​The launch of the Earls Court: Rescue, Recovery, Renaissance Campaign Report by Save Earl’s Court campaigners and the Save Earl’s Court Supporters Club was hosted at City Hall by Caroline Russell, Green Party Assembly Member and Chair of the London Assembly Economy Committee on the 26th June.

Earl’s Court business owners, trade union representatives, artist Duggie Fields, representative from the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates and campaigners were joined by Sian Berry AM (Green Party), Nicky Gavron AM (Labour) and David Kurten AM (UKIP) to discuss the findings of the report and consider next steps. Caroline Pidgeon AM (Lib Dem) sent her apologies and her colleague, Mark Morris, attended on her behalf.  

Sian Berry AM said, “A venue as green as Glastonbury in the heart of London would go some way to help bring this blighted area back to life.”

​Caroline Russell AM, reflecting on the launch, said, “This year would have been the 80th birthday of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and it was wonderful to meet the campaigners who want to see a world-class green venue on the site. London is experiencing blandification through regeneration schemes that sweep away established businesses and damage those that remain. Established businesses and communities should be at the heart of any regeneration scheme. The work by the Earl’s Court campaigners has been phenomenal – as attested by their report and alternative plan showing the importance of exhibition space to the London economy.”​

Campaigners were delighted to have positive feedback as well as guidance and offers of further support from the London Assembly Members present for their alternative Earls Court Masterplan.
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​Messages of solidarity & support for ECAAG’s fringe film night were received and read out on the night.

Sian Berry and Caroline Russell – Green Party London Assembly Members
It is such a shame that both Caroline and I could not be there with you this evening to join in on the Fringe Film Night activities.

This event is once again an example of the residents of Earl’s Court working together to support the community, showcase your creativity (also evident in the People’s Plan) and make a stand against the developers.

I hope I can continue supporting you and attend lots of future events leading to success in preserving and growing your community without demolition. 

My very best wishes and keep up the good work!

Nicky Gavron, London Assembly Labour Spokesperson on Planning
I am delighted to be supporting the Earl’s Court Area Action Group Fringe Film Night. I am really sorry I cannot be with you for what will be a very enjoyable evening.  Along with many of you, I have done everything I can to expose the deplorable destruction of this very vibrant part of London.

It beggars believe that 3 going concerns, the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, the Lillie Bridge Depot and the West Kensington and Gibbs Green  estates can be demolished and a whole eco system of local businesses wiped out with them.

I fervently hope that a fair deal can be renegotiated for the residents of the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates.

And I will work with other Assembly Members to scrutinise all plans that come forward in Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Caroline Pidgeon, London Assembly Member for the Liberal Democrats
“I would like to thank everyone for attending this evening’s Earl's Court Fringe Film night.  Your presence demonstrates the strength of feeling about the way in which Capco has gone about developing the area - squeezing out local shopkeepers, hiking rents and demolishing its history – with no regard for the needs or concerns of local residents.

I want to pay tribute to the role of the Earl’s Court Area Action Group; their tireless and determined work has made sure that London’s most controversial redevelopment has not been forgotten by politicians.

It’s time the Mayor now followed through on his election pledge to review the scheme and sent a clear message to Capco that when it comes to regenerating Earl’s Court, people’s interest will now be put before profit!

Now more than ever, London needs family-sized affordable homes, not luxury flats sitting empty and unused. Earl’s Court in particular also needs the infrastructure required to meet the needs of London’s growing population.

It’s time to say ‘no to demolition and yes to community control!’  

The RMT Union’s Piccadilly & District West Branch
The Piccadilly & District West branch of the RMT are proud to have stood with the Earl’s Court Area Action Group and thankful for your help in fighting Capco and saving our members jobs while trying to save your own houses and your friends and neighbours houses and flats too.

The way you fought to save the Exhibition Centre against all the odds, was a proper David versus Goliath fight. Your determination and drive has been awesome - an inspiration to us all.

We hope your night goes well.
In solidarity, Gwyn (Secretary) and Carlos (Chair).

Andy Slaughter MP (Labour, Hammersmith)
I am sorry not to make the film night as I think it is a great idea, both to draw attention to the continuing battle of Earl’s Court and West Kensington and to have a fun evening. 

We always knew that the battle against the power of Capco and their political allies would be long 
and hard, but the creative and good-humoured way residents and supporters have responded is a credit to them all. 

It shows exactly why the community spirit as well as the bricks and mortar are worth fighting for.  ​

Corporate greed and faceless development with built-in redundancy is the modern blight of London  -  but the Earl’s Court Area Action Group’s message that we, the people who live here, should define our city, can and will be heard.

The Earl’s Court Area Action Group (ECAAG) is organising the first Earl’s Court Fringe Film Night.

ECAAG is producing its own standalone fringe event that will coincide with the second Earl's Court Film Festival whose chief sponsor is Capital & Counties Properties Plc (Capco).

