News from the St John’s Wood Labour Action Team
Dear Resident,
We are living in very difficult times and our usual monthly report includes the latest 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.
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Northwick Close
We have asked the Council to remove dumped builders’ rubble from Northwick Close.
Circus Road
We have again asked the Council to remove an abandoned car from Circus Road which residents say is “in a red line bay in front of Wellington North hospital in Circus Rd. It has been there about three weeks, blocks traffic, uses up critical emergency parking in front of hospital. Just gets a new ticket every day. Just crazy!”
We are pleased to say that the vehicle has finally been removed.
St John’s Wood High Street
There are two petitions relating to St John’s Wood High Street – one calling for the temporary one-way system on St John’s Wood High Street to be removed
https://www.change.org/p/westminister-council-remove-st-john-s-wood-high-street-s-one-way-system
The other is calling on the Council to temporarily pedestrianise St John’s Wood High Street in order to support local businesses and prevent them from suffering due to social distancing requirements.
https://petitions.westminster.gov.uk/SupportSJW/
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. 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/
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/
Children’s Art and Poetry Competition
The Westminster Faith Exchange, a long-standing initiative to facilitate and encourage dialogue between the council and the different faith communities, has announced a Children’s Art and Poetry Competition.In this exceptional year, children are invited to send their artwork or a poem which fits the theme ‘Covid-19, Lockdown and My Faith’. The competition is open to children and young people of all faiths, entry is free and there are prizes to be won. Entries must be submitted by Friday 21 August. For more information and to submit your entry, click here.
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
You can report dumped rubbish, potholes, uneven pavements and other hazards to the Council’s ‘Report It’ service 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).
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
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/
Petition to remove the statue of Robert Clive
There is a petition 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/
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
Paul has also written about the 1945 Election campaign in St Marylebone
All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Foodbanks in Westminster.
What you say
“Very helpful – thank you”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
Keep well, take care and look after yourselves and your neighbours.
Regards
Hussain Ahmed, Janet Seale and Liam Taggart,
Your St John’s Wood Labour Action Team