News
24 October 2025
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Chelsea Embankment
Sir Peter Bazalgette will speak at the CWT AGM on November 18th at 6.30pm. Members’ guests are welcome to attend and make a £10 donation at the door.
Sir Peter Bazalgette is the great-great grandson of legendary engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette, whose revolutionary Victorian sewage system cured London of its devastating cholera. A visionary civil engineer, he also laid out much of the modern city we know, especially along the Thames. To commemorate the 150th anniversary last year of the Chelsea Embankment opening, Peter will speak about the project and his illustrious relative.
Peter has had an impressive career himself. He has been Co-Chair of the UK’s Creative Industries Council since 2021. He also chairs the Royal College of Art and before that chaired Arts Council England and the broadcaster, ITV. He was previously a television producer and the inventor of several internationally successful entertainment formats, including Ready Steady Cook and Ground Force. Peter sits on the board of the UK’s Department of Education and previously was a non-exec at the Department of Culture, Media & Sport. His several books include Billion Dollar Game (2005) and The Empathy Instinct (2017). He was knighted in the 2012 New Year’s Honours for services to broadcasting.
22 October 2025
Safety at Battersea Bridge Junction, an ongoing challenge
The Battersea Bridge/Cheyne Walk junction has been, in effect, an accident black spot for far too many years; the Cheyne Walk Trust, together with the Chelsea Society, other resident associations, and the Council for RBKC, have long sought to make this junction, controlled by Transport for London, safer for all.
As part of the long campaign for improvements at the junction, alongside wider concerns for the movement of traffic across South Chelsea, The Cheyne Walk Trust together with the Chelsea Society, the Council for RBKC and the most affected Resident Associations (including those for Oakley St., Tite St., Beaufort St., Chelsea Old Church St., and others) formed a Chelsea Alliance for Safer Traffic (CAST) to engage with TFL in order to obtain up-to-date traffic counts and to discuss options for better safety for all traffic modes, approaches to and movement on Battersea Bridge with green man controls as a priority.
While TfL has now completed its planned improvement works for Battersea Bridge, it has continued to ignore the many of the issues raised by CAST and local residents concerning traffic on the Embankment and the surrounding area.
CAST remains concerned that a number of traffic safety problems arising from TFL’s modifications need to be effectively addressed. Ben Coleman MP has most helpfully requested a further meeting for CAST with TFL in November 2025 to address the following:
- Appropriate camera monitoring and data recording of TFL’s traffic changes in order to assess and enhance ongoing traffic safety and efficiency
- The impact of bans introduced at Chelsea Bridge and Beaufort Street
- Traffic congestion by HGVs and busses in Oakley Street aggravated by the banned turns
- Measures to enhance traffic safety for all modes on the north bank eastern approaches to Battersea Bridge
- Review of TFL’s application of the Gunning Principles (statutory guidance for the conduct of public consultations) generally and in particular in respect of risk assessment of banned turns at Chelsea Bridge
- The need for improved signage to control and enhance safety
CAST will continue to seek the safest and most practical resolutions that best serve residents of Chelsea as well as through traffic and welcomes any constructive comment to that end.
For further information email: Chmn@cheynewalktrust.org
10 October 2025
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Cheyne Walk Trust will take place on Tuesday 18 November 2025 at 6.30 PM at Petyt Hall, Chelsea Old Church
30 September 2025
The River Thames Conservation Area and the fate of Chelsea Reach
The Cheyne Walk Trust (CWT) with The Chelsea Society (TCS) and the Chelsea Reach Boatowners’ Association (CRBA) have since 2017 sought to persuade the Council for RBKC to exercise planning control of moorings and moored vessels to protect the Riverside against significant damage to its historic and conservation character.
This has been threatened by ongoing pressure and attempts by the mooring licensees of Cadogan Pier Ltd and Chelsea Yacht and Boat Company (CYBC) to introduce huge, unsightly and uniformly monolithic moored residential vessels at both Cadogan Pier and Chelsea Reach in conflict with long-established RBKC planning guidance, notably the RBKC Battersea Reach Houseboat Design Policy Guidelines 1976, the RBKC River Thames Conservation Area Statement 1983 and its succeeding guidance: the Thames Conservation Area Appraisal (TCAA) and the related draft Thames Conservation Area Management Plan (TCAMP).
The lengthy planning battle will be known to many, but since the Appeal (see News from 1st November 2024), CYBC has evicted a further number of traditional houseboats moored at Chelsea Reach and replaced them with three more twin apartment megaboats. CYBC is also understood to have further megaboats in hand to add to that number. It appears that the mooring operator intends to move to a new operating model based on short-term apartment lets on megaboats rather than the established practice of mooring privately owned traditional houseboats under a licence provided by CYBC on behalf of the PLA.
blocking river views and dwarfing traditional houseboats.
Sadly, the impact of this shift is twofold. Firstly, it will destroy the established traditional and much loved, bohemian river- borne houseboat conservation area that countless artists, residents of and visitors to Chelsea have known and loved since the middle of the last century. The massive multi-unit megaboats that the operator appears determined to introduce will create a wall of oversized block- shaped vessels dominating the riverside, obscuring views of the river and totally dwarfing the varied, interesting and charming houseboats that essentially represent the character of the riverside that must be safeguarded. Secondly, it will decimate the artistically rich historic houseboat community that is so unique and treasured in its established form. This is a particular problem because houseboats as legal chattels do not provide their residents or owners with any of the conventional security of tenure provided under household freeholds or tenancies.
In July 2025, after some three years delay, the Council for RBKC issued for consultation a second draft Thames Conservation Area Management Plan (TCAMP). This welcome document should give effect to the planning guidance fulfilling the intent of the Thames Conservation Area Appraisal 2020. Together with the Chelsea Society, the Lots Road Neighbourhood Forum and the Chelsea Reach Boatowners Association, the Trust has proposed updated planning guidance and terms for the effective protection of the conservation area and the historic riverside community. We will make every effort to resist the cavalier desecration of this unique Chelsea quarter.
17 September 2025
1st Annual Chelsea Book Festival: Sept 24-27
The Cheyne Walk Trust invites you to the very first Chelsea Book Festival – a joyful celebration of books, ideas, and community spirit in the heart of one of London’s most beautiful neighbourhoods. See the attached document for more information.
This non-profit cultural event is more than just a literary gathering – it’s a chance to connect, be inspired, and make a real difference. The 2025 Festival aims to bring together authors, readers, thinkers, and creatives for a series of exciting talks and engaging discussions followed by book signings and a complimentary wine reception.
It’s all for a great cause. All net profits go directly to supporting vital charities.
Bring your friends and spread the word.
11th May 2025
An update from Chelsea Police Sergeant Tyler O’Hare for Members of the Cheyne Walk Trust
I’m pleased to be able to circulate an update to you on the progress of our policing operations, complied by our Communications Officer, PCSO Paul Lang.
I’m particularly pleased to be able to share the successes of our Pan-Chelsea Policing Plan which has seen a 15% reduction in crime across Chelsea, the biggest fall in crime rates since 2019.
The Chelsea Police Enquiry Line continues to provide you with greater ease in contacting your dedicated policing team. You can discuss matters of concern, provide information on crime or anti-social behaviour, or access updates on investigations. The Line operates on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 11am to 1pm on 0207 161 8984.
I cannot stress the importance of providing the police with vital information and intelligence. With accurate information, we can form bespoke plans to target offenders that impact you most. Do not assume someone else will report it.
Additional contact methods you can reach us on are;
Chelsea Policing Team: Chelsea.SNT@met.police.uk
Chelsea Enquiry Line: 0207 161 8984 – (Alternatives: 0207 161 9165(6) )
Chelsea Police Mobile: +44 0791 793 9888
Please do follow us on X and Instagram – @MPSChelsea
In an emergency (incident happening now) you must always call 999. For non-emergency reporting matters you may call 101 or visit www.met.police.uk and click on ’Reporting’.
If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to email the policing team directly.
Best wishes,
Tyler
Tyler O’Hare – Police Sergeant
Central West – Frontline Policing – Metropolitan Police Service
Chelsea Police Patrol Base, Kings Road, London, SW10 0LU
14th November 2024
Cheyne Walk Acoustic Camera
Many of you have lobbied regarding the unacceptable noise made by specially modified racing bikes and cars tearing up and down the Embankment. To deter this
antisocial problem an Acoustic Camera was installed (by the House Boats) in March 2024, intended to video, fine and deter vehicles exceeding unacceptable noise thresholds (in both directions along the Embankment)
Unfortunately between the beginning of March to now there have only been a handful of fines issued hampered, it seems, by the rules governing the use of the
Acoustic Camera (in Cheyne Walk and across the whole of RBKC)
PSPOs (Public Space Protection Order) map out the rules governing when and how fines can be issued and these are set and managed by RBKC. We have been lobby
ing the Council to amend the existing PSPO (that coincidentally expires in Nov 2024) to enable the Acoustic Camera to be properly effective and deter the unacc
eptable noise disturbing so many residents in Cheyne Walk, World’s End, Lots Road, Cremorne Road, Chelsea Embankment and beyond.
Specifically we would like to see: The PSPO be operational 24/7, it is currently only in operation between noon and 6am. In addition to the anti-social behaviours listed in the PSPO, a maximum noise threshold should apply of 72 decibels (the current standard that UK vehicles ar
e expected to meet). Above this threshold FPNs (Fixed Penalty Notices) should be issued irrespective of driver behaviour.
This current PSPO is out for Consultation by RBKC and I write to request you complete it (it should take about 5 minutes max) and can be found here.
1st November 2024
CYBC Planning Appeal Verdict
The Planning Inspector has found in favour of the Appeal against enforcement by CYBC.
The Trust fully endorses the statement below by The Chelsea Society.
The Chelsea Society has been fighting, with other local people, to protect the essential character of Chelsea Reach, because the current owner of the moorings has been evicting traditional houseboats and replacing them with much larger box-like floating structures of uniform design and appearance.
The Planning Applications Committee of RBKC has decided on no lessthan three separate occasions that this activity constitutes a breach of planning control by reason of intensification, and has issued an Enforcement Notice to compel the removal of two mega-boats.
The owner of the moorings has appealed against these decisions andthe Society was very disappointed to find today that his appeal has been allowed.
The Planning Inspector has accepted that the question whether theintroduction of the mega-boats constitutes a change in the fundamental character of Chelsea Reach is a matter of opinion for the decision-maker, but she has seen fit to substitute her opinion for that of fifteen elected Councillors of both political parties, and for that of the Chelsea Society and The Cheyne Walk Trust, and the residents of the houseboats, and very many other local people who submitted written objections.
There must be something wrong with a system where the government can send someone to Chelsea who may never have lived there at any time, with power to substitute her own opinions for the opinions so strongly held by the local people and their elected representatives.
The decision was made as a matter of fact and degree, on the basis of two boats only. However the developer has already brought a third boat to Chelsea Reach, and if as feared he will bring more of these floating pre-fabs, the matter will have to be revisited at a later date.