In the interest of balance, ECAAG’s aim is to stage an alternative event that is entirely free of corporate spin.

The core message is that Earl’s Court is, against the will of many residents, in danger of being defined within the narrow self-interests of the developer's Earls Court Masterplan.

When and where
Starts at 7pm on Wednesday, 9th November at The Bolton pub, 326 Earls Court Rd, London SW5 9BQ. Nearest tube is Earl's Court.

Earl's Court Fringe Film Night is free although donations are welcome on the night. 

Eventbrite URL
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/earls-court-fringe-film-night-tickets-28398350230

Starring
John Rogers, film-maker author and director will be showing extracts from his latest documentary “London Overground” partly filmed on location in Earl’s Court. The film takes place over the course of a year, rather than a single day. It follows Iain Sinclair as he meanders along the railway tracks on foot from his home in Haggerston, visiting 33 stations in 35 mile round trip.

After the screening, John will participate in a Q & A session.

"He is like Prospero crossed with Mr Chips," says Russell Brand.

Featuring
We will also show debut short films from young directors with close links to Earl's Court who have filmed in the area. ​

ECAAG’s fringe film night demonstrates the staunch resistance and resilience within the local community to keep the spirit of rebellious creativity burning bright within Earl's Court!

​Local government history was made tonight when the first joint Motion by Labour and the Liberal Democrats parties was put to the full Council meeting of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 

The motion was moved by Cllr Linda Wade (Liberal Democrat) and seconded by Emma Dent Coad (Labour). There were some amendments proposed by the Conservatives to the Motion which were debated and then the Motion was unanimously agreed. 

It essentially acknowledged the inter-dependency of the Earls Court Masterplan site which straddles both the boroughs of  Kensington and Chelsea as well as Hammersmith and Fulham. 

Should developer Capco move forwards with their stated aim to increase the density on the Masterplan from 7.5k homes to 10k, they will need to put submit a fresh planning application which will be subject to public consultation and scrutiny. 

ECAAG brought Londoners together to celebrate a temporary reprieve for threatened Victorian terraced homes in Empress Place and two  pubs due to be demolished by Capital & Counties Properties Plc  (Capco) adjacent to the Earls Court Masterplan. 

Londoners celebrated a temporary reprieve from demolition for a much loved corner of London with a jolly promenade in Victorian costume.  ECAAG invited residents to join "HM Queen Victoria" and the "Prince of Wales" as they visited Empress Place and its much-loved Edwardian pub named in his honour to denounce their impending demolition by Capco.

Linda Wade, Chair of ECAAG attended as did Andrew Slaughter MP for Hammersmith. 

"We are losing so much of our built heritage and sense of place in London that appreciating what we still have takes on an added significance", said Linda Wade, Chair of ECAAG. 

Residents joined in street theatre and sang music halls songs from the period, some especially adapted for the housing crisis: "Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, that I live with my mum!"

To raucous cheers from participants and spectators, Capco staff  pulled down their marketing suite’s blinds when residents in Victorian fancy dress sang the national anthem outside their Lillie Square showroom opposite Empress Place, 
 
The demolition of Empress Place and two adjacent parades of shops on the Lillie Road by Capco entity Earl's Court Partnership Ltd was due to start on the 11th January, 2016. 

Empress Place comprises two rows of attractive Victorian workers’ cottages in Hammersmith and Fulham. On the corner is the Edwardian Prince of Wales public house and a few doors up on the Lillie Road is The Imperial Arms. 

Thanks to outraged Hammersmith and Fulham residents’ application to list the Prince of Wales pub as an Asset of Community Value, demolition of this area has had to be temporarily stayed at a time when the UK is losing 29 pubs every week to developers of expensive flats and to the big supermarkets’ local outlets, designed to drive out independent traders.

The demolition of Empress Place and two adjacent parades of shops on the Lillie Road by Capco entity Earl's Court Partnership Ltd was due to start on the 11th January, 2016. 

Empress Place is comprised of two rows of attractive Victorian workers’ cottages. On the corner is the Edwardian Prince of Wales public house and a few doors up on the Lillie Road is The Imperial Arms. 

Thanks to Hammersmith and Fulham residents, who have put in applications to nominate the Prince of Wales pub as an Asset of Community Value, demolition of this area has been temporarily halted.  

Both the West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates Tenant and Residents Associations have applied as have The Hammersmith Society, The Fulham Estate Residents Association and the Hammersmith Embankment Residents Association. ​

Our campaign contacted Nicky Gavron AM (Labour Party), Darren Johnson AM (Green Party) and London Mayoral Candidate Caroline Pidgeon AM (Liberal Democrat Party), who have all written to Hammersmith and Fulham Council in support of the residents fighting to save the Prince of Wales pub for the community.

Victory for Londoners and the RMT Union as Transport for London withdraws Clause 5 from the Transport for London Bill which would have allowed developers to cover up their roles in the exploitation of public land.

