After rises in Council Tax and the controversial premium on second homes, the man or woman on the King’s Road omnibus might have expected the Conservatives to face serious political headwinds. Not so.

As the final declaration came in — and with 34 out of 50 seats safely in the bag — a smiling Conservative leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell told The Citizen: “I’m really thrilled and excited. I think we knocked it out of the park.”

Council leader Elizabeth Campbell’s victory speech after last night’s result ©RBKC

The Conservatives romped home across the Chelsea heartlands. Courtfield, Brompton & Hans Town, Stanley, Royal Hospital, Redcliffe and Chelsea Riverside now sit firmly behind a solid blue wall with a combined total of 18 Tory councillors. But that was not the whole story of the night.

Labour also chalked up significant gains, boosting their representation from seven seats to 13 in what remains a traditionally Conservative-run borough.

“Tell south Chelsea – Labour is coming”

Party leader and former Somali refugee Kassim Ali comfortably won his seat in Notting Dale, giving Labour all three councillors in the ward. The party also enjoyed strong performances in Colville — snatching one seat from the Conservatives while holding two others — and gained two seats in Dalgarno and Golborne.

Asked what lay behind Labour’s success, bucking the wider national trend, Cllr Ali told The Citizen: “We listen. That’s what we do,” he said. ” I’m proud of our progress.”

And he had this warning shot for the south of the borough, where Labour has yet to make major inroads: “We will go from the north, to the centre and to the south. Wards like Chelsea Riverside: tell them we are coming!”

The only bright spot for the Liberal Democrats came in Earl’s Court, where the party secured a three-seat victory including a return for campaigning LibDem firebrand Linda Wade.

There was also a noticeable surge in Green Party support in the north of the borough, although RBKC’s only Green councillor, veteran campaigner Mona Adam, narrowly lost her seat in Golborne.

And unlike the national picture, it was back to the drawing board for Reform UK in Kensington and Chelsea.

Chief Executive and Returning Officer Maxine Holdsworth

Despite noisy rallies, glamorous candidates and bold predictions, the electorate largely gave Nigel Farage’s party the thumbs down. Royal Hospital proved the only flicker of encouragement for Reform — but even there the party’s main candidate managed just 429 votes.

The count began shortly after 10pm in Kensington Town Hall’s Great Hall, where studious tellers sat at blue baize tables through the night carefully sorting and counting a mountain of 35,000 ballot papers.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as anxious candidates and agents hovered over the counting tables, watching bundles of votes being stacked with all the intensity of punters gathered round a Las Vegas craps table.

Turnout reached 37.3 per cent — more than four points higher than in 2022, though still roughly average for a London borough election.

Excitement surged shortly after 4am when RBKC Chief Executive and Returning Officer Maxine Holdsworth called candidates in Pembridge into a tight huddle on the stage. Minutes later the official, in a relaxed-fit, pearl grey suit over a black top, confirmed the Conservatives had held both seats there — setting the tone for the rest of the night.

Exhausted council staff were still at work after 8am after talk of a possible recount in St Helen’s ward.

After a bruising all-night session, bright as a button Cllr Campbell was asked what her priorities would be for the next four years.

“Get the basics right,” she said. “Do what people want, don’t talk about what’s happening in the international world.

“Pick up bins twice a week, have a borough wide parking permit.

“Make our residents’ life easier when they want to contact the Council, do things with the Council, and make sure that we enhance our heritage, our beautiful parks, our wonderful spaces, and keep the streets spotless and pothole free.”

The Cookson Reports

The Party secured 34 out of 50 seats in an election that brought 35,344 votes, with a 37.3% turnout.

The newly formed council is: 34 Conservative – 7 Labour and Co-operative – 6 Labour – 3 Lib Dems. Below is the full breakdown of councillors elected.

Full coverage, with analysis and reaction, will be published soonish.

Grid courtesy of RBKC’s (long suffering, up ’til beyond dawn) Press Office

First, councillors refused gambling operator Silvertime’s application to open a 40-machine slot and bingo venue, plus two flats on upper floors, opposite Earl’s Court Underground station. The decision followed this week’s protest on Earl’s Court Road attended by residents and campaigners, including Bianca Jagger and MP Joe Powell.

Objectors argued the proposal — to convert the disused Lloyd’s bank — would draw vulnerable people into an area already under pressure, citing nearby schools, rehab’ facilities and existing crime concerns.

The Planning Applications committee meeting at the Town Hall ©RM/TCC

Councillors were blunt in their assessment. Cllr Hamish Adourian (Con/Earls Court) described the scheme as an “appalling application” and said the local view was “absolutely clear – the answer is NO”.

Cllr Linda Wade (LibDem/Earls Court) said it would “fail to support high street vitality and undermine the development of new businesses,” warning it risked creating a concentration of gambling premises within a short stretch of the Earl’s Court Village Conservation Area.

Cllr Gerard Hargreaves (Con/Riverside) added: “This is not just about planning, anti-social behaviour, the size of the shop front, gambling, it’s about all those things together meaning this development is not fit for this area. It has the whole package of issues.”

Residents reinforced those concerns. Francesco Zibellini, chair of the Earl’s Court Society, accused the company of targeting “young and vulnerable individuals” by relocating to a larger site.

For Silvertime, Andrew Woods, argued the new venue would create jobs and that customers would “get the benefit” of an improved facility — notably the restoration of the exterior of the Lloyd’s building. His remarks prompted ripples of laughter from the public gallery.

Earl’s Court residents cheered when Silvertime’s application was dismissed ©RM/TCC

When planning chair Cllr James Husband confirmed the refusal in line with officers’ recommendations, the gallery – a crowd of around 40 – at the rear of the council chamber broke into loud and sustained applause and cheers.

Asked afterwards whether Silvertime would appeal, Mr Woods declined to comment, but assured The Citizen that he would inform us if the company decided to appeal the decision.

Earlier in the week, Council leader Elizabeth Campbell (Con/Royal Hospital) had pledged to protestors that RBKC would be prepared to defend any legal appeal “100%” – despite wider financial pressures currently facing the Council.

The committee then turned to a very different — but long-running — case in Ifield Road, SW10.

Residents there have spent years complaining about the condition of a property owned by former Conservative councillor Nicholas Halbritter. Among the issues cited were extensive Japanese knotweed growth exceeding 12 feet, vermin, persistent water leaks, and foxes occupying parts of the building.

Ifield Road residents Nik Hoexter and Christine Hastings after the committee’s ruling ©RM/TCC

Frustration was directed not only at the owner but at the council’s handling of the case. Neighbour Nik Hoexter – flanked by another despairing resident, Christine Hastings – told councillors: “The man’s a menace.”

He added: “We have spent so long trying to get action. During tortuous complaints we have even had to go to the Information Commissioner to get the damning evidence used in court.”

Planning chair Cllr Husband acknowledged what he termed “masterful inactivity” on behalf of the Council and indicated that further enforcement action was now warranted.

Council officer Julia Drzewicka confirmed a new Section 215 notice could be served. If ignored, the council would have the power to step in and carry out the works itself. Mr Hoexter, however, criticised the officer’s report as “disgraceful and directly dishonest”.

The committee voted unanimously to issue a new Section 215 Notice, which means Mr Halbritter will be duty bound to complete works to restore his house to reasonable order. However, a similar notice was issued in 2016 – followed by court action – but he ignored all enforcement efforts.

Following the hearing, Mr Hoexter accepted that the residents were back where they were in 2016 and added: “We’re not optimistic that anything will be different this time. Unless the Council is prepared to use real powers rather than notional ones, he won’t give a damn.”

Local MP Ben Coleman, who attended the hearing to support the Ifield Road residents, also urged decisive action: “The only thing that I think will be satisfactory is if the Council then goes further if he (Halbritter) refuses to take action – and goes in there and clears it up. I am going to stick with the residents through this. Thick and thin.”

Both decisions mark significant moments for residents — but, as several residents made clear, the real test will be what happens next. What happens if Silvertime appeals? And what next for Ifield Road if Mr Halbritter fails to comply with the 215 Notice – again?

The Citizen will be covering these two stories, every step of the way.

The cash-strapped authority is wielding the axe as it grapples with a staggering £108 MILLION budget black hole, insisting the cuts are needed to keep essential services afloat.

But unions say the move will hit hundreds of already stretched staff hard. Around 800 employees currently receive a travel allowance covering TfL Zones 1–2 — a benefit that’s now heading for the scrapheap. 

UNISON London regional organiser Nathan Burns blasted the decision, telling The Citizen: “The travel allowance scheme has been in place for over 30 years. It’s unacceptable for the council to strip it away without any consultation.”

He added: “The majority of staff have no choice but to live outside the borough due to high housing costs. The council must re-think this decision before it makes it even harder to recruit and retain the workforce it depends on.”

At least 65 angry workers descended on the Town Hall at lunchtime, waving flags, brandishing banners and making themselves heard to Council chiefs with whistles and chants.

One female demonstrator, who asked not to be named, said: “What the Council is doing is horrendous. I’m so upset to be losing almost £2,OOO a year. I’ll have to make cuts to my heating, food – everything”

Echoing the thoughts of many, a male colleague fumed: “We worked hard and loyally during Covid,” he said. “And this is how they treat us. It’s disgusting.”

Protesters handed in a 500-signature petition — and union chiefs are now warning strike action could be next if Town Hall bosses refuse to back down.

But for now the council is standing firm. A spokesperson told The Citizen: “Kensington and Chelsea is facing severe financial pressures, with £108 million of savings required over the next four years because of government funding cuts. As a result, we are reviewing all discretionary spending to protect essential services for residents and reduce the risk of more severe measures in the future.”

He added: “The decision to withdraw the discretionary Zone 1-2 travel allowance, which costs around £1 million each year, was not taken lightly. We recognise the impact it will have on some colleagues, but it is not a common benefit at any other London local authority and staff will continue to be fully reimbursed for all work-related travel.”

Battle lines are now drawn — and the threat of strikes is looming.

Since The Citizen aired the serious unease felt amongst residents in a story last month, the housing association charity has pledged to fast-track a solution — but has admitted that the problems are so extensive that it will take at least a year to solve.

Families have already endured four long years of relentless noisy works and have been trapped behind scaffolding and netting that has cast their homes into daytime darkness.

Peabody has finally conceded the works have taken “much longer than expected” and have promised a full-scale push, with contractors to be deployed inside and outside the building, as well as across multiple floors, at the same time to finish the job more quickly. But even that means the works will not be finished until “sometime in 2027”.

In a statement to The Citizen, Peabody said: “We’re very sorry that this has taken much longer than expected and for the impact this has had on residents. We know how difficult it is to live with this level of disruption, and we don’t underestimate how challenging it has been.

“This work is essential to make sure residents’ homes are safe and meet the latest standards. When we removed the cladding, we uncovered additional issues within the building. This has happened across the sector, as some problems only become visible once work begins. Where this happens, we make sure everything is fully put right so homes are safe.

“We’re continuing to stay in close contact with residents and will share clearer timescales as soon as we can. We’re focused on finishing this as quickly as possible, while making sure it is done properly and to the highest safety standards, and continuing to support residents throughout.”

The state of Kingsgate House on the King’s Road as photographed last Friday ©TCC

Sadly for residents, this statement echoes a familiar refrain. “Too little, too late,” is the verdict from inside the block.

Originally launched in 2020 to strip out dangerous cladding in the wake of Grenfell Tower fire, the repair project has spiralled into a catalogue of defects.

