Dear Local Citizen
I simply wanted to welcome you to The Chelsea Citizen, a dynamic new hyper-local newspaper which will be launching this spring.
The Citizen’s primary focus will be the SW3 & SW10 post codes, but it will also cover important stories and events in the neighbouring areas of Kensington, Battersea and Fulham. On occasion, it will even dip a polished Brioni toe cap into matters concerning Belgravia.
The newspaper’s content will be available online for free. It will report great local stories and work closely with the communities, RBKC, cultural organisations and businesses. The Citizen will also be a campaigning newspaper and a force for good.
This year will mark 40 years since I became a journalist on the weekly Wimbledon News (you can read about my career here and about my local campaigning here). I am throwing every bit of my hard-won journalism experience into re-imagining The Chelsea Citizen as a traditional local newspaper for the 21st century.
There will be news stories and features highlighting everything from council matters and planning disputes, to golden weddings, births and deaths, to restaurant reviews and cultural highlights, to big interviews and small diary events. We may even run a report if a cat gets stuck up a tree.
This year will also mark 30 years since I moved to Chelsea. I care very much about this area of London and I feel deeply connected to it. So, I now intend to combine my two great passions – journalism and Chelsea.
But I need YOU!
For this venture to succeed, it is important that The Citizen generates a keen and engaged readership. This will attract advertisers and sponsorship, which will help it grow and keep it free.
I believe that local journalism is a fundamental and vital part of any connected community. It is clear from the feedback I have received since announcing The Chelsea Citizen just before Christmas that the people of RBKC agree.
I am financing the initial build of the website and generating all the content, but I am also urgently and actively seeking funding from investors and philanthropic individuals, as well as reaching out to landmark local businesses to encourage them to become headline advertisers. If you have any suggestions for potential investors or sponsors, please get in touch.
I have been working hard on multiple stories recently to create some basic example content. This kind of reporting work will continue in the coming weeks, but the key is to secure funding. That way, I can retain other reporters to get writing. Plenty of stories and diary events for the borough will be flagged up on Instagram, so please Follow us.
I hope you will join me on this great adventure and, please, spread the word.
Best Wishes
Rob McGibbon
Founder & Editor
News and Features
“I was resentful at the time, but as time goes on, the less I feel that way — war is hell”. Stories of heroism at the National Army Museum
Three men who faced bullets, bombs and terrorists — and lived to tell the tale — gathered in Chelsea as the National Army Museum celebrated becoming the new home of a world-famous collection of Victoria and George Crosses. Reporter John Cookson joined an audience captivated by extraordinary stories of courage, fear and survival. You could have...
HURRAH! TFL parks dumb Loading Bay decision – after The Citizen inspires residents to fight
Transport for London has caved in and REVERSED its decision to change a much-needed loading bay into a parking berth for rental bikes and scooters. The bay on Cheyne Walk by the Chelsea Reach marina has for countless years been a vital stopping point for the residents of the houseboats to collect and unload heavy goods. They were aghast to...
RBKC officers put resident through years of hell and £10,000 bill trying to BAN wooden terrace they had already APPROVED
A homeowner was dragged through a planning nightmare by the council for two-and-a-half years and forced to spend nearly £10,000 defending a roof terrace screen — only for a government inspector to rule the council had already approved it. In a humiliating defeat for RBKC, the Planning Inspectorate threw out the council’s enforcement case against...
“It has been a nightmare. We just want justice” – Jack Ryan’s sister Ciara gives emotional TV interview to launch campaign to bring Rashid Ali to court
“I want justice…” Those three simply words rang out as Ciara Ryan launched the Justice for Jack Ryan campaign during an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain today. Speaking to presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Ryan outlined the campaign’s twin aims: to secure killer Rashid Ali’s extradition from Pakistan and to reform the Bail Act to...
Leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell’s new term – and teary – speech in FULL
Cllr Elizabeth Campbell addressed the full council meeting as she took office for the third time. During the part of her speech that referred to out-going Deputy Leader Kim Taylor-Smith, Ms Campbell became gripped by emotion. As she considered her political "anchor" and friend and his contribution both to the council and to her personally, her...
The Royal “boro” welcomes a new madam mayor – an “extrovert” native New Yorker
From The Citizen’s customary front-row perch on the Town Hall press bench, John Cookson looks on wryly as Kensington and Chelsea’s civic grandees gather beneath fibre optic chandeliers to perform one of local government’s oldest rituals — the solemn appointment of a brand new mayor. To the Town Hall in Hornton Street. A building possessing all...
Cllr Monica Press, Leader of the Labour Group of Councilllors – FULL speech
Cllr Monica Press, Leader of the Labour Group of councillors, who represents Colville ward, addressed the full meeting of the new council. Here is her speech in full Thank you Madam Mayor and congratulations on your election. And congratulations to Cllr Nur on his election as Deputy Mayor. Just one of the many talented and dedicated...
EXCLUSIVE: Rockwell Property’s KC and the fight to STOP a 10-STOREY building in old Chiswick
The legal eagle who led the battle to gain permission for a tower of luxury apartments by Battersea Bridge spoke out to STOP a 10-storey building marring an historic part of west London, The Citizen can reveal. Russell Harris KC (King's Counsel) gave an impassioned statement last August at a meeting of Hounslow Council's planning committee...
An Inspector made the right call. Full reaction as Rockwell’s dream crumbles to dust
For more than two years, the proposed Battersea Bridge tower has dominated conversation s on both sides of the river, sparking fierce debate over heritage, skyline and the future character of an historical stretch of London's riverside. The Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal to the proposed Glassmill development, bringing an end to one of...
AND – ACTION! Opening credits to finally roll on new flagship Curzon for the King’s Road
After eight long years in the dark, the Curzon is coming back to the King’s Road - with grand plans to be a 21st century creative hub, as well as a state of the art cinema. The new venue - to be known simply as Curzon Chelsea - will be inside the redeveloped The Gaumont building and is scheduled to open as early as October. The original cinema,...