After a dogged 2 years fight in which three citizen petitioners and the RMT Union joined forces to petition against Clause 5 of the Transport for London Bill, on the 8th February 2016 in the House of Lords, TfL through Tanni Grey-Thompson, withdrew the Clause.

It would have enabled TfL to enter into opaque, “Limited Partnerships” with developers, ensuring its deals on its extensive public land holdings would not be open to scrutiny. It would allow developers to minimise their tax obligations while putting all of the risks attached to any project's failure onto TfL.

The citizen petitioners and the RMT Union fought for TfL’s interaction with private companies to be transparent, ethical and in the interest of the public. 

Clause 5 came to their attention due to TfL’s involvement with the ongoing development at Earl’s Court in its Joint Venture with Capital & Counties Properties Plc (Capco). A letter dated 6th May 2014 between Sir Peter Hendy and Mick Cash of the RMT showed that had a Limited Partnership option been available to TfL on the Earl’s Court Masterplan it would have been their preferred choice of vehicle.

Transport for London in its briefing document for the House of Lords debate on Lord Alf Dub’s motion relating to the Bill today stated:

“Clause 5 would have authorised us to form or join with others in forming limited partnerships. We took note of the strength of feeling in the House of Commons during the revival debate on 16 November 2015 about the clause. We recognise that, notwithstanding the amendments which were made to that clause by the Opposed Bill Committee, concerns remain about the possible future exercise of the powers which would be conferred by it. Accordingly, we have decided to amend the Bill and delete clause 5 and references to limited partnerships when the Bill is reintroduced in the Commons.”

The RMT Union in a press release stated: “RMT in conjunction with Andy Slaughter MP, John McDonnell MP, and numerous other labour MPs and the Save Earls Court Campaign combined together to petition against the Bill and try to prevent the most ill-conceived aspects of it from becoming law.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “We welcome that TfL has finally agreed to moderate its plans. TfL made a complete mess of the Earls Court development and was setting itself up to lose hundreds of millions of pounds by disposing of state assets far too cheaply.
“However, the story is not over yet. The proposals for commercially exploiting TfL land are coming in thick and fast. Accordingly, we will remain vigilant while the remaining provisions of the Bill return to Parliament for final scrutiny."

The Bill will now return to the House of Commons for further amendments.

Conservative-led RBKC Council rejects well-supported petition to halt demolition of Earls Court Exhibition Centre on public health grounds. Disturbing questions on asbestos and other public health issues go unanswered. Residents now urge Hammersmith and Fulham council to intervene.

On the 24th June, 2015 the Conservative-led RBKC council quashed a petition of over 1,700 signatures demanding an immediate halt to the demolition of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre on public health grounds and for an urgent, comprehensive, independent health review to be carried out. 

Here is the petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-for-an-independent-health-review-of-the-earls-court-redevelopment

Despite lead petitioner Robina Rose’s plea to councillors to work together in the public interest, the full council meeting rejected the call for an independent health review with no abstentions. RBKC council has thus loftily  ignored the valid concerns of the Earl’s Court Action Group, local residents, businesses, trade unionists and environmentalists as the public health risks of asbestos, noise and vibration, pollution and poor air quality now coming to light as the demolition of the iconic building proceeds. 

They also ignored the peaceful protest outside Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall in support of the petition. 

Asbestos

Speaking in the debate about the 235 tonnes of asbestos in the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Cllr. Robert Thompson (Labour) said:

“What is most disturbing in relation to the issue of asbestos is that Capco, this Council, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have declined to make public the asbestos report, even under Freedom of Information requests. This begs the questions - does this council have a copy of the report? Why is this council not making that report public?”

Noise and vibration

Cllr. Linda Wade (Liberal Democrat) pointed out that there were concerns over the impact of prolonged long-term impact on the health and wellbeing on residents, particularly babies and young children: 

“The developer’s submission appear to be assessed on the impact of ‘10 days in any 15-day period or for a total of days less than or equal to 40 in any 6-month period’ and do not consider the accumulative impact of noise over the course of the 20-year project on the health and wellbeing of residents.” 

Lack of trust in the Demolition and Waste Management Plans (DWMP) of the Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre

Cllr. Mo Bakhtiar (Labour) speaking on behalf of Cllr. Emma Dent Coad who was indisposed said:

 “The residents of Earl’s Court are right to distrust this process. We support the demand for a cessation of demolition works and an Independent Health Review to revisit the inadequate plans currently in place. If not we are condemning residents to 20 years of intolerable conditions that for some could have fatal consequences.”

Petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-for-an-independent-health-review-of-the-earls-court-redevelopment

The petition is addressed both to RBKC and LBHF councils as the Exhibition Centre straddles the two boroughs. Petitioners will now look to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to open these matters up to the meaningful public scrutiny denied by RBKC. 

As, in September 2014, the DWMP were approved BEHIND CLOSED DOORS under delegated powers to planning officials,  ECAAG is rightly worried as to whether the petitioners will be granted a fair hearing.