The label is focused on “creating solutions to simplify life’s adventures” and Thule’s store operation manager Johan Lindell said: “The response from our UK customers has been incredible already and these stores are designed with them in mind Covent Garden and Kingston are perfect locations for us to meet our customers in person and provide them with the expert guidance they need to make every adventure a success.”Lindell added that a key move was “expand[ing] our physical retail presence [into] Covent Garden’s Seven Dials where the world’s leading brands sit alongside highly specialist stores.” Posted in: Comics, Current News | Tagged: , Piranha Comics of Kingston-Upon-Thames opens a new this Saturday with a special Free Comic Book Day It is also great for footfall for the local restaurants so I probably won't need another video for this… they will be having a new store opening on Saturday the 29th of March. I'll be there it's also a relatively local store for the likes of Bryan Hitch and Mark Millar; their accountants are around the corner They are also doing a Free Comic Book Day a month early to promote the store… he had entertained offers from a number of prominent London comic book folk to buy Piranha Comics and the sister store in Bromley he decided that if there was so much interest maybe he should just try and re-examine what the stores were doing Moving to bigger premises and offering a larger variety of products looks like it will be a big part of that qt 12-13 Apple Market in Kingston-Upon-Thames And it should be a little easier to find than the old one News & Views from Kingston and Surrounds Kingston Council has approved proposals to raise council tax by almost five per cent retaining its position as the most expensive borough in London according to government data with the average Band D household bill rising from £2374 to £2489 Cllr Andrew Wooldridge said: “No council wants to increase council tax but we must be honest about the alternatives support for children and maintenance of our streets and public spaces would be at risk.” The new figures for a Band D property include £95.01 extra for the council whilst the Mayor of London will receive another £18.98 ensuring annual bills for an average household will rise by more than £100 The increase lays bare the disparity between London boroughs The total yearly amount charged is over £100 more than neighbouring Richmond is almost £1500 cheaper at only £998.  Croydon comes in as the second most expensive just £9 cheaper after an identical 4.99 per cent rise It became the first London borough to declare bankruptcy in 2020 with a debt burden of £1.4bn leaving it needing to find £71 million to cover repayments and interest in 2025 Those living in Kingston have been left questioning why they are paying such a similar rate The council know we have to pay it so they increase it.” said: “Questions need to be asked of central government They continue to give Kingston little or no settlement whereas other boroughs get heavily subsidised.” Kingston Council’s budget report listed extreme financial pressures coupled with an increase in need for services like adult social care as the primary reason behind the rise in tax The council also receives little money from the Revenue Support Grant funding allocated by the government without restrictions on what it can be spent on The level of funding is primarily allocated based on perceived need so as Kingston is a relatively affluent area central government funding has traditionally remained low Kingston is expected to receive 13.7% of its funding through this measure leaving it to raise almost 75% of its funds through council tax traditionally less wealthy borough Tower Hamlets receives more than 40% of its funding through government grants requiring it to raise only 35.6% of its income from council tax bills Lowest-charging borough Wandsworth suggests it is able to keep council tax low through a combination of efficient financial management low debt levels and high financial reserves leader of The Independent Group on Kingston Council said it was a question of priorities and accused councillors of “feathering their own nests free food on the taxpayer’s dime and spending money on frills and fripperies” He said: “Budgets are about political choices and to me it’s a slap in the face to residents when you say to them “It was just so staggeringly tone deaf that I was really quite taken aback.” Giles added that whilst proper investment from central government was indeed necessary it could not be used as an excuse for the political choices being taken by the council.  The new council tax bills will be sent to households in Kingston this March If you are struggling to pay your bill, you may be eligible to apply for a reduction here Please get in touch if you have any local stories or political issues you wish to share that might be of interest You must be logged in to post a comment Email us!  We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports An appalling incident of river rage on the River Thames at Kingston-upon-Thames in July 2024 has ended with £4,334.54 in fines compensation and costs at Staines magistrates’ court on 28 January 2025 The perpetrator had navigated his boat dangerously and used abusive language at other river users He was also found guilty of obstructing a boat race and interfering with the safety of persons gathered failing to comply with a harbour master’s notice and failing to register his boat for use on the Thames along the Thames into a closed area of the river being used for Kingston Amateur Regatta narrowly avoiding colliding with and swamping rowers The court heard how Keen was advised by an umpire that the river ahead was closed and he should return to a navigation channel He ignored the request and continued past the umpire cutting across the racing line and narrowly missing one of the boats which had to take last-minute evasive action to avoid a collision His cruiser than caught the anchor rope of a race stake boat before he stopped and launched a foul-mouthed tirade against participants yelling that ‘they did not own the (expletive) water.’   