News from your Church Street Labour Councillors Aicha Less, Matt Noble and Aziz Toki
Dear Resident,
We are living in very difficult times and our usual monthly report includes mostly information about the Coronavirus pandemic. Along with Karen Buck MP, we are doing all we can to help the local community and individual residents and their families.
Please let us know if we can be of any help or assistance.
Coronavirus (Covid-19)
In these unprecedented times, we all need to care of ourselves and help our neighbours. For the latest information, visit the following
Health advice
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
How to get help as an extremely vulnerable person
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
Westminster Council’s advice and response website:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-and-information
The Council operates a ‘Local Support Payment’ scheme:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/supporting-my-family
If you are willing and able to volunteer to help in the community support operations please register at https://airtable.com/shrAXhe5ABMIlJCfQ
If you are concerned about anyone who you think requires care and support please phone 020 7641 1444 or 020 7641 1175 or email adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk
If you or anyone in your household has symptoms you are advised to stay at home. If you are staying at home and need help please email covid19volunteerswcc@westminster.gov.uk
Westminster Connects COVID-19 phone line– 020 7641 1222
We have had to cancel our regular advice surgeries but we are available by email and phone. Also, here are some contact details for other advice agencies
Self-employment Income Support Scheme
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/self-employment-income-support-scheme/
Business grants
We have been helping a number of local businesses get the Government grants they are entitled to. If you think you are entitled to a grant because you run a qualifying small business but haven’t receive a payment yet, please get in touch.
For details of how small businesses can get access to Government financial assistance.
Parking for Key workers
NHS workers and care workers can park for free and without time limit in pay-to-park bays in Westminster until further notice.
- If this applies to you, to enable Marshals to identify who should be granted this concession we ask that supporting evidence be placed in your windscreen, such as photocopies of your work pass with sensitive information removed, or a letter of evidence on headed paper from your employer.
- Should you receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) whilst carrying out your critical work, please tell us using the information on the PCN and with your supporting evidence and it will be considered sympathetically.
We have also received the following information from Westminster Council’s Head of Parking:
“The Chief Executive has agreed that parking disregards can be issued for GP’s, nurses, Pharmacists and other hospital workers, those WCC staff in Children’s and Adults Services supporting vulnerable people and those teachers supporting vulnerable children and those of key workers. Parking dispensation permits parking in Paid for Bays and on Single Yellow Lines where sensible to do so.”
For details of how to apply see https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/23/parking-for-key-workers-in-westminster/
Beware the Coronavirus scammers
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/27/beware-the-coronavirus-scammers/
How to get an isolation note on line https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/?p=1289&preview=true
Church Street Library – Computer and internet access
During the lockdown, computers are now provided in special areas at Church Street library to help those residents access essential services.
Residents can use a computer for up to 45 minutes from Monday to Friday, between 10am and 4pm. Each computer and work station is carefully cleaned after each customer and there is a 2-metre distance between desks. Staff are on hand to help with IT queries and to ensure that safe social distancing is observed at all times including queuing when demand is high.
The rest of the library will remain closed, and there will be no access to printers or other services.
Household waste collection
We have welcomed the Council’s decision to change the focus of waste collection services to concentrate on residential areas and away from commercial and tourist areas, to deal with the impact of the coronavirus epidemic.
North Paddington Foodbank
If you can help the foodbank or are in need of emergency support please see the information here: https://www.npfoodbank.org.uk/
We and Karen Buck MP are calling on Westminster Council to step up its support for foodbanks and other local organisations that are providing vital support for communities at risk and that will need to do so for many months to come. We are demanding that the council develops a coherent strategy to address food poverty and hunger in Westminster and ensures the resources are provided to deliver it.
Rough sleepers
We have called on the Council to take further action to help rough sleepers off the street
Councillor Aicha Less has been volunteering during the current crisis. You can read her ‘diary’ here:
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2020/05/04/councillor-aicha-less-volunteering-diary/
Postal Services
Karen Buck MP reports:
“Whilst the number of complaints about delays in postal deliveries has fallen significantly, it is obvious that some areas continue to have problems. Royal Mail continue to say that they are doing their best to ensure a consistent service, whilst also ensuring staff safety and managing the impact of sickness and self-isolation. I will be having further talks with local operational managers in the next week to discuss outstanding issues, and of course, continue to raise individual complaints.”
OTHER NEWS
Mallory Street
We have again asked the Housing Department to fix a recurring water leak in a property in Mallory Street.
Cycle hangars
We are calling on the Council to speed up the expansion of cycle hangars in residential areas and to increase the number of Santander Cycle docking stations in North Westminster.
Bus and Tube fares
The Government has told the Mayor that, in return for additional funds to keep London’s public transport system operating, bus and tube fares must go up next January. The Government has also insisted that free travel is temporarily suspended for Freedom Pass and 60-plus cardholders at peak times and all the time for those under 18.
Voting by post
Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting. You can use this form to apply to vote
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/postal-vote-application-form.pdf
You can email your completed form to electoralservices@westminster.gov.uk or post it to Electoral Services, Westminster City Council, 14th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP.
‘Westminster Extra’
You can now read the ‘Westminster Extra’ online
Refuse collection and Recycling collection times
Recycling bags can be ordered from https://webforms.westminster.gov.uk/order-recycling-bags/
Bags will be delivered within approximately 48 hours of order.
You can check when refuse and recycling is collected from your street here http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/env/streetsearch.aspx
The doorstep recycling service concentrates on the recyclable materials most commonly produced by houses so that these can be easily separated into the different material types. The link below summarises what can be put in recycling bags
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/what-can-i-recycle-home#can-recycle
Lots of other materials can be recycled but not through the doorstep collection service. The A-Z list below gives details of what and where items can be recycled or re-used:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/a-z-recycling
Also, here are details of 9 companies that reward you for donating unwanted things, from H&M to M&S https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/g15049323/brands-reward-throwing-things-away/
Report It
The new Report It service has been unveiled. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
You can register here https://www.fixmystreet.com/alert for alerts of everything reported in your area (just use your post code and it will offer you options).
And finally
To mark the 75th anniversary of Labour’s 1945 General Election victory, Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg has written a new book, ‘Cheer Churchill. Vote Labour’ – The story of the 1945 General Election.Starting with the creation of the wartime Coalition Government and the harnessing of the entire machinery of the state to serve the war effort, the book charts the political currents and events which led to Labour’s sensational General Election victory on 26th July 1945.
‘Cheer Churchill. Vote Labour’is available in e-book and paperback format at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08975HFS7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590583600&sr=1-3
All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Foodbanks in Westminster
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
Keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours in these difficult times.
Regards
Councillors Aicha Less, Matt Noble and Aziz Toki
Your Church Street Labour Councillors
aless@westminster.gov.uk
mnoble@westminster.gov.uk
atoki@westminster.gov.uk