kensington High Street is being eroded with more and more residential blocks – often bought for investment by investors and unoccupied.

Minerva have been responsible for under investing in a handsome property in order to win an argument for a mediocre

Development."

FILMMAKER SAYS NO TO CROSSRAIL 2 FOR CHELSEA

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Some unpleasant people are odiously comparing the Dame's work with that of her friend, Geoff Baker.
Very cruel...the Dame has never pretended to be a hack and sometimes it does show.
Well done, Geoff, you are building up a great following.

BBC TO FEATURE KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Over the last few years Knighsbridge has been under siege....


At all hours of the day and night supercars race around its streets and squares, causing noise and mayhem.

Brompton Road and Beauchamp Place....once elegant and refined, are now like the worst parts of Edgware Road, with a proliferation of kebab houses and cafe's full of  shisha pipe smoking tourists.

Brompton Rd

The whole area, replete with beggars, has slid down hill. 
The Dame has been approached by the BBC. 
Their plan is to take an in-depth look at the area for BBC Inside Out London. 


The focus is not just on the supercar menace, but generalised anti social behaviour.
The producer, George Henton would very much like to hear from residents.
Serious and sensible programmes such as these help motivate the council and the police.

If you have a view George would like to hear from you. He can be contacted by email:George.Henton@bbc.co.uk

COUNCIL DOES DEAL WITH MYSTERIOUS FOREIGN INVESTORS.......

The Council ought to buy its own demolition company: after all, it takes a perverse pleasure in allowing all that is good and interesting in the Borough to be pulverised and replaced with luxury apartments for the international super-rich.





Lancer Square is a fine example of friendly, human scale '60's architecture.
Residents and visitors love it. Sadly, it is to be no longer.

A mysterious overseas investor has acquired the Square and now plans to smash it to the ground. He will replace it with more high density luxury flats for foreigners whose money has lost the stench of its dodgy origins.

COUNCIL OFFICER RECOMMENDS TREES BE CHAINSAWED AND NOT REPLACED

Cromwell Road is so badly polluted it dangerously exceeds EU and WHO air quality limits. Yet we all know trees are the 'urban lungs' which help reduce pollution.

UNDER THREAT

The Evening Standard has just reported on the sale of a delightful public right of way in S. Kensington for £200,000.
This charming little lane runs between two rows of houses and is home to three fine specimens of ash, bay and rohinia trees.
They may not be the most perfect of specimens, of the sort found in Kew Gardens, but they give huge pleasure to residents, as well as cleaning up the air.
The Dame doesn't tend to name and shame a mid ranking officer, but she is very cross with this particular tree officer. He claims....

 "The trees are protected due to their location in a designated Conservation area rather than by Tree Preservation Order which would give the Council the opportunity to refuse the works as you have requested."

but goes on to say though not diseased the Council has no objection to the chainsaw being taken to them. 
No one mention of it being Council policy( and that of most responsible landowners) to replace trees chainsawed down. 
Come on, Mr Burton....you are meant to be protecting and enhancing the treescape! 
You should have strongly recommended replacement and additional planting.
We tell our children to value our environment and the importance of trees and then-so some car obsessed maniac can park his car-recommend these three precious trees be sacrificed. 

Please read about it here and make your comments to the Council. TREE MURDER

TIME FOR MR HOLGATE TO BE 'PUT TO THE QUESTION'.....

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The Dame is heartily fed up with residents complaining "the Council never listens to us".
They forget they 'own' the Council. 
If they don't like it riding roughshod over them they have an opportunity, every few years, to do something about it.
So, stop whining and do what Jane Solomon has done...FIGHT BACK!





Jane, with precious few resources, discovered Nicholas Holgate, the K&C Town Clerk, has, in a letter to the admirable Greg Hands,made blatantly incorrect statements. 

The Dame will wash
out Mr Holgate's mouth with soapy water!

If there was any point Holgate should be reported to the Local Government Ombudsman.