His actions and the way he navigated his vessel endangered the safety of those present at the Regatta An eyewitness captured the full extent of the drama on a mobile phone Environment Agency officers carried out a detailed investigation into the incident and discovered that Barney McGrew was also an unregistered vessel Keen was invited to a voluntary interview but failed to attend A summons was subsequently issued for his appearance at Staines magistrates’ court on 28 January 2025 operations manager at the Environment Agency and harbour master of the Thames Keen showed no regard for the safety of other river users and could easily have caused a tragedy it was no surprise to discover that his boat was unregistered “We hope that this serves as a clear warning to all – anti-social and dangerous behaviour on our rivers will not be tolerated and we will take robust action to deal with those who disregard the rules and regulations for boating on the River Thames.”  The magistrates fined Keen the maximum penalty of £1,000 for interfering with the boat race and navigating his boat without due care and attention The court explained that it used its discretion to go outside the sentencing guidelines to deal with the matter robustly The court heard the incident was shocking in its totality with clear criminality that endangered the safety of other people including the young people involved in the regatta The court also complimented the Environment Agency’s investigation for separate and unrelated incidents was Paul Campbell of West Molesey who was found guilty in his absence of having not registered his boat for 2024 and failing to comply with directions to move his vessel from its location at West Molesey riverbank compensation and costs to be paid within 28 days we have no hesitation in bringing offenders to court who avoid their obligations and responsibilities to lawful river users Just one day in court has resulted in more than £6,000 of fines and compensation which should serve as a major deterrent.”  Last year’s crackdown on unregistered vessels in the Thames resulted in 40 boaters having to pay a combined total of over £55,000 for their offences Renewal invitation letters for 2025 registrations on the River Thames were sent in November last year to everyone that registered their boat in 2024 and owners were encouraged to register early to ensure their boats were compliant by 1 January when the new season began The Environment Agency’s approach to non-registration on the Thames has changed – boat owners are given ample opportunity to register their boat even if the boat owner subsequently pays their registration fee boat registration fees allow the Environment Agency to manage and maintain more than 600 miles of inland waterways across England keeping them open and safe for thousands of boaters to enjoy must register their boats annually with the Environment Agency for use on the non-tidal River Thames Boat registration on the Thames starts on 1 January every year Any boats found on the water after that date Environment Agency officers recorded the locations of 10,890 boats on the river being the master of the vessel Barney McGrew in the vicinity of Ravens Ait and Kingston Bridge on the River Thames Keen failed to comply with a harbour master’s notice contrary to section 84 of the Thames Conservancy Act 1932 – found guilty in absence and fined £50 Keen navigated his vessel in a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat race regatta or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon contrary to byelaw 52 and 86(a) of the Thames Navigation Licensing & General Byelaws 1993 – found guilty in absence and fined £1,000 threatening and language towards officials and volunteers involved in the regatta and conducted himself in a threatening or offensive manner contrary to 63(a) and 86(a) of the Thames Navigation Licensing & General Byelaws 1993 – found guilty in absence and fined £440 Keen failed to navigate with care and caution and at such a speed and in such a manner as not to endanger the lives of others of cause injury to person or endanger the safety of or cause damage to other vessels or any moorings or to the banks of the Thames or other property contrary to section 97 of the Thames Conservancy Act 1932 – found guilty in absence and fined £1,000 being the owner or master of a vessel named Barney McGrew Keen failed to register the vessel with the Environment Agency in accordance with article 4(1)(a) of the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 contrary to article 18(1)(a) of the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 – found guilty in absence and fined £220 £265.54 compensation and a £1,084 victim surcharge was found guilty in absence of the following charges  contrary to article 4(1) and article 18(1) of the Inland Waterway Order 2010 Failure to adhere to an officer’s directions to move Thames Navigation and General Byelaws 1993 He received £440 in fines – £220 for each charge – £275 costs £1,593.40 compensation and £176 victim surcharge Journalists only - 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk Both cases were heard at Staines magistrates’ court on 28 January 2025 Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details The move will happen early next month and follows on from recent news from the brand of 17% like-for-like Q4 sales growth and a plan to open 20 further stores in 2025 It’s taking over three of the six floors of The Drapery with the remaining three floors that cover around 17,000 sq ft offered on the rental market Action on Empty Homes figures showed there was a 152% increase in the number of empty homes this year said: “Every year we see more homeless families and more homes standing empty This is why a new government needs to make a change.” Moore added: “Long-term empties are a missed opportunity to invest in and learn from retrofitting faster and greener than building new homes.” Retrofitting is the process of making improvements to a long term empty house to make it liveable The rise began after the Empty Homes programme ended in 2016 The coalition government’s Empty Homes programme invested almost £100 million to refurbish 6,000 empty homes and bring them back into use as affordable