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<td colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1"><b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b>Local
News March 2001<font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"> -<font color="#FFCC00">
E:</font> <a href="mailto:kensington@myvillage.co.uk">kensington@myvillage.co.uk</a></font></b></font></b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1"><a name="dusty"></a><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Plaque
Unveiled To Commemorate Dusty </b>- 30/04/01</font></font></td>
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<p><font size="1">A plaque has been unveiled to commemorate the life
of singer Dusty Springfield who died two years ago. The Music Heritage
plaque is sited outside her former house at 38 Aubrey Walk, Kensington
and is the first plaque of its kind.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Dusty Springfield recorded the classics 'I Only
Want To Be With You', 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me' and the
classic album 'Dusty In Memphis'. Although most of her hits were
in the 60's she made a comeback in the 80's working with the Pet
Shop Boys producing the songs 'What Have I Done To Deserve This'
and 'Scandal'.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Among those who attended the unveiling of the plaque
included 60's stars Dave Dee, Peter Noone and Dave Berry, and DJ's
Alan Freeman and Tony Blackburn.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">A memorial tree has also been planted to commemorate
Dusty in Kew Gardens.</font></p>
<p><font size="1"> </font> </p>
</td>
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<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1"><a name="parks"></a><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Row
Erupts over 'poor' state of Royal Parks </b>- 27/04/01</font></font></td>
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<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/goingout/parks/walkintheparkS.jpg" width="100" height="100"></td>
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<p><font size="1">A bitter dispute has broken out about the upkeep
of the Royal Parks. The row, between the Friends of Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens and park authorities , is over vandalism, neglect
and public consultation. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">John Epson, chairman of the Friends of Hyde Park,
has written to the 800 members of the organisation complaining at
the 'indifference' of parks staff, the lack of consultation over
cycle paths and the staging of large commercial public events in
the parks.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">A further complaint is that the popular Elfin Oak,
opposite the Princess Diana memorial playground in Kensington Gardens,
has still not been repaired after being vandalised last year. Two
glass roof panels above the oak were smashed and 12 hand-crafted
ornamental figurines damaged by vandals throwing sticks and bricks.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Describing the accusations as "very unfair", Royal
Parks Agency chief executive Will Weston said: "We hold regular
meetings with the group. Mr Epson's office is actually located in
the park so he has easy access to any official at any time. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">"We did consult him on the cycle trail but it may
be that he didn't get the result that he wanted. We do consult on
a regular basis but there is a limit with eight major parks, each
of which has at least two dozen different stakeholder groups." </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Mr Weston added: "Most people are extremely impressed
with the general cleanliness of the parks. We've had contact from
a group from Chicago who say they want to come over and see how
we do it." </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The Royal Parks Agency is currently investigating
ways of restoring the Elfin Oak and protecting it from further vandalism.
</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<tr bgcolor="#990000">
<td valign="top" colspan="2"><a name="sex"></a><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b>Tories
Propose to Jail Sex Carders </b>- 27/04/01</font></td>
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<p><font size="1">The Tories propose that anyone caught placing prostitutes'
cards in phone boxes faces a six-month prison sentence under Tory
prop</font><font size="1">osals.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">The Conservatives will seize on the issue to embarrass
the Government a year after ministers promised to outlaw the "carding"
industry. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Last June Home Office Minister Charles Clarke said
the activity would be made a criminal offence but no legislation
has yet been brought to Parliament. Next week Tory peers will attempt
to hijack the Government's Criminal Justice and Police Bill when
it reaches the Lords. They will seek to insert a clause which would
create an offence of "placing of advertisements relating to prostitution".
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">The move, which is unlikely to succeed, is welcomed
by Westminster council which has led the fight against the cards.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said: "Cards
in phone boxes advertising prostitutes and other sexual services
are a blight on central London and other parts of the country and
offend local residents and visitors alike.</font></p>
<p><font size="1"> "Labour promised months ago to take action to tackle
this eyesore, but they have failed to deliver, despite the fact
that they have introduced a massive Criminal Justice Bill this year.
"We have today tabled an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Police
Bill to make it a criminal offence to put prostitutes' cards in
phone boxes. Perhaps, even at this late stage, we will see some
action." </font></p>
<p><font size="1">BT removes 150,000 cards a week from its 700 central
London phone boxes. Across Britain, an estimated 13 million cards
are distributed every year. Telephone users and council workers
have been threatened with violence for attempting to intervene.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Last month Kensington and Chelsea council obtained
an injunction against Gary Hughes, 35, who has been prosecuted 21
times in seven years for plastering kiosks with cards. He believes
new laws will make no difference because there are plenty of people
willing to do the job. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The Home Office first issued a consultation paper
in May 1999 which proposed, among other options, a ban on card distribution.
A year later, Mr Clarke said criminalisation was the Government's
preferred option and added: "The new criminal offence will give
us the powers to crack down on this illegal and undesirable practice."
Later the Government made clear it wanted a nationwide ban on cards,
rather than an optional one for local councils. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">However, the Criminal Justice and Police Bill was
published in January with no reference to the problem, raising fears
that ministers would leave the matter to be dealt with in a private
member's Bill. </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1"><b><font color="#FFFFFF"><a name="theft"></a>Diana's
Butler Charged With Theft </font></b><font color="#FFFFFF">- 25/04/01</font></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/famous/diana/dianaolderS.jpg" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">A former butler of Diana, Princess of Wales was
today charged with stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of
jewellery from her estate after she died. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Harold Brown, now Princess Margaret's butler at
Kensington Palace was bailed after appearing before magistrates
charged with four counts of theft. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Brown, of Tunbridge Wells, was arrested in November
by police investigating the disappearance of a jewel-encrusted Arab
dhow, valued at anything between �30,000 and �500,000. He was initially
suspended from his post but was later reinstated because of Margaret's
ill-health. </font><font size="1">The model dhow, or sailing boat,
was a wedding gift to Diana and Prince Charles from the Emir of
Bahrain. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Paul Burrell, 42, who was Diana's most trusted aide,
has also been arrested and is on police bail until May, while police
investigate the allegations. In January they raided his Cheshire
home and took away scores of items. He denies any wrongdoing. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Mr Brown is alleged to have stolen valuable jewels
and money. He is charged with stealing a jewelled daffodil motif,
a model dhow and base, a bangle and a pair of earrings, and �1,200.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/#butler">Diana's
Butler Arrested Over Theft</a></b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/">
- 19/01/01</a></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="40"></a>Local
Hospitals in UK Top 40 </b>- 24/04/01</font><font size="1"></font></td>
</tr>
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<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Three local hospitals, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital,
Hammersmith Hospital Trust and St Mary's Paddington have been included
in the list of the Top 40 hospitals in the UK today. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The list has been compiled by a leading health service
bench-marking company CHKS, based on issues such as death rates,
cancelled operations and waiting times. More than three million
anonymous patient records were examined as part of the exercise.</font></p>
<p><font size="1"> It is the first time UK hospitals have been compared
using up to date data and follows similar exercises in America and
Spain. Graham Harries, CHKS chief executive, said: </font></p>
<p><font size="1">"What all the 40 top hospitals have achieved is
a high level of performance across all the indicators, and that
demonstrates to us and their local residents that their hospitals
are well managed and focused on the needs of their patients."</font><font size="1">
</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><a name="releg"></a>
<b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">QPR Relegation Confirmed </font></b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">-
23/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/sports_health/sports/logoqpr.gif" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">QPR face the unhappy prospect of playing in the
Second Division next year after their worst league campaign in 34
years. Eight years ago QPR finished in the Premiership ahead of
Arsenal, Liverpool and Leeds, next season they will by battling
it out with the likes of Bury, Brentford and Brighton.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Its a disaster for the club financially who will
lose £570,000 a month in television rights. With other revenues
estimated to fall by £1.8million as a result of dropping into
the Second Division, the total cost of relegation is estimated at
£4million.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">To compound these problems QPR are still looking
for a new owner after the company went into administration earlier
this month - also 22 players come to the end of their contract at
the end of the season and their sponsors, the troubled mobile phone
company Ericsson, look likely to abandon them after this season.</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><a name="guns"></a><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b>Kensington
Businessman Arrested Over Massive Arms Shipment </b>- 23/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">A London-based Russian businessman has been arrested
in connection with running a huge international arms smuggling ring.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Alexander Zhukov 47, who has a £1million pound
penthouse in Kensington was held by police as he flew home to his
holiday home in Sardinia. He was one of six people arrested in the
Italian police operation, codenamed Vlada, which received help from
British officers at the National Crime Intelligence Service.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Zhukov's oil company Sintez corporation is believed
to have used work permits granted to them to ease travel for Russian
mafia through European border controls.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">After raiding Sintez's offices in Turin and London,
police have finally been able to link a massive arms shipment captured
in 1994 to the company. Officials in Italy yesterday put on display
the vast quantity of arms that had been seized, including 30,000
AK47 Kalashnikov rifles, 400 guided missiles and hundreds of boxes
of ammunition which had been seized on a ship, the Jadran Express,
in Venice.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Manufactured in the Ukraine, they were first shipped
to Izmir in Turkey before sailing on to Port Said and Venice, where
they were to be delivered to customers in the Balkans. The weapons
were seized in 1994, but police had been unable to trace the supply
route until they infiltrated the gang.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">After his arrest Zhukov was secretly flown in a
military jet under armed guard to a jail in Turin. Turin police
chief Paolo Tamponi said: "We have to say thank-you to the
police forces of several European countries who helped contribute
to the success of this operation. Without their cooperation and
help none of this would have been achieved. From the evidence we
have gathered we believe that Zhukov was involved in the traffic
of arms.</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><a name="flats"></a><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b>Chelsea
Flats Row Goes National - </b>20/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
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<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">John Prescott has stepped into the row over the
conversion of a former student hall of residence in Chelsea into
expensive apartments. He has instructed Kensington & Chelsea
council not to issue a letter granting planning permission to the
developers without his "specific authorisation" because the scheme
does not involve any provision of social housing. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Last month the council approved the application
by developer Earlsmead for the �70million pound scheme for the building
in Manresa Road. There was controversy surrounding the developers
claim that because the development contained only 14 main flats
that they did not have to take account of the regulations that state
that any development of 15 flats or more should contain provision
for social housing. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The planning committee rejected this argument because
the developers also wanted to build 9 further one bedroom apartments
for "staff accommodation", making a total of 23 flats. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The controversy was heightened however because Kensington
& Chelsea council voted narrowly in favour of not levying a compensatory
payment on the developers to provide social housing elsewhere, which
under current guidelines could have amounted to at least �750,000.
Instead the council agreed to "a financial contribution not exceeding
�80,000" for "environmental improvements in the vicinity", and up
to �15,000 "for a public work of art". </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Labour councillor Rima Horton welcomed Mr Prescott's
intervention, saying: "The council's decision was a disgrace. They
approved a moneyspinning scheme for flats which would almost certainly
be occupied by foreign buyers, while refusing to demand a contribution
towards affordable housing. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">"I hope Mr Prescott orders the entire issue to be
discussed properly at a public inquiry." </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Planning chairman Barry Phelps said the application
was approved because it "offered real gains in open space, a reduction
in traffic and major improvements to the conservation area". </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The fourteen main flats range from seven to 17 rooms,
and are likely to be sold for between �3.5 million and �10 million.
The largest apartment, spanning the entire frontage, with 17 grand
rooms, is said to be for the occupation of Formula 1 supremo Bernie
Ecclestone. </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="remains"></a>Remains
Found of Kensington Woman </b>- 19/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
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<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">It has been confirmed that the body of the woman
found in a shallow grave near Beaconsfield is that of Sinead Healey
who disappeared from her West Kensington flat last October.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Neighbours mourned her death yesterday. </font><font size="1">They
said they had feared the worst when 26-year-old Miss Healey, from
west Kensington, disappeared after meeting a mystery caller last
October. Craig Roberts, 45, of Gliddon Road, where Miss Healey lived
alone, said: "It is really sad. Because she has been missing for
so long, I knew it would not end well. It is such a shame." </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Joan Barker, 71, said: "The poor girl. It's such
a waste of a young person's life. She was young and had her whole
life in front of her." Miss Healey's body was found near Beaconsfield
cricket club. </font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><a name="sus"></a><b>Suspended
Superintendent Starts Employment Tribunal - </b>18/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Suspended Superintendent Ali Dizai has lodge employment
tribunal proceedings against the Metropolitan force, claiming "appalling"
racial discrimination.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Dizai was suspended from his £52,000 a year
job in January following allegations of dishonesty, attempting to
pervert the course of justice and personal misconduct. It followed
an extensive investigation which is thought to have involved up
to 40 officers and was overseen by the Police Complaints Authority.
