December 2014
6 KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
www.swlondoner.co.uk
Edited by Hayley Richardson
Straight couple bid for civil partnership By Matt Cooper
DEVOTED: Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan believe civil partnerships should be open to all
‘Snow’ man should miss pop up treat IT MAY not be a white Christmas this year, but a pop-up cinema company is creating its own winter wonderland in Notting Hill. For the third year running, Pop Up Screens is taking over the Grade II-listed 20th Century Theatre inWestbourne Grove for two weeks from December 12. Armed with popcorn and mulled wine, guests enter the cinema through a magical wardrobe into their very own snow-filled Narnia. Owner Dave Leydon, 32, said:"It’s wonderful seeing the disbelief on people’s faces as you ask them to walk through a wardrobe to enter the cinema and then watch as a burley bloke instantly reverts to a nine year old and starts throwing snow at his friends. "I say it a lot, but Christmas is genuinely the most special thing we do." Festive films on the bill include Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street and Bad Santa. Having enjoyed a successful summer of pop-up screenings in Ravescourt Park in Hammersmith and Bishops Park in Fulham, Mr Leydon is highly recommending booking early. Thereareuptothreescreenings daily with tickets priced at £10 for children and £20 for adults. To book visit www.popupscreens.co.uk
A NOTTING Hill couple launched a legal challenge and petition this month against the ban on members of the opposite sex entering into a civil partnership. Rebecca Steinfeld,33,and Charles Keidan, 38, tried to hold their civil partnership ceremony in October at Chelsea Town Hall registry office,but were told it could not be provided. Earlier this month lawyers for the couple responded by serving notice of their intention to launch a judicial review on Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council. Speaking on online petition site Change.org the couple said: “When we sought to give notice of intention to form a civil partnership at Chelsea Old Town Hall on October 1,we were refused by the registrars and told to leave the premises. “The reason for this humiliating experience is The Civil Partnership Act 2004, which stipulates that only same-sex couples can enter into civil partnerships.”
The parents to be first met at a London School of Economics lecture in 2010 and got engaged last year. They are believed to be the first UK couple to take the issue to the courts and they feel they have the backing of the public. The couple said:“We know there is a clear public mandate for opening civil partnerships to all.
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Being civil partners would give us greater legal rights and responsibilities without the social expectations, pressures and traditions that surround marriage.
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“The UK government’s consultation in 2012 found that more than 78,000 people were in support of the extension of civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples – 61% of respondents. “We want it to change, so we are calling on the Equalities Minister to
open up civil partnerships to all, regardless of sexual orientation.” The couple decided to formalise their commitment to each other last year while celebrating their third anniversary in the Pyrenees. They wanted to express it in a way which would reflect their values and not include the ‘baggage’ they feel marriage brings. They said: “We see ourselves as partners,so a civil partnership union would capture the essence of our relationship. “We wished to be part of a modern social institution that formalises a relationship of equals and includes previously marginalised groups. “Being civil partners would give us greater responsibilities and legal rights without the social expectations, pressures and outdated traditions that surround marriage.” There is strong opposition to lifting the ban. Despite backing same sex marriages last year, David Cameron opposes civil partnership unions for heterosexual couples, believing the idea weakens marriage.
Residents rejoice as ‘iceberg home’ movement thaws By Sam Meadows & Hayley Richardson MANSION owners in Kensington and Chelsea were dealt another blow last week as the borough became the first in the UK to impose building restrictions on basements. The borough council's strict new guidelines were rubberstamped by planning inspector David Vickery on December 1 and will bring an end to so-called 'iceberg homes' with mega-basements. Kensington & Chelsea MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind said it had been very difficult to find a solution but was pleased that one had been found. He said: “We’ve been working very closely with the council and residents’associations on this. “It’s the single biggest issue that my constituents have raised in the last 18 months.” Council leader Nicholas PagetBrown described it as a ‘major victory’ for the council and the Royal Borough. Basement planning applications in Kensington and Chelsea are up 1,000% from 2001, with multiple-
storey basement applications up 500% since 2008. Cllr Coleridge said the policy took two years to draft and is an attempt to strike the right balance between addressing the concerns of residents and the genuine need for people to expand their homes. The restrictions,which come into force on January 21,limit developers to single-storey extensions and impose a 35% reduction in the extent basements can expand under gardens. It also imposes an outright ban on basements under listed buildings. The council will also require a construction traffic management plan to be submitted with any basement planning application to ensure minimum disruption. "It hasn't been easy and basement developers have aggressively opposed us every step of the way," said Cllr Coleridge. "We are delighted the inspector agrees that we have got it right while at the same time praising us forourextensivepublicconsultation." Mega basements are the latest in a string of property issues affecting Kensington and Chelsea residents.
Sir Malcolm branded the controversial mansion tax proposed by the Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls for homes worth more than £2m as‘totally ridiculous’. Last week campaign group Stop the Mansion Tax organised a public meeting to find a way to fight the controversial initiative being implemented. Cllr Paget-Brown said: “A lot of residents bought their houses many years ago and although their house may have gone up in value, their cash and income will not have gone up as much.” Reports also suggest that the Kensington and Chelsea borough will be worst hit by Chancellor George Osborne’s changes to stamp duty that came into force last week. While stamp duty will fall on cheaper properties, those worth more than £900,000 will see a rise which will disproportionately hit homes in the capital. “I understand why he’s doing it and I am not firmly against it,” said Sir Malcolm.“Governments have to make difficult decisions and we have to get the balance right.”
SUCCESS: Kensington and Chelsea MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind pleased with solution Picture: Sir Malcolm Rifkind