Council & Community
Election Special: Blue is STILL the colour. Tories romp home
The Tory Party scored a resounding victory in the local elections yesterday to return as the leading power group. 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...
The Citizen’s BIG Five Questions to the Big Five Parties*
As voters prepare to go to the polls, The Chelsea Citizen’s JOHN COOKSON cuts through the campaign noise (and all those annoying, highly shreddable letterbox leaflets) to pose FIVE sharp, no-nonsense questions to representatives from the five main parties seeking...
Two major victories for campaigners at the Council’s Planning Applications committee
Applause and cheers rang out across Kensington Town Hall last night as residents welcomed two planning decisions — both the subject of sustained coverage by The Citizen. First, councillors refused gambling operator Silvertime’s application to open a 40-machine slot...
Workers demand Council does not scrap its £1,800 FREE travel perk
Furious council workers erupted in protest outside Kensington Town Hall yesterday after bosses slashed a long-standing travel perk — leaving many nearly £1,800 a year out of pocket. The cash-strapped authority is wielding the axe as it grapples with a staggering £108...
Kingsgate House Hell – The Citizen wins action for angry residents and an apology from Peabody
Housing giant Peabody has apologised to the long-suffering residents of Kingsgate House and vowed to resolve a litany of complaints — thanks to The Chelsea Citizen. Since The Citizen aired the serious unease felt amongst residents in a story last month, the housing...
Scary council tax grab hike to deter owners of “ghost homes”
Wealthy owners of Chelsea’s so-called "ghost homes" are about to get a very serious fright - their council tax bills are set to DOUBLE. Last night Town Hall chiefs voted to escalate council tax on second homes across Kensington and Chelsea as part of the new budget...
Sketch: A wry view from the press seats as the full council debates the 2026 budget
Kensington Town Hall last night had the faintly upholstered air of a minor, provincial public inquiry, crossed with a sixth-form debating society. The Chelsea Citizen was in situ on the press bench as councillors assembled to perform their annual fiscal pageant and...
‘Tonight RBKC is finally free of government grants and is truly a Sovereign borough’ – Cllr Kemahli’s budget speech in full
Below is the full speech made by Councillor Cem Kemahli, Royal Hospital ward councillor and RBKC's lead member for Finance, Digital and Efficiency "Mr. Mayor - Thank you... I stand today to present one of the most difficult but most important budgets this...
Rickety pier to be demolished and replaced for new Lots Road park
Plans to rebuild the pier behind Lots Road Water Pumping Station and to create a new connected riverside walkway have moved a step closer after approval by the Council’s leadership team. The proposals form part of wider ambitions to reopen this stretch of the River...
South Ken Tube re-development – the latest
Transport bosses have waved through a major makeover of one of London’s most famous Tube stations — but angry locals say the plans will only pile more pressure on an area already buckling at the seams. Transport for London has approved a sweeping, multi-million pound...