Kingsgate House is a mix of shared ownership and social rent flats that was built in 2014 as part of a Section 106 “trade off” for the construction of a luxury block of flats overlooking Kensington Park Gardens. It was supposed to be a modern success story, but once the cladding came off, a Pandora’s box of problems emerged.

Peabody admits the works uncovered serious hidden defects, including rainwater damage to the timber frame — forcing a complete rebuild of the top two floors and even the re-housing of residents to other rental accommodation. Other issues at Kingsgate House include: faulty, untreated wooden balconies, leaks through windows and bathrooms, persistent heating and hot water failures, and – arguably, worst of all – a lift outage of seven months, leaving wheelchair users trapped in their homes. 

Residents point the finger squarely at poor original construction — and question how the building ever passed inspection. “I used to be proud to live here,” said one. “Now it’s in a sorry state — and it’s not clear if it will ever be put right.”

There’s one bright note amid the gloom: Peabody says insurance premiums won’t rise further because of the works — and has pledged refunds for excess communal electricity charges. Peabody also insists fire safety checks have been completed and that homes are safe. That will come as cold comfort to residents battered by disruption — and soaring bills.

To add to their misery service charges have nearly doubled in four years, rocketing from £222 to £418 per month, driven largely by unexplained hikes in insurance and electricity costs. Then there’s the mystery of the building’s distinctive solar power panels that were once lauded as a great innovation and an environmentally friendly design. Residents claim that they have never seen a penny’s worth of energy from these “photovoltaic panels”. 

Peabody has admitted to The Citizen that the panels do not currently work and promises they will be fixed when the project ends. Notably, Peabody would not confirm the net energy value deemed from the panels since they were installed – or indeed if they have ever worked.

In the meantime, life goes on in limbo. “It’s like living on a building site,” said one resident. “The noise, the mess, the disturbance, the lack of security… the uncertainty.” Another added: “We can’t open windows properly or use our balconies. We live in darkness.”

Patience is running out. “They pretend to care,” said one furious tenant. “We are exhausted. It’s a never-ending nightmare.”

Angry families are now forming a residents’ association to demand answers— including clear schedules, proper communication, quarterly meetings and fully itemised service charges.

The Chelsea Citizen today pledges to stay on this story — until the last scaffolding pole comes down and the energy flows from those fancy solar panels.

Last night Town Hall chiefs voted to escalate council tax on second homes across Kensington and Chelsea as part of the new budget for 2026-27 – with the new charges taking affect from 1st April.

There are nearly 8,000 properties classed as second homes in the Royal Borough — defined as furnished homes that are not someone’s sole or main residence. That represents around 8.8 per cent of all housing stock, nearly one in every eleven homes.

For a standard Band D property, the current total council tax bill – including the Mayor of London’s precept – is roughly £1,643 per year. If that property is classed as a second home, the bill will jump to around £3,286. 

Owners of larger Chelsea homes — common in grand stucco terraces and mansion blocks — could see annual bills surge to as much as £5,000. That is before any additional garden square levies are taken into account.

The premium will apply to pieds-à-terre, overseas-owned investment flats and “buy-to-leave” properties that are furnished, but not used as a main residence. It will not apply to full-time resident homeowners or properties that are properly let to tenants.

Supporters of the policy insist the premium will encourage owners to rent out vacant homes, bring properties back into use and ensure part-time residents contribute more to local services. During the council’s consultation, 60 per cent of respondents backed the move.

With adult social care costs rising sharply and government funding constrained, the council faces mounting financial pressures.

Town Hall treasury boffins estimate the measure could raise around £12 million a year in additional revenue, but a modest sum set against the borough’s looming £108 million funding gap over the next four years. 

Doubling council tax on second homes is politically easier than imposing steep increases on permanent residents. Whether it will truly revive Chelsea’s quieter streets — or simply become another manageable expense for the global wealthy — remains to be seen.

One thing, however, is clear. Leaving the lights off in Chelsea will come at twice the price.

