BAYSWATER & LANCASTER GATE LABOUR ACTION TEAM
BAYSWATER & LANCASTER GATE LABOUR ACTION TEAM

News from Councillor Maggie Carman and the Labour Action Teams in Bayswater & Lancaster Gate

Dear Resident

We hope you are well. We are all living in very difficult times and, 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 help or assistance on any local issues. 

WARD NEWS AND ACTION 

Porchester Square 

Councillor Maggie Carman reported this issue to the Council after receiving this message:

“I just watched a huge tree branch crack from a tree in Porchester Square and fall across the pavement just a few feet in front of where a man was walking on Porchester Road. Another witness said, “That almost killed him!” It was creepy to see, especially since I take that same sidewalk, in the same spot, 4 times a day taking my kids to and from school. Also in the past week, we were in Porchester Square when a smaller, but substantial, branch fell from a tree onto the path. The council used to be pretty good at pruning the trees but we’re worried this is slipping a bit. The recent winds don’t help, I’m sure, but we are hoping this situation could be more closely monitored before someone gets hurt?” 

The Council say:

“I inspected the tree but could not see any significant defects from the ground. However, the plane trees in Porchester Square are due for their annual check for massaria shortly which requires the trees to be climbed by the tree surgeons. They will inspect the branches and report any defects that require attention.” 

Orsett Terrace

We have renewed our call for the Council to ‘name and shame’ those responsible for fly-tipping and rubbish dumping after residents told us about persistent fly-tipping on the south side of Orsett Terrace.

“Yesterday there were 40 black bags dumped.  Most of these flats do not have bin storage areas.  Household waste is collected three times a week and recycling rubbish once a week.  Most residents have considerably more recyclable rubbish than household rubbish. Has the Council got any plans to increase recycling collections?  There has been a leafletting campaign and stickering of illegally dumped rubbish but unfortunately to not much effect.”

We have called on the Council to follow Haringey Council’s example and launch a ‘Wall of Shame’ using the CCTV footage so that those responsible can be identified and prosecuted

https://www.haringey.gov.uk/environment-and-waste/street-cleansing/fly-tipping/fly-tipping-help-us-catch-those-illegally-dumping-rubbish 

Bridgefield House

We contacted the Housing Department after receiving this enquiry from a nearby resident about the noise coming from the plant room that services Bridgefield House flats.

“For the past few weeks there has been a pump of some description that starts running at 12.30am (after midnight) and runs until 06.30 am.It is most annoying and has caused me a few sleepless nights already.It runs always on a Sunday night into Monday morning.  Could you look into this and I will take note this week of which other nights it runs.”

Local policing

Councillor Maggie Carman recently joined PC Burgin, Bayswater Safer Neighbourhood Team and PC Mandeville, Hyde Park Safer Neighbourhood Team on their ward patrols and spoke to many residents and shop owners around the local area.

https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2020/06/12/councillor-maggie-carman-joins-local-bayswater-police-on-their-ward-patrols/ 

Ilchester Gardens 

We have asked the Cycling Team to consider this request from a resident: 

“I have a suggestion for a short length of “contraflow” cycle route which would greatly improve access from our area to Kensington Gardens. The road in question is the short stretch of Ilchester Gardens – which runs one-way north from Moscow Road to Prince’s Square, but you can only travel north on Ilchester Gardens legally.  

The Cycle Quietway going east-west through Paddington is not the best, what with a Cycle Superhighway that just ends. However, the western side and access to Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens has resulted in a rather poor route to access Kensington Gardens at the base of Queensway. This slight change would greatly improve that and with no negative impact that I can see. Continuing down St. Petersburg Place is a much better access route to Kensington Gardens and the crossing of Moscow Road has much better visibility than the current marked route (which is the Hereford/Moscow/Ossington junction).” 

The Cycling Team say:

“I have logged this suggestion on our cycling permeability list and my initial observation is that it there appears to be sufficient width on Illchester Gardens to enable safe contra-flow cycling with potential minor changes to the kerb line at Princes Gardens.  Unfortunately, funding is currently on hold through TfL’s annual Local Implementation Plan and traffic survey count data cannot be taken to thoroughly consider the potential dangers of this change, but once things return to pre-restriction levels we will proceed.”