No charges have been brought against him despite the £2million
cost of the investigation. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Dizai was based in the Kensington & Chelsea
division and was one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the
UK and a prominent member of the National Black Police Association.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">A lawyer acting on behalf of Dizai has demanded
a full apology and compensation from the force. Speaking after proceedings
were started at the central London tribunal, solicitor Sadiq Khan
said: "I want a declaration from the Met that they racially
discriminated against my client and an apology with compensation
for injury to his feelings.</font></p>
<p><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="#met">Suspended Met
Officer Seeks Redress - 03/04/01</a></b></font></p>
<p><font color="#FFFFFF"><b><font size="1"><a href="/#charge">Charges
Revealed Against Suspended Black Police Chief </a></font></b><a href="/"><font size="1"><b>-
28/02/01</b></font></a></font></p>
<p><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="#racist">'Racist witch-hunt'
led to police chief's suspension </a></b><a href="#racist"><b>-
20/02/01</b></a></font></p>
<p><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/#police">Prominent
ethnic minority police officer suspended </a></b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/"><b>-
19/01/01</b></a></font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="with"></a>Clarke
Denies Leadership Challenge with Portillo </b>- 18/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/famous/portillo100.jpg" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Rumours emerged over the bank holiday weekend that
former Tory chancellor Michael Clarke has plans to launch a post-election
challenge for the leadership of the the Tory party with Michael
Portillo. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Even as Kenneth Clarke rejected the reports, friends
were suggesting that it could be a perfect partnership that could
unite the party under a pro-Euro banner. Rumours suggest that Clarke
would back Portillo as leader in return for being promised the freedom,
as a senior shadow minister, to campaign in a referendum to replace
the pound with the euro. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The media frenzy was fed by a former Tory MEP, John
Stevens who spoke of the plot to overthrow William Hague. Stevens,
founder of the breakaway pro-Euro Conservatives, claimed Mr Clarke
wanted to use Mr Portillo as a Trojan horse, to secure pro-Europeans
more influence within the party. He alleged that Mr Clarke had "got
a strategy to back Mr Portillo and put the Tory Left back into the
driving seat". </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><a name="kent"></a><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b>Kents
Face New Royal Scandal </b>- 18/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">In the wake of the scandal involving Sophie Wessex's
business activities, concerns have now been raised over the private
business and charitable activities of Prince and Princess Michael
of Kent. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Foreign Office sources told the Guardian newspaper
that there was a "serious concern" in diplomatic circles over the
Kent's lifestyle, which has seen them carry out more than 20 trips
in the last 15 months, paid for by an array of organisations. Few
if any of the trips are paid for by the Kents.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Their financial arrangements have long been a soure
of debate among senior courtiers and ministers. Prince Michael,
the second son of the Duke of Kent, does not carry out official
engagements and therefore receives no money from the civil list.
His office says that this justifies his commercial activities which
include consultancy work through his company Cantium Services, which
last year had debts of more than �200,000. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The Kent's finance two households, one at their
four-storey grace-and-favour apartment in Kensington Palace and
the other at their �1.6million pound country home in Gloucestershire.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">The Renta-Kents, so called because of a series of
commercial ventures where they tried to cash in on their royal titles
face particular criticism over their foreign travel. This year Prince
Michael has already visited Dubai, India, Australia and the US,
while his wife has travelled to Peru and the US. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Although they never travel on official royal business,
the Foreign Office arranges for the Kents to get VIP airport privileges
on all their trips. That is the only diplomatic facility they are
entitled to, but sources claim that approaches have been made to
embassies for other support. In 1996, the prince was caught in the
centre of a storm after it emerged that he had used the facilities
of the British embassy in Beijing while on private business trip
to China. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">In the long run, it is understood that senior royals
want the more minor figures to vacate the palace. However, it is
unlikely that Princess Margaret would be forced out in her current
state of health, so the plan is on hold in the meantime. </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="hopes"></a>QPR
Win Keeps Hopes Alive </b>- 17/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/sports_health/sports/logoqpr.gif" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">QPR's first win in over 10 games means that relegation
can still be avoided. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Rangers 2-0 win against fellow strugglers Tranmere
came through goals by Andy Thomson and Peter Crouch, and although
they are still second from bottom it leaves them with a chance of
catching the sides above, including next week's opponents Huddersfield.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Holloway said: "We still have to rely on others,
but if we can beat Huddersfield it would give us a real chance."</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#990000">
<td valign="top" colspan="2"><a name="royal"></a><b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">MPs
Call for Register </font></b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">- 12/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Sixty-five MPs including Kensington North MP Karen
Buck, signed a Commons early day motion yesterday welcoming the
review of the business activities of members of the royal family
and calling for "a register of royal interests" to be considered.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">The motion "applauds the decision of Buckingham
Palace to consider issuing guidance on how the business affairs
of working members of the royal family might be conducted in future".
</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><a name="bonus"></a>K&C;
Teachers Win Bonuses </font></b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">- 11/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Well over half the Royal Borough's schools have
qualified for Government performance bonuses this year - more than
twice the national average. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The bonuses - known as School Achievement Awards
- range from �4,000 for the smallest school to �28,000 for the largest
and are intended to reward teachers for improved test results.</font><font size="1">The
schools themselves will decide how to distribute the cash amongst
the staff. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">There are two levels of award: one for improvement,
the other for excellence. In the Royal Borough, 60% of schools qualified
for an Achievement Award, and of these nearly three quarters were
for excellence. Nationwide, just 25% of schools qualified for an
Achievement Award, and of these only 1 in 4 were for excellence.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">"Once again the Royal Borough's schools have outstripped
expectations," said Education Chairman, Councillor Christopher Buckmaster,
"and not just expectation in the capital, but in the country as
a whole. I'm delighted to se the achievements of our teachers recognised
in this concrete way." </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The schools receiving a School Achievement Award:
Chelsea Open Air Nursery, Avondale Park, Ashburnham, Bevington,
Bousfield, Christ Church, Fox, Oratory, Our Lady of Victories, Oxford
Gardens, Park Walk, St Barnabas and St Philip, St Charles, St Clement
and St James, St Cuthbert with St Matthias, St Francis of Assisi,
St Joseph's, St Mary's, St Mary Abbots, Thomas Jones, Servite, Sion
Manning and Cardinal Vaughan. </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="christies"></a>Residents
Oppose Christie's Expansion </b>- 10/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/homes_property/kensterr2S.JPG" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1"> Plans by auction house Christie's to extend their
premises in South Kensington are being opposed by local residents
including cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, Claus Von Bulow and Stefanie
Powers. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Over 200 people attended a public meeting to express
their discontent to Kensington & Chelsea Council. The protestors
claim that the auction house has already detrimentally affected
the area over the years, and fear that the planned changes will
lead to even more disruption.</font><font size="1">Houses in the
surrounding streets are among the most expensive in the UK and can
sell for much as �5million. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">In a letter of protest, Julian Lloyd Webber said,
"The expansion of Christie's has already severely damaged the character
of what was once an attractive residential area of Kensington, and
the new development proposal will degenerate the neighbourhood further."
</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#990000">
<td valign="top" colspan="2"><a name="m&s"></a><b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">Marks
& Spencer's Troubles Continue </font></b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">-
09/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/news/marksandspencerS.jpg" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Leaked documents regarding Marks & Spencer's trading
figures show that the company's sales are continuing to fall. Even
departments that were previously regarded as their strongest performers
including lingerie and women's clothing, have seen sales fall in
the last three months. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The leak will lead to further embarrassment for
the management who announced a major restructuring plan two weeks
ago. The figures are thought to have been leaked by middle management,
who are angered at the decision to maintain bonus payments to high
level managers whilst all other company bonuses have been cancelled.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">Further difficulties are being faced by M&S; over
their decision to cease trading outside the UK. Legal action is
being taken against the company by European employees because they
were given no advanced warning over the closure plans. </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><a name="soldier"></a><font size="1"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Former
Soldier Stashed Firearms in South Ken </font></b><font color="#FFFFFF">-
06/04/01</font></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">A former soldier is appearing in court this week
accused of illegally possessing firearms and explosives which he
kept in a hotel in South Kensington. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The court heard that Dennis Rutter, 36, allegedly
pulled out a gun in the presence of a friend while boasting that
he could obtain other weapons for his 'work' from London's police
armouries. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Rutter, a former soldier in the First Cheshire Regiment,
is accused of hiding 1.5kg of plastic explosive, detonators and
a box of .22 bullets under the communal bathtub at the Belvedere
Hotel in Grenville Place, South Kensington. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The cache was reported to the police after the hotel's
manager discovered what he thought were sticks of dynamite hidden
under a bathtub during routine manintenance. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Rutter, of Hemstal Road, West Hampstead, denies
possession. The trial continues. </font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="ken"></a>South
Ken Tube Misery </b>- 04/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/news/tubesign.JPG" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">South Kensington station was the centre of disruption
for thousands of rush hour commuters last night. Engineer's discovered
a dangerous "dip" on a stretch of line near the station,
and tubes on the District and Circle lines were seriously delayed.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">District lines have already been seriously disrupted
over the last few months due to tunnel work at Earls Court. This
is scheduled to be completed by 14 May.</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1"><b><font size="1"><font size="1"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>
Kensington House for sale - only £65million </b></font></font></font></b><font size="1"><font size="1"><font color="#FFFFFF">-
04/04/01</font></font></font></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="../../images/homes_property/65millionhouseS.jpg" width="100" height="100"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">A Kensington mansion has come on the market for
�65million, making it the most expensive private home to go on sale
in the capital. Two former embassy buildings in Kensington Palace
Gardens have been joined into one massive mansion, refurbished and
improved over a six-year period.<br>
<a href="../../kensington/homes-features-mortgage/#65"><b>read more</b></a></font><font size="1">
</font></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" bgcolor="#990000"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name="met"></a>Suspended
Met Officer Seeks Redress </b>- 03/04/01</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p><font size="1">Superintendent Ali Dizaei, the police officer suspended
after a massive investigation that has been described as a 'racist
witch hunt', yesterday launched a fightback against the Met. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">One of the countries top ethnic minority policemen
and tipped as a future chief constable, Dizai was suspended from
his �50,000 job in January over a range of allegations including
assault, misuse of drugs, deception, seeking pecuniary advantage,
corrupt practice, divulging confidential information, unregistered
business interests, sex with prostitutes, accepting gratuities and
being beholden to individuals, all of which are denied. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Supt Dizaei, who has joint British and Iranian citizenship
and was based at Kensington police station, in west London, has
not yet been charged with any criminal or disciplinary offence.
Supporters will today demand the Met "put up or shut up". </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Two of the counts contained in the disciplinary
notice and part of a third allegation are true. Supt Dizaei did
accept a Filofax and diary from a casino, two tickets for a World
Wrestling Federation event in London, and seven tickets for an Iranian
music concert he was policing, and did drive a car with diplomatic
licence plates belonging to a friend for two days. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Supporters say these are either very minor offences
or not even offences at all against the police disciplinary code.
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">The other allegations are described by the National
Black Police Association, representing Supt Dizaei, as either false
or trivial and not warranting the manpower and estimated �1m expense
of the operation against him. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The investigation against Supt Dizaei was staffed
and resourced to the same level as a murder inquiry, with up to
42 officers involved at one stage. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Tory MP Peter Bottomley, who tabled parliamentary
questions about the affair, said the size of the investigation can
only be justified if it produces "a series of very serious criminal
charges". Scotland Yard and the Home Office refused to confirm or
deny whether covert surveillance, including phone taps, were used.
At least one surveillance team was also deployed to tail the officer,
who was legal adviser to the National Black Police Association,
and has a doctorate in law. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The NBPA chairman, Sergeant Ravi Chand, says he
believes the investigation is crumbling. "It is not the norm to
investigate alleged trivial offences if you suspect a senior officer
of serious criminal offences. The only reason is if you fear that
the bigger allegations are crumbling. It is a racist witch-hunt."
</font></p>
<p><font size="1">One allegation has already seemingly backfired.
Officers went to the Met branch of the National Black Police Association,
which they believed had been deceived. Supt Dizaei had claimed �688
for a plane ticket to speak in Los Angeles last year. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Officers said he had been supposed to talk about
the Stephen Lawrence case, but instead spoke about broader policing
issues and that this might amount to deception. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">A senior official described the allegation as rubbish.
</font></p>
<p><font color="#FFFFFF"><b><font size="1"><a href="/#charge">Charges
Revealed Against Suspended Black Police Chief </a></font></b><a href="/"><font size="1"><b>-
28/02/01</b></font></a></font></p>
<p><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="#racist">'Racist witch-hunt'
led to police chief's suspension </a></b><a href="#racist"><b>-
20/02/01</b></a></font></p>
<p><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/#police">Prominent
ethnic minority police officer suspended </a></b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/"><b>-
19/01/01</b></a></font></p>
<p> </p>
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</tr>
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<p align="left"><b><font color="#000000" size="1">Local News<br>
</font></b><font size="1"><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-dec2001/"><b>December<br>
</b></a></font><b><font color="#000000" size="1"><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-nov2001/">November</a>
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<a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-oct2001/">October<br>
</a></font></b><font size="1"><b><a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-sep2001/">September<br>
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<a href="../../kensington/community-localnews-jan2001/">January</a> <br>
</font></b><font size="1" color="#000000"><b><br>
Local Features<br>
</b></font><font size="1"><b><font color="#FFFFFF"><a href="../../kensington/community-localfeatures-animalmon/">Animal
Monument Gets Go Ahead</a><font color="#000000"><br>
</font></font><font color="#000000"><br>
Your Local MP - Michael Portillo<br>
<a href="../../kensington/community-portillo-news/#news">Latest news</a> <br>
<a href="../../kensington/community-portillo-interview/#int">Interview with MyVillage</a>
<br>
<a href="../../kensington/community-portillo-biography/#biog">Portillo-biography</a><br>
<a href="../../kensington/community-helpgroups/"><br>
</a>Parks and Public Spaces</font><font color="#FFFFFF"><br>
</font><font size="1"><b><font color="#FFFFFF"><a href="../../kensington/goingout-parks-kensingtongardens-news/#cycle">Cycling
in Kensington Gardens Now Legal</a></font></b></font><font color="#FFFFFF">
<br>
</font></b></font><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="../../kensington/goingout-parks-kensingtongardens/#swans">Swans
Are Victims of Mystery Killer</a><br>
<font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><a href="../../kensington/goingout-parks-kensingtongardens/">Kensington
Garden & Hyde Park</a><br>
<a href="../../kensington/goingout-parks-diana/">Princess of Wales Memorial Gardens<br>
</a></font></b></font><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="/#fears">Fear
Over Children's Safety at Diana Garden<br>
</a></b></font><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><a href="../../kensington/community-localfeatures2/">London
Garden Squares Day - June 2001<br>
</a></b></font><b><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><a href="../../kensington/community-localfeatures1/#walk">Orangutan
Walk - Sunday 24 June 2020</a></font></b></p>
<p align="left"><font size="1"><font color="#000000"><b>History</b></font><br>
<b><font color="#FFFFFF"> <a href="../../kensington/community-kensingtonrevealed/#siege">Gunman
Take Over the Iranian Embassy in Kensington</a></font><a href="#history"><br>
</a><a href="../../kensington/community-history-sketch/">Kensington and Chelsea
: A Historical Sketch</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF"><a href="../../kensington/celebs-diana-death/">Princess
Diana Dies In Car Crash</a></font> </b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF"><b><font color="#000000">Kensington
Revealed</font><br>
<a href="../../kensington/community-kensingtonrevealed-ghosts/">The Ghost of Kensington
Palace</a></b></font></p>
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