Proceedings were opened by the funereal-suited Tory head girl, Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, who invoked “exceptionally challenging times” — that catch-all incantation meaning Whitehall has been at the biscuit tin and left crumbs. A £108 million black hole, no less.

Yet fear not. The Conservative administration had, we were assured, balanced the books “through careful planning and efficiencies,” she said, gently worrying a weighty gold necklace that looked capable of underwriting a small capital programme of its own.

Even better, they had unearthed a spare £5 million-plus — apparently discovered down the back of a metaphorical Town Hall sofa — to fund extra street cleaning and spruce up Portobello Road. One antiques dealer, glimpsed on local television, had already denounced this as municipal frippery. Hell hath no fury like a bric-a-brac merchant scorned.

Enter Labour leader Cllr Kasim Ali, genial of smile, marathoner of limb, and machine-gunner of syntax. He accused the Conservatives of peddling “fools gold.”

“Shiny and convincing, but of no substance,” he growled, in tones suggesting the alchemists of Hornton Street had been at it again.

Finance lead Cllr Cem Kemahli rose to salute council officer Mike Curtis and his two-kilogramme, 406-page budget dossier — a document of such arboreal heft one feared for Scandinavia’s forestry reserves.

Sir Keir Starmer, he suggested, had picked RBKC’s pockets. The designer stubble quivered, and the swept-back locks flopped, as he admitted he would “normally pull a rabbit from a hat… but I have no hat and no rabbit.”

“Only the truth,” he concluded, with the slightly crestfallen air of a conjuror whose dove has refused to co-operate.

World-weary Mayor Cllr Tom Bennett, high on the dais beneath the chiselled ornamental stone chamber backdrop, wore the expression of a prep school housemaster taking double Latin. He urged speakers, in bored, robotic tones, to confine themselves to three minutes. The plea had roughly the impact of a paper fan in a gale. 

Labour’s Cllr Claire Simmons accused the Tories of playing politics “on the backs of the most vulnerable,” prompting approving murmurs from the red benches.

Conservative Cllr David Lindsay embarked on an excursion to the 18th century, citing a Scottish philosopher and “loose fiscal policy,” before being gently but firmly recalled to the present by the Mayor, who indicated that time — like the council’s reserves — had run out.

Labour’s Cllr Emma Dent Coad proposed selling off museums Leighton House and 18 Stafford Terrace. By this stage members were beginning to slip out for water, a pee, a reflection, or all three.

Cllr Portia Thaxter (Labour) rose with a practical inquiry: “How many minutes do I have?” Three, came the mayoral reply, preferably.

Tory Cllr Emma Will promised, “I’ll try and be brief.” Audible gratitude fluttered round the chamber. She then railed against the use of “canards” before reaching for one on the dustiest part of the shelf when it comes to Tories attacking the Left. 

“The trouble with socialism” she said, “is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” Rich, coming from the lead member who has spent months forcing through punishing rent review hikes on small business owners on the King’s Road, citing the lack of handouts from Government and Grenfell for the steep rises in fees.

Twenty speeches in, eyelids drooped and bums numbed.

Former mayor and Chelsea stalwart Cllr Gerard Hargreaves announced this was his 16th budget debate — and his last. A valedictory murmur drifted across the Conservative ranks.

And then, as swiftly as it had begun, it ended.

The Council Tax rise — just shy of five per cent — passed by 31 votes to 10, with three abstentions.

Residents may console themselves that, even so, Kensington and Chelsea’s levy remains among the lowest in the land.

As for 2028/29 — sharpen your pencils.

“Mr. Mayor – Thank you…

I stand today to present one of the most difficult but most important budgets this council will ever debate. A budget set against the context of a Labour government’s vindicative and shambolic “Fair Funding Review” – a review which leaves RBKC and its residents £108m worse off, through no fault of their own.

We had our house in order, Mr. Mayor. We set balanced budgets and maintained taxes in the bottom 10% of the country. Our services are some of the very best in the country, leading the way in children’s services, adults’ services, parks, public realm – to name just a few. 

We were an example of what Local Government could achieve – fantastic services, locally focused, all whilst keeping taxes low. 

Mr Mayor, you’d think that Labour might want to learn from us; copy us; help other communities deliver services better. But no…

They followed the first rule of socialism – punish success, reward failure. So, the weak-willed, innumerate Ministers in Number 10 decided the only way to bribe their colleagues around the country was by picking the pocket of inner London. 

London – the very heart of the British economy, the city of growth and new development, the city of tourism, investment and opportunity. This was the place they went to asset strip when their socialist ideals failed to generate any new revenue.

We often joke in this chamber that the Labour group ought to get on the bus with us. But, Mr. Mayor, this Labour Government has thrown us, Westminster, LBHF, Wandsworth and The City under that very bus.

We are not alone in this struggle, but we are, Mr. Mayor, the only Council willing to stand up to this bully of a government and shine a light on their underhanded manoeuvring. Let no one leave this chamber tonight not be crystal clear that this was a deliberate attempt by their party to bankrupt this authority.

Mr Mayor  – it pains them no end that they are unable to win this chamber through democracy – instead they wish to eradicate it through centralisation and collectivism.

 It pains them that their ideas about how to govern – higher taxes, more welfare, larger state – have failed so completely. It humiliates them that here in Kensington and Cheslea, we have shown that by keeping money in people’s pocket, delivering outstanding services, and helping residents help themselves, we can succeed. 

The council chamber during the full meeting on 25th February

Mr Mayor  – The successes of K&C highlights the failures of Labour and the Government just cannot let that stand. 

Fortunately, it seems some members sitting opposite have grown wise to the Labour party and have rightly jumped ship. Albeit they’ve seemingly jumped from the Titanic to the Costa Concordia.

Mr. Mayor, whilst the context of tonight’s budget is a difficult one, we Conservatives, do what we always must, and that is to clear up Labour’s mess, and not just because we fully fund twice-weekly bin collections, but because we know that sound money and efficient systems are the best way to deliver outstanding services to our residents at the lowest price. 

Our record is clear: The most Efficient council. This is not us saying it – this is others looking in and recognising that this borough is well run.

But meet this new challenge we must – so here tonight we are putting a raft of savings forward which help us meet this budgetary environment. We are raising taxes by only what is necessary and, unlike Wandsworth and Westminster we are being honest with our residents and not raiding the reserves for a fleeting moment’s PR. We know our reserves are there to provide dividends for our residents – they are not politicians’ playthings.

We are also deleting posts and roles as we seek to build a leaner and more efficient council. And whilst debilitating for a time, the recent criminal cyber-attack on West London councils has shown the potential for rapid transformative change in digital services. We will embrace this digital future and will look to leapfrog other authorities as we move to a digital first approach – whilst maintaining actual human contact for those that require it.

It is not all doom and gloom though, Mr. Mayor – we are opening a new park in Chelsea Riverside ward, we are investing in additional street cleansing and maintenance, and we are investing further in our housing stock and safe TA provision. Whilst also putting money aside to support our older residents.

Mr. Mayor – it is at this point in the night that a Finance lead member would ordinarily pull a rabbit out from their hat – and believe me I looked.

But Mr. Mayor, I have no hat, I have no rabbit. I just have the truth – and I can honestly say that tonight is the first budget in a journey that will see RBKC become finally free of government grants.

A truly sovereign borough – and what could be more fitting for a Royal Borough than actually being Sovereign.

Mr. Mayor – I put this budget forward to this chamber tonight.”

The proposals form part of wider ambitions to reopen this stretch of the River Thames to residents and visitors for the first time in more than a century. The council has released some architect’s impressions as to what the new jetty might look like.

Members agreed to advance plans to demolish the rotten and broken existing structure and replace it with a new jetty of the same size. The current pier is not safe for public use and restoring it is prohibitively expensive.

Photo: RBKC

When delivered, the new jetty would create a riverside public space alongside the new park behind the Water Pumping Station and connect directly to a new river walkway.