Hereford Road 

We are continuing to press Notting Hill Genesis to undertake long-standing repairs. One resident says:

“A contractor is coming to repair the ceiling.Unfortunately, I get the impression that they are going to do a cosmetic repair.I am here for the rest of my life; I do want the job to be completed properly please” 

Notting Hill Genesis say:

“The ceilings here are plaster board rather then lath and plaster so don’t need replacing. As we will be recharging these costs back to the leaseholder whose flat caused the leak I’ve asked for everything that needs to be done to be done.”

We have also been in contact with NHG about arranging help in trimming the hedge at the front of the house of a resident as it was overgrown and encroaching on the pavement. A volunteer from the Bayswater Covid19 Mutual Aid Group was able to be of some help, but this is obviously not a long-term solution and we have asked NHG to look into ways of helping.  NHG say:

“I’ll check this one out and any others in the area over the next couple of weeks and try draw up a plan of action and try and speak to residents. It might be we can do a team day out “On Patch” and get the team together with some residents to tackle a few. We’ve done this before in Kensington and turned it into a fun day out with lunch.”

Westbourne Park Passage

We are pleased the Council has arranged for the vegetation in Westbourne Park Passage to be cut back again as it has grown back. 

Westbourne Park Villas 

We have again asked the Council to investigate security issues at Clifford Court following enquiries from nearby residents.

Moorhouse Road

We have written to Notting Hill Genesis to request that they complete repairs to a property in Moorhouse Road to the promised standard.

After Councillor Carman’s intervention, Notting Hill Genesis have agreed to carry out the works.

More Council flats to be sold at auction 

We have heard that 2 more local Council flats are being sold by the Housing Department at auction on 16th July.

  • 230a Gloucester Terrace, W2 6HU
  • 258d Gloucester Terrace, W2 6HU

We believe this is wrong and Council flats should be let to people on the Housing Waiting List.       

Porchester Road

We have contacted TfL after discovering that a taxi stand has been installed at the 36 route bus stop J on Porchester Road wherelines were painted right across the bus stop. We have asked TfL to investigate and put this obvious mistake right.

Garway Road

We would like to say sorry for including an inaccurate reference to building works at a property in Garway Road. We have been informed that the issues raised were immediately addressed and resolved.

20mph speed limit

We have welcomed Westminster Council’s decision to introduce a 20mph speed limit on all roads, following recent consultation when two thirds of the respondents supported the proposal. The 20mph speed limit comes after there were 3 deaths and 269 seriously injured casualties on Westminster’s roads in 2018 – the highest of any London Borough.

https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/04/24/westminster-labour-welcomes-20mph-speed-limit/ 

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/

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. 

https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/05/25/westminster-labour-call-for-more-cycle-hangers-and-santander-docking-stations/

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. We have started a petition to call for the reinstatement of free travel for under 18s https://action.labour.org.uk/page/s/keep-free-travel

For an independent view of the Government’s action read https://www.onlondon.co.uk/dave-hill-governments-tfl-power-grab-is-the-wrong-direction-of-travel/ 

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 https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=09649383-4dbb-4a3d-b164-9d26398578f3

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 the option). 

Petition to remove the statue of Robert Clive 

There is a petition on the Council website to remove the statue of Robert Clive in Whitehall. The petition argues:

“Robert Clive was responsible for the invasion and brutalisation of millions across India and other South Asian countries. Clive looted massive wealth from Bengal. His policies provoked a famine killing an estimated 10 million people. This is Westminster City Council’s opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to anti-racism and to inspire others.”

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

Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE

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/

Westminster Council’s advice and response website:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-and-information

Volunteers at the he Bayswater Mutual Aid & Community-based Response Groupare offering to shop or run errands. You can contact them on 020 8123 7839and bayswatercovid19@gmail.com

https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/london-coronavirus-bayswater-volunteer-says-18038326

Westminster Connects COVID-19 phone line – 020 7641 1222

Beware the Coronavirus scammers

https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/27/beware-the-coronavirus-scammers/

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.

What you say

“Thanks for all that you do for our community!”

“Thank you for all your work for us, and the report” 

“Thanks for all the work you continue to do on behalf of residents. Much appreciated” 

“Thanks so much for your quick, close attention to this matter, everyone; it’s reassuring” 

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.

Regards

Councillor Maggie Carman, Dafydd Ellis and Max Sullivan

Bayswater and Lancaster Gate Labour Action Team

mcarman@westminster.gov.uk

Bayswater@westminsterlabour.org

Tweet @bayswaterLabour

 

Angela Piddock, Elizabeth Whitmore and Simon Wyatt

Lancaster Gate Labour Action Team

Tweet @LancGateLabour

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