homes According to Action on Empty Homes empty homes are also increasing due to estate redevelopment schemes and individuals’ own investments into second homes Redevelopment projects in Kingston such as the Cambridge Road Estate which involves a plan to renovate 2,170 homes The Kingston Council has no power to take over empty homes or second homes that are not used by the owner the council introduced the premium council tax on long term empty homes in April 2024 and the initiative will also apply to second homes from April 2025 For any properties left vacant for one to five years the owner will have to pay double the amount of council tax for the band the property falls under the premium tax has not reduced the numbers in empty homes and properties are still left vacant The Kingston and Surbiton Labour Party said: “Kingston Council should take lessons from Labour-controlled Hammersmith & Fulham which has reduced its empty homes by over 60% in less than two years.” The Hammersmith and Fulham Council adopted an internal action plan in September 2023 to assess all empty homes and the refurbishments that need to be completed The number of privately owned second homes in Kingston increased by 34% in the last year by comparison Action on Empty Homes is calling on the government to use empty properties currently left vacant and renovate them instead of building new homes A Kingston Council spokesperson said: “We are working closely with other local authorities across London and national lobby groups to highlight the pressures being felt across the sector.” The council is calling for a fairer funding settlement for local governments after soaring costs surrounding temporary accommodation Kingston Council spent £9.3 million on temporary accommodation with numbers expected to rise in 2025.  The Labour’s 2024 budget included plans to invest £500 million to build new affordable homes Donations to Action on Empty Homes are used to address the UK wide housing crisis You must be logged in to post a comment Athelstan was crowned the first King of England in the market square of Kingston upon Thames the coming together of the previously disparate kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia making him the first ruler of a united England “There are few narrative sources for his reign so it is not an easy thing to teach at school level,” said Reverend Sarah Foot She added: “I think it’s time that we remembered the contribution Athelstan made in the making of an English people.” To mark the 1,100th anniversary of Athelstan’s coronation a six-month programme of cultural events celebrating the town’s past Kingston 2025 is being welcomed by those who are entirely new to Athelstan’s story as well as those who have been interested in it for decades Alan Birkinshaw has lived in Kingston for more than 50 years but it was only later in life that he discovered its exciting past he has written widely on the topic and is currently working with Kingston University on a virtual reality project that will digitise a bronze sculpture of Athelstan He said: “Standing in the same place where a king once stood reminds us that history is not just in books Birkinshaw hopes that Kingston 2025 will shine a light on the borough’s story He added: “Despite its central role in shaping English history Kingston today underappreciates its legacy as ‘where England began’.” The six-month programme of events launched as Kingston 2025 will begin in May a town tournament a carnival and a river cultures festival Details can be found on the Kingston Heritage website You must be logged in to post a comment Almost 30 people were evacuated from the flats News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A man has died following a fire that broke out in a block of flats in west London The Met police and London Fire Brigade (LFB) are investigating the fire, which “destroyed” a flat in Kingston-upon-Thames around 8.20pm on Monday Firefighters were called to Elm Road in Kingston at roughly 8.20pm on Monday They arrived to find a two-roomed flat on the first floor of a low-rise residential block destroyed by fire Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued a man from the flat but he was declared dead at the scene by paramedics “Another male resident was rescued by crews from a window using a nine metre ladder and two residents were treated on scene by paramedics,” said LFB in a statement “There are no reports of any further injuries Twenty nine residents were evacuated by crews to a place of safety and received support from the local authority.” Footage shared on X showed a large emergency response at the scene on Monday night One user said they “could the smoke from the middle of Richmond Park whilst cycling home” Firefighters spent around three hours tackling the fire which was brought under control by around 11.20pm Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Following the sentencing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court today for a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 relating to the incident at Surbiton on 9 February 2021 where Tyler Byrne tragically lost his life Network Rail has issued the following statement Our thoughts continue to be with Tyler's loved ones “We accept today’s judgment and are deeply sorry for what happened Any life lost on the railway is one too many and since this tragic event we’ve continued to take significant steps to improve safety “Our Track Worker Safety programme has almost entirely eliminated the need for colleagues working on the railway when trains are running We have done this by carrying out maintenance work at different times using alternative technology and we continue to examine our planned work to keep our colleagues safe “Today’s judgment is a sobering reminder of why safety must remain at the very forefront of our minds and we will continue to strive to ensure something like this never happens again.” to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Register to Drapers to read ONE FREE article and a FREE digital edition Lingerie and swimwear business Pour Moi has opened the doors to its new retail location in Kingston Upon Thames’ town centre alongside two