News from your three Queen’s Park Ward Labour Councillors Paul Dimoldenberg, Patricia McAllister and Hamza Taouzzale
Dear Resident,
Happy New Year!
We are 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.
Please feel free to pass this report on to any of your neighbours who may be interested.
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Kilburn Lane/Harrow Road/Ladbroke Grove junction
The works to install a pedestrian phase at the lights are now complete! Reaction from residents has been good
“It is looking really splendid now, and it was a pleasure to see pedestrians crossing in an un-anxious way with the green man phase and countdown”
Kilburn Lane
We have asked the Road Safety Team to investigate the possibility of installing speed cameