A-Z Guide
A
APP
Get the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea App so you can take care of your neighbourhood with ease. Spotted a problem or need to let us know about something? Download the RBKC Local Services App in your phone or tablet to report your issues directly to the Royal Borough and have local news and events information at your finger tips.
B
BUSKING
Busking can disturb those living, working in the borough. For those near to popular busking locations in the borough it can be a significant intrusion and annoyance. How to complain about busking: by telephone 020 7361 3002, by email Busking@rbkc.gov.uk.
BROMPTON COMMUNITY INFORMATION
OWL - Please subscribe to this useful newsfeed (linked to the Metropolitan Police) which will report the criminal activity in your postcode. www.owl.co.uk
Next Door Brompton. Another useful source of local information if your subscribe to the feed. Nextdoor is the best way to stay informed about what’s going on in your neighbourhood—whether it’s finding a last-minute babysitter, planning a local event, or sharing safety tips. There are so many ways our neighbours can help each other, it is an easier way to connect with them. www.nextdoor.co.uk
BUILDING CONSERVATIONS EXPERTS
Hilary Bell, Conservation Architect www.hilarybellarchitect.co.uk
Expert advice on the alteration, refurbishment, and care of listed and period buildings.
C
CONSERVATION AREA
Garden Committee Contacts. Ovington Square Garden Committee: ovingtonsquarecommittee@gmail.com
TO COMPLAIN
RBKC Streetline on 020 7361 3001 during office hours, streetline@rbkc.gov.uk
Cllr Walaa Idris - cllr.walaa.idris@rbkc.gov.uk
Cllr Sof McVeigh - cllr.sof.mcveigh@rbkc.gov.uk
Cllr Mary Weale - cllr.mary.weale@rbkc.gov.uk
Brompton Association
Mrs Sophie Lain (Chairman) 23 Brompton Square | London SW3 2 AD | 0207 589 5543
CRIME
Desmond Zephyr, Kensington & Chelsea Police Cluster.
desmond.zephyr@rbkc.gov.uk | +44 20 7341 5793
COUNCILLORS
To connect to your Ward Councillors: www.rbkc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy
Cllr Walaa Idris cllr.walaa.idris@rbkc.gov.uk
Cllr Sof McVeigh cllr.sof.mcveigh@rbkc.gov.uk
Cllr Mary Weale cllr.mary.weale@rbkc.gov.uk
CHIC TEAK
UK's leading supplier of sustainable teak furniture, including benches and planters.
Tree surgeons and tree advice. www.chic-teak.co.uk
CONSULTANTS
Modern Arboricultural Services. Tree Surgery, pruning, planting, felling and 24-hour emergency service. Consultancy, design advice, surveys and condition reports. www.arbtech.co.uk
D
DOGS
Dogs are not allowed in the garden.
DOG MANAGEMENT
Doggy bags should not be left on the street. There are two bins - one on Walton Street and one on the corner of Brompton Road and Ovington Garden for this purpose or Bin-it.
F
FLY TIPPING
This is a constant nuisance. People either throw bags from their cars or people come with their take out food - McDonalds, Maroush, etc. Our policy is to take a picture, document time and place. Notify the council either through the App or upload photo to email streetline@rbkc.gov.uk or report to www.rbkc.gov.uk/contact-us/report-street-problems.
FOX-A-GONE
Provides non-lethal and sustainable fox control. Experienced in deterring foxes from London's communal gardens. www.fox-a-gon.co.uk
G
GARDENER
Gardener's contact details: Nick Andrew Gardens Tel: 07887 643 226
nickandrew@btinternet.com | www.nickandrewgardens.co.uk
GARDEN SQUARE LEVY
Forty six of the garden squares raise an annual levy which is collected as part of the council tax due from residents whose properties form part of the garden. The charge added to their council tax bill is called a garden charge. For information regarding the charges, please see Garden square levies.
GRAVEL
Grundon. Close textured path gravel, natural brown colour, hard wearing, low maintenance. www.grundon.com
I
INSURANCE FOR GARDENS
Clear Insurance Management Ltd. Garden square insurance specialists offering competitive rates. Other types of insurance also available. www.thecleargroup.com
K
KEY TO GARDEN
Please send request to ovingtonsquarecommittee@gmail.com or click link: How to Apply for Garden Key
L
LAW
Information regarding legislations governing the Garden Square can be accessed in this website:
www.rbkc.gov.uk/council-tax/garden-squares/garden-square-legislation
Pemberton Greenish Legal advisors to garden square committees in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Specialists in residential, private client and commercial property law. For garden issues ask for Robert Barham.