stores in Chester and one in Leeds Victoria Gate Founder and CEO Michael Thomson said: “Pour Moi was founded on the belief that every woman deserves to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin We are so excited to be able to bring our much-loved products and showcase the very best of Pour Moi to the south of the country in Kingston Upon Thames.” Alongside a selection of Pour Moi’s lingerie and swimwear collections and bestsellers from it nightwear the store will also feature in-house bra fitters allowing customers to have their bra size measured added: “We are thrilled to choose Kingston Upon Thames as the latest location for Pour Moi’s store expansion The ancient market town is a shopping hub that offers customers both luxury and high street brands and we’re delighted to be the latest retail space opening in the busy and bustling town centre in Market Square.” The new space is part of a nationwide retail expansion with Pour Moi having additional plans to expand to other cities across the UK as well as launching in retailers Marks & Spencer and soon John Lewis online Tags analysis and advice to keep you updated… New Look has successfully onboarded 100% of its core supplier base onto… Marks & Spencer has reassured that all third-party brands trading on its… Get full access to all the fashion industry news and intelligence you need Browse the archive of more than 55,000 articles read the daily and weekly newsletters in full and gain priority access to Drapers events charmless three-lane gyratory that circles the unlovely centre of Kingston upon Thames stands a blunt block of a building that might just be London’s hottest music venue then a theatre and now in its third incarnation as a nightclub while over the past year and a bit artists who have squeezed on to its cramped stage include Shania Twain and Jon Bon Jovi How is it that at a time when live music venues are closing at a rate of two every week an astonishing and diverse roster of acts is flocking to a nightclub in the furthest southwest edge of London From deep-diving into royal history at Hampton Court Palace to the most charming pubs in London here are the very best things to do in Kingston upon Thames Known for being an ancient coronation site of several Saxon kings the aptly named Kingston blends its royal heritage with contemporary quirks whether you’re strolling along the riverside which was once the home of the British monarch’s most notorious king Henry VIII here are some of the absolute best things to do in and around Kingston upon Thames for a fabulous day out you’ve travelled all the way to Kingston and we’re recommending that you visit a stone… Well you may not know that Kingston was once the official coronation site for Saxon kings There you have it—Kingston’s a perfect blend of history Whether you’re catching a glimpse of royal history or sipping cocktails in hidden bars Kingston has something to keep everyone and anyone entertained keep these hotspots in mind for your next venture west For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 01:48 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Cloud thinning and becoming mainly dry overnight Cloud thinning and breaking during the evening with showers and any remaining rain soon fading Showers remain possible across Kent with brisk winds here Possible rural grass frost in western parts by dawn Cloudier in east with best of the sunshine across western regions mainly fine weather with sunny or clear spells and mostly light winds Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average the former Surrey County Council headquarters Surrey County Council’s former headquarters have been sold to luxury property developers with permission granted for 292 new homes on the site London Square bought the former County Hall in Kingston from RER London at an undisclosed price The 5.2 acre site comprises the main Grade-II listed County Hall and a range of other buildings and courtyard areas Construction boards surrounding the listed property state that future residents can expect to move in from 2027 An image of how the converted County Hall will look is displayed on the hoarding surrounding the site Planning permission is already in place for the former county council base to be converted into 254 private flats with 36 for affordable housing and 4,408 square metres of commercial space restoration and extension will “transform” the historical site into a “premium development” Surrey County Council (SCC) came under fire in March about the sale of the land for £25 million in 2021 According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service the site could be worth up to £250 million when redeveloped due to its scale and heritage The huge gap between the two figures led to the county council being challenged on whether it got the best deal for residents said it secured a “good deal” and would sell it again at the same price The County Hall’s striking distance from Hampton Court Palace Wimbledon Tennis Club and the River Thames makes it an immensely attractive property The former Surrey County Hall site is the developer’s ninth acquisition following on from the purchase of Westminster Tower, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Prices start at £425,000 for an apartment in Twickenham Green, another property site, or £835,000 for a townhouse. London Square also owns properties in Staines upon Thames, Walton upon Thames and Tadworth. said in a press statement: “County Hall Kingston is an impressive landmark which has stood empty for many years We are delighted to have been chosen to bring new life to this beautiful building Once restored and converted into elegant homes County Hall Kingston will become a unique offering for those looking to make this sought-after Royal borough their home.” For 55 years Surrey County Council was in the very unusual position of having its headquarters outside the Surrey boundary which moved in 1965 when the Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames became part of Greater London SCC headquarters are now located at Woodhatch Place The money is or should be in council accounts Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"