Cundy Street development proposals

Here is the latest update from Churchill Ward Councillors Andrea Mann and Shamim Talukder:

“We will be meeting with Grosvenor soon to discuss their plans once again. In this meeting, we will be conveying local residents’ concerns which have been raised in response to the planning application – about the proposed height and massing of the buildings, daylight issues, design/architecture, and the addition of more retail to the area. The Belgravia Society and Belgravia Residents Association have expressed concerns, most notably on the light issue.

We are also reiterating to Grosvenor and the Council that we believe the current residents of Cundy Street Flats should have a ‘right to return’ to, or at least first refusal on, the new homes being built on the site. When Grosvenor announced their plans for the development, our first priority was to fight for, and advocate on behalf of, the residents who were set to lose their homes as a result of it – namely, those living in Cundy Street Flats and Walden House.

The Walden House residents’ campaign for a right to return to the new development – which we supported from the start – was successful; and we are pleased that the development will bring new social and affordable housing to the area. But we have continually asked Grosvenor to also do the right thing by its own tenants for whom Cundy Street Flats is their primary residence – i.e. to offer them a similar ‘right to return’ and in doing so help preserve their community – and Grosvenor has so far resisted our calls to do this. We will, however, persist in raising this.” 

Plastic rubbish by the riverside at Grosvenor Rail Bridge

We have launched a petition to urge Westminster City Council to remove the large amount of plastic waste by the riverside at Grosvenor Rail Bridge

https://petitions.westminster.gov.uk/Grosvenorplastic/

There is a large amount of plastic waste scattered by the riverside at the Grosvenor Rail Bridge. The recent report by the Royal Holloway University showed the Thames had the highest levels of microplastics for any river in the world. The waste included bottles and other plastic waste including carrier bags of rubbish thrown over the railings. The petition calls for the Council to clear the waste, for signage about fly-tipping to be placed at the site and bins installed. Also for the area to be monitored for any future build up.

Number 88 bus

We have asked TfL to investigate this issue raised by a resident:

“My greatest use of buses is the number 88 route. Very recently we have noted the seats plus shelter at the stop at the Victoria Street end of Marsham Street on the side nearest to Westminster Abbey has been moved some 100 yards away from the stop. Much as the opportunity for a quick sprint between the new location of the shelter and the existing bus-stop to get to the stop before the bus whizzes by is appreciated, I am getting rather too old for such an exercise.”

Denbigh Place

We are continuing to press Sanctuary Housing to do basic repairs in a number of properties in Denbigh Place where residents are suffering from water penetration, damp and bug infestation.

Tintern House, Abbotts Manor

We have reported a leak which has flooded a flat in Tintern House and asked the Housing Department to undertake repairs and compensate the tenant for the damaged carpets.