Anger at plans to sell off former Kensington police station

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to sell a former Kensington police station have been met with outrage by locals who say a greater uniformed presence is needed in the area.

The Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime wants to sell Notting Hill Police Station in Ladbroke Road, but Kensington and Chelsea council wants it to remain in use for the community.

The council has listed the station as an asset of community value, and wants to keep a police presence within it.

Almost 3,000 people have signed a petition to prevent the sale of the station.

Councillor Johnny Thalassites, lead member for planning, said residents were “bitterly disappointed” about the proposed sale of the Edwardian building.

He added: “We want to make sure that our residents feel safe.”

The front counter of the station was closed in 2017. It then remained open as a drop-in base for police officers.

Cllr Thalassites and the council want to prevent the building being sold to private developers for luxury residences.

He continued: “Our priority on housing is always to deliver as much affordable housing on site as we can.”

Community groups have until Friday, September 10 to apply to take on the building.

If a group expresses interest in the property, the sale could be put on hold for six months to allow time for it to raise money to bid for the building.

Councillor Sina Lari, chairman of Kensington & Chelsea Labour Group, said the station was an important resource for the community.

He said: “It is therefore most concerning that the Government is continuing its cuts to the Met Police budget which began while Boris Johnson was Mayor, threatening mass decimation of police resources. Recent polls have shown that the majority of Londoners blame the national Government, not the Mayor for the cuts to the Met Police.

“During Sadiq’s tenure as mayor, he has raised his share of council tax to help replenish and recruit extra police resources in spite of the cuts by national Government and this is strongly welcomed by local residents.”

Tory MP for Kensington, Felicity Buchan, said the station should be kept for use “at the heart of the community” and that locals were “deeply concerned” at the possible loss of the site.

Liberal Democrat councillor Linda Wade said the station was “a significant building architecturally and a landmark site in the area”.

A spokeswoman for the Mayor of London said: “The difficult decision to close Notting Hill Police Station was taken in 2017 in order to protect police officer numbers as much as possible.

The Mayor’s top priority has always been to keep Londoners safe and it was right that the front line was prioritised over buildings that weren’t fit for purpose.”

A spokeswoman for the Met said a 24-hour counter remains open at Kensington Police Station.

She said: “The Met has transformed to be more efficient and effective, saving millions of pounds and reducing the cost of supporting front line policing, notably by a significant reduction in the number of buildings it owns.

“We have equipped officers with mobile devices so they can spend more time on the streets and less time at a desk, tackling violent crime and safeguarding the most vulnerable people in society.”

They added: “As part of the Met’s commitment to support the local community following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, it opened a temporary front counter service at the Royalty Studios base in April 2019, which remains open to the public today.

“Royalty Studios also remains operational as a police base and is one of two dedicated ward officer hubs in the borough, from which local officers deploy to the wards they police every day – as well as from Kensington Police Station – providing a visible police presence.”