The walkway would extend the Thames Path between Cremorne Gardens and into the new Lots Road Park and onto Chelsea Waterfront, then Chelsea Harbour. The path would then be clear all the way to Wandsworth Bridge.

Both schemes will require planning permission and other statutory approvals before work can begin. RBKC is not releasing estimated costs for the jetty project, but officers have assured The Citizen that the money is in place from a fee paid by Tideway for installing its super sewer access point at this location. That money is “ring-fenced” to be spent on the Lots Road park and associated works.

Photo: RBKC

Several options for the walkway are under consideration, including a route along the eastern riverside and a raised structure over the riverbed. Further design work and public consultation will help determine the final plans.

The linked Lots Road open space would be the first new Council-owned park created since Westfield Park in the early 1980s. The space will feature planting, seating, a drinking fountain and ornamental entrance gates on Lots Road.

Councillor Emma Will, lead member for property, parks and leisure services, has been spear-heading the project. She said: “These plans would reconnect people with the river. Rebuilding the jetty and creating a new riverside walkway will open up a part of the Thames that has been closed off for decades. Linked with the new Lots Road open space, it will create a unique and wonderful place for the whole community to enjoy.”

The Council says the proposals would support health and wellbeing, enhance biodiversity, improve air quality and draw more people into the area.

Further design work will now be carried out, with residents set to be consulted before any construction takes place.

Exclusive location photos of the jetty by Yours Truly, Rob McGibbon

Transport for London has approved a sweeping, multi-million pound redevelopment for South Kensington Station, clearing the way for lifts, rebuilt platforms and a revamped concourse at the heart of the capital’s museum quarter.

TfL says the project will finally drag the Victorian-era station into the 21st century, delivering long-promised step-free access and modern facilities for millions of passengers.

But when The Citizen asked residents using the station what they thought, the verdict was swift — and savage.

“Anything that draws more visitors is very bad,” said Rita Charlton, 61, who lives nearby. “It’s already chaos at the weekends. This will just make it worse.”

The plans had been warmly welcomed by senior politicians, with council leaders hailing the move as a long-overdue breakthrough.

Royal Borough Tory leader Cllr. Elizabeth Campbell said: “Making South Kensington Station step-free has been a key priority of mine since I became Leader. I am delighted to say that it’s one step closer to becoming a reality.

“This will mean a revamped station concourse and step-free access to all lines. South Kensington is an internationally important station and this Council is creating something that matches that status.”

And Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater Joe Powell also lined up behind the scheme, pointing to hard numbers. “South Kensington is London’s 13th-busiest station, with around 30 million passengers a year,” he said. “TfL estimates another 500,000 journeys are lost annually because it isn’t step-free.

“This isn’t just a local issue — upgrading the station benefits the whole country.”

Despite the political fanfare, residents told a different story.

In The Citizen’s (less-than scientific) poll of ten locals in the station concourse, not one backed the scheme.

“You won’t find anyone around here who thinks it’s a good idea,” said Chris Finnegan, 32, a City worker who lives in Thurloe Place. “The station is already overcrowded. We don’t want even more people funnelled through it.”

TfL insists the station’s historic character will be protected and that all work will follow strict planning rules.

But angry Marsden Hospital patient Margaret Huff, 52, added: “Oh what a shame. We should be preserving our old stations — not ripping them apart.”

At the heart of the project are new lifts from street to platform, refurbished tunnels, brighter lighting, clearer signage and upgraded safety systems. Engineers will also tackle infrastructure that dates back more than 150 years.

Above ground, TfL has also approved changes that could include new retail or commercial units — helping pay for the works, but fuelling fears of over-development.

No start date has been confirmed, but once contracts are signed passengers are warned to expect years of phased disruption, with the station kept open when possible.

For TfL, the message is clear: South Kensington Station will get its makeover — whether locals like it or not.

And for the millions who battle the stairs every year, however, it can’t come soon enough.