GARDEN SQUARE LAWS
What is the law affecting garden squares? There are two key Acts relevant to garden squares. These are the Kensington Improvement Act 1851, which applies to garden squares within the parish of St Mary Abbots in Kensington and the Town Gardens Protection Act 1863.
LEGAL ADVISORS TO GARDEN SQUARES
External Legal Advisers: The Council has commissioned external legal advisers for Garden Square Committees for ad hoc advice. The advisers are: Pemberton Greenish Solicitors | 45 Cadogan Gardens | London SW3 2AQ. The person to contact is Mr. Robert Barham: Telephone: 020 7591 3386 | Fax 020 7591 3300 | www.pglaw.co.uk
LICENSING
Report any problems, opposition and complaints to licensing@rbkc.go.uk
LOCKS FOR GARDENS GATES
PES Southern Ltd. Installation of electronic key systems for communal garden gates.
M
MAINTENANCE OF GARDENS
Garden Associates
London's leading specialist in the maintenance of squares and communal gardens | 01923238765
Joseph Jones Contract Gardeners Limited. Over 35 years' experience in maintaining garden squares | 02089959076 | joseph.jones@btconnect.com | www.josephjones.london
Management of communal gardens and property. Westbourne Block Management Limited. Managers of gardens, private houses and blocks of flats.
MUSIC
Royal College of Music
For musicians for events at your home or in your garden square, please contact Georgina Colebrook: georgina.colebrook@rcm.ac.uk. For music teachers for adults and children, please contact teachingservice@rcm.ac.uk
N
NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to the OWL newsletter. It is run by the police and it keeps everyone aware of the issues we are facing related to crime. www.owl.co.uk/met. You may also visit the site of Garden Square News www.gardensquarenews.com. It is a twice-yearly magazine which serves the communal garden squares of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.
NOISE
Residents with young children using the square garden are discouraged from making unnecessary noise to avoid upsetting residents living near the square.
To Report Noise and Nuisance Issues: www.rbkc.gov.uk/global/report-it/noise-and-nuisance
NOTICE BOARDS FOR GARDENS
Greenbarnes. Suppliers of notice boards, signage, street furniture and cabinet-making. We have many happy garden square customers. www.greenbarnes.co.uk
P
PARTIES
Private parties are subject to Garden Committee's approval.
PLANNING
See related information and contacts here www.rbkc.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/planning-applications
PLANT LABELS
Sheen Botanical Labels. We engrave botanical and plant labels to clients' specific orders, mainly for botanical, horticultural or arbicultural uses - but also in a range of other situations where elegant and discreet information needs to be displayed.
www.sheenbotanicallabels.co.uk
PLAYGROUNDS
Alastair Guy. Builders of inventive playgrounds which are also works of art. Soil aeration
Terrain Aeration. Specialists in deep soil aeration and decompaction services.
www.terrainaeration.co.uk/contact-terrain-aeration.html
DAMAGED PAVEMENTS AND POTHOLES
To Report Damages Pavements, Potholes, Broken Stonework
www.rbkc.gov.uk/EnvironmentalServices/FaultReports/highways.asp
R
RUBBISH
Rubbish Collection Days. Tuesdays and Fridays only. If you leave rubbish bags on the wrong day, you can get a fine up to GBP 2000. If you see people leaving rubbish out the wrong day, take a picture right away and email streetline@rbkc.gov.uk or send thru app www.rbkc.gov.uk/rbkc-local-app to take care of it.
Special collection can be booked for a fee. To book a 'Too Big For The Bin' collection contact Streetline on 020 7361 3001.
S
STREET CLEANING AND LITTER PROBLEMS
To Report Problems with Street Cleaning and Litter:
www.rbkc.gov.uk/global/report-it/street-cleaning-and-litter
SPEEDING CARS AND TRAFFIC
For information related to the levels of traffic occurring in the Square, get in touch with Traffic Management Orders. TrafficOrders@rbkc.gov.uk. Residents are discussing measures to whether make the square Resident Access Only during certain hours or add traffic measures such as speed bumps or speed cameras.
Please add your voice by writing in to the council.
V
VOLUNTEER WORK
We are looking for volunteers to take on jobs to help establish and run Ovington Square Committee (Informal or formal depending on what people want. This is separate from the Garden Committee). If you are interested in helping or volunteering a bit of your time, please email ovingtonsquarecommittee@gmail.com
W
WEBSITES
Base5 Designs: Website Design Service for Communal Garden Squares, SME’s, or individuals. www.base5designs.co