In fighting to save the wonderful Victorian Marlborough Primary School Jane has had nil support from councillors and even less from residents associations. 
The Chelsea Society, which should have led from the front on this has, as usual, been dormouse like.
But then, with so much vested property interests involved in its management that's no surprise.

In this INTERVIEW  Jane, with great verve, determination and skill, lays into those on the Council who have lied through their back teeth. 

It's about time the Council was forced to help fund campaigns such as these. 
The Marlborough School campaigners are fighting with their hands tied behind their backs.

Do watch the INTERVIEW :it's an object lesson in a  resident facing down a dishonest council.

RESIDENTS CALL FOR JOHN LEWIS BOYCOTT OVER MARLBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL

It seems like all those loyal Peter Jones/John Lewis shoppers are feeling very angry with the bunch at 'Never knowingly Undersold'.
They certainly didn't undersell The Clearings when faced with the prospect of a vast profit and the chance to slip away into the night, leaving a parcel of trouble with the street trader, Mike Ashley.
What a bunch of two faced hypocrites!

These leaflets seem to be circulating in the area...

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MARLBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL....DfE TAKE CANE TO COUNCIL

It looks as if the Council are looking for 'wriggle room' after a berating by the Secretary of State for Education for failure to conform to basic rules over consultation with residents.

The Dame's undercover agent tells her that the Department have made the following statement,"the Council have a duty to seek consent from the Secretary of State for disposal of school land".

ANGRY SEC OF STATE

 Her source goes on to say that the DfE suggest that the ball is in the Council's court and that a six week public consultation is mandatory, of which four weeks must be in term time-and within a year of application.

Nearby primary schools, such as St Joseph's and Holy Trinity, which may have inadequate play space, need to be consulted too.

All in all, this is a terrible mess and heads should roll...

PHYSIC GARDENS....UNDER THREAT

The Physic Gardens may no longer be that oasis of tranquility that drew so many to its delightful charms.
Neighbours who include Milord Salisbury and hedge fund magnate, Crispin Odey, will soon have to endure loud music, dancing and alcoholic laughter.
It seems the Gardens's management have been granted a late night boozing licence!

Facing ruin

In the glorious days of the Restoration nearby Ranelagh Gardens became the scenes of riotious behaviour: in fact, so bad was the behaviour of some of the Dame's ancestors that the Gardens were closed down and the drunken, whoring visitors banished.

Some of the Dame's ancestors

Let's hope that the Physic Gardens doesn't go down the path of Ranelagh Gardens

IS NICE MR HOLGATE IN TROUBLE? WE SHOULD BE TOLD......

The Dame senses a gathering storm over the Marlborough Primary School demolition debacle.

A Gathering Storm

It seems poor Mr Holgate, the charmingly ineffectual boss of K&C might have a bit of problem over various statements made regarding Marlborough Primary School.

Eye of the Storm

Holgate is a man of utter probity....let's hope he's not been misled over Marlborough Primary School.

The last thing one wants are matters being escalated to the Local Government Ombudsman.

 

WINGING IT-THE VR WINGS LTD WAY

There is a new scourge of K&C and London landlords....
Remember the name VR Wings: it will save you tens of thousands of pounds.

The owner of a small Chelsea flat was away for a couple of years. Foolishly, he asked Sotheby’s Reality to rent out the flat:they did; to Neasden based VR Wings
Yes, only an idiotic letting agent could assume a location agent would be based in a Neasden industrial unit, storing spices and other comestibles.

It should have set alarm bells jangling at Sotheby's Unreality!

VR WINGS  GRAND NEASDEN HQ!

The agreement named the occupants as a Jeddah couple-let’s call them the Al Fraudi's. 

On behalf of the Al Fraudi's, VR Wings paid 3 months rent up front.

Immediately, VR Wings started to break the sub-letting and noise disturbance clause in the agreement. 

It put the flat with booking.com and a Arab owned Edgware Rd agency, London Victoria Estates.

So, from March this year, the flat has been sub-let to global riff raff looking for a cheapish bed for the night...well £300 cash per night.

By now, noise and security issues are seriously affecting the building. Sometimes VR Wings stuffs 7/8 partying people into the flat....
So the freeholder’s solicitor tells the owner to terminate VR Wings’s tenancy and reminds the  leaseholder they are in breach of their lease as long as  VR Wings continues to sub-let and allow anti-social behaviour.

So, at a cost of thousands, eviction notices are served on VR Wings. 
VR Wings laughs it off.....saying “ we are going to continue to sublet and it will take you 6 months to get us out: the only people who will make money are the men in wigs”.

They are right... the legal system is so biased against the owner that unscrupulous and dishonest types can make fortunes. 
According to Douglas and Gordon (also hit) and other big name agents, this illegal activity is now rife, London wide.

How will it all play out?

So as not to prejudice the 6 month eviction process the landlord has to refuse to take further rent. 
VR Wings will continue to sub-let at £300 a night to dodgy people.
It will end up generating, in those 6 months, pure profit of close to £80,000.

By now the poor landlord/owner is getting bills of several thousand pounds from the ‘men in wigs’. In addition, the freeholder’s solicitor is serving notices on him and more legal bills of thousands roll in.

Relaxed about it all is VR Wings 
They knows our legal system grants total immunity so continue the game with equanimity.

The moral of the story is this...be very careful when you have dealings with likes of VR Wings and the Al Fraudi's. 
They will cost you a fortune and much misery.

It's time the government introduced a ultra fast track court system to deal with gaping hole in the Landlord and Tenant Act. 
It should take just a week to get a liar out, not the current 6 months.
Paula Felton of Feltons Solicitors, the highly regarded property specialist based in Knightsbridge, is calling for urgent changes to legislation to stop this abuse.

SAVE FINBOROUGH THEATRE....OBJECT NOW/ 2,400 PAGE VIEWS YESTERDAY....A RECORD!

DON'T LET THE DEVELOPERS
DESTROY IT!

If there was any doubt about the strength of feeling over the potential loss of Finborough Theatre the stats provided by the Dame's CIO should dispel them.
All too often we forget councillors and officers are our servants. 
To save our community we need to ensure they know our feelings.
If you have not already done so it's vital you click HERE
and make your voice heard by objecting.You have only today to do so.
Somehow, someone, managed to keep this away from the public eye....but nothing escapes the Dame!

The Hornet had a record number of page views on the subject as the stats from yesterday prove...

CLOSE DOWN HARRODS AND SAVE KNIGHTSBRIDGE

When the Dame was a young 'gal', excitedly attending various 'High Society' balls etc, Harrods was a place of elegance and refinement.

CHARMING "BENTLEY BOYS" LEAVING HARRODS

No longer...today, it pullulates with swarms of grubby, vulgar types more likely seen in the shopping malls of Dubai.

It's become a magnet for all that is so wrong with the London of today. 
Its malign and baleful influence has spread to neighbouring streets. 
Brompton Road and Beauchamp Place, with their stinking kebab outlets, become daily, more like Edgware Road.

Knightsbridge is no longer a civilised place and local councillors have watched its decline with complete insouciance.

This rather sums it up. 
Do click and see if you agree with the snobbish old Dame. CLICK

JUST TWO DAYS TO SAVE THE FINBOROUGH THEATRE

This Friday is the final opportunity for residents to save the Finborough Theatre.
For thirty five years the theatre has given huge pleasure, not just to residents, but to visitors from around the world.
It truly is something we can all be proud of. 
More than that, the theatre has given many young actors the chance to develop their skills and go on to greater things.

Sadly, its days may be numbered: another developer is threatening to destroy it.

This is what the Artistic Director, Neil McPherson has to say.....

Neil McPherson

Dear Local Resident,

The future of the multi award winning Finborough Theatre - a landmark of Earl's Court for the last 35 years - is under threat. 

As too is the successful new management of the Finborough Arms, one of the area's few remaining neighbourhood pubs.

The freeholder is seeking to develop flats directly above the theatre auditorium itself, changing their current use from residential bedrooms to a self contained flat including kitchen, bathroom and living area. 

The application in various forms has already been rejected by the Council on a number of occasions and by the Planning Inspectorate at Appeal.  Whilst the new application deals with noise issues to some extent, we remain profoundly concerned that the redevelopment will lead to such noise issues for us that it will be untenable to continue as a working theatre.  We are also concerned by the disruption that the building work may cause to running the theatre.  It’s quite likely that the application will be approved unless we act.

Please support us - and the future of one our area's cultural amenities - by objecting to the application here:

The deadline for objections is this Friday 14th August. 

Please click  HERE and object. 

After Friday no more objections can be taken.

With very many thanks for your support,

Neil McPherson

Artistic Director, Finborough Theatre

HOW MANY MORE SPEEDING ACCIDENTS DOES IT TAKE?

Why is it that whenever we are blessed with a first rate police leader they are taken from us?

GWILLIAM...CLASS ACT

Chief Superintendent Jason Gwilliam was a prime example....well liked and respected by residents and officers he is suddenly transferred to some admin job and then to Havering...this, despite the fact he is a Londoner born and bred and knows the 'patch'

This constant chopping and changing of leaders is bad for police morale and irritates residents.
Anyway, this latest example of total disregard for speed limits means it's TIME FOR THE BOROUGH COMMANDER, ELLIE O'CONNOR TO ACT

THE NEW BREED OF BENTLEY OWNER....

For several years the police have done nothing substantive about the plague of foreign visitors insolently treating our central London roads as racetracks. 
The Met seems to have turned a Nelsonian eye to the appalling behaviour of these anti social brats.

New Arrival!

But the tragic and pointless death of Council gardener, CHRIS JONES amply demonstrates what happens when police resources are diverted from the vital function of controlling speeding in Central London. 


There was a time when pedestrian crossings were sacrosanct: not now, drivers just ignore people crossing, just as they do speed limits.
Why does it take the death of a good man before correct actions are taken?
This tragedy should inspire the new Borough Commander to come down hard on speeding.
The Dame has incessantly asked her to tackle the problem but she seems to move slowly......

THE OLD DAME AS A PATRON OF CHELSEA ARTS

By Adebanji

Chelsea teems with artistic talent and has always done.
So odd its leadership is hellbent on demolishing our historic 'built' heritage....Sutton Dwellings....Malborough Primary School and the old Town Hall are all under threat or have gone.
The Dame, being somewhat of a patron of the arts-though not on the extravagant scale of Opera Holland Park, has decided to highlight local creative talent.

Capturing Chelsea

And none is more talented than the Dame's very good friend, the delightful and charismatic Adebanji Alade. 
Adebanji particularly excels at capturing the Chelsea we all treasure. 
He also runs a number of drawing classes.

Drawing Class

If you go to his WEBSITE  you will see for yourself the breadth and depth of his talent.
Adebanji has executed commissions for major Chelsea landlords and painted an exquisite rendering of King and Corbin's excellent Le Colbert.

The Dame recently commissioned him to paint her modest abode and was pleasantly surprised at how competitive the price was.

One or two agents are now considering using Adebanji to paint properties they have sold as gifts to the client.

You can contact Adebanji HERE or call him on 07958 790 517

SEC OF STATE FOR EDUCATION DEMANDS RBK&C CONSULT OVER DEMOLITION OF MARLBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL

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If this Council does not understand the rules regarding the disposal of school land someone should get the sack. But in local government, unlike hard nosed business, no one gets fired for screwing up. And, if they do, they get a massive pay off and early pension.

What the hell did the School Assets Team think they were doing trying to pull a fast one?

Thanks to the indefatigable Jane Solomon  and her team RBK&C have been rapped over the knuckles for failing to follow procedure and apply to the Department for Education for consent to sell off valuable  school assets to dodgy  international investors.

The Secretary of State for Education has insisted a public consultation take place  and expects the consultation period to be no less than 6 weeks, 4 of which should be in term time.”

 

This is the moment for everybody to get behind the campaign to save one of Chelsea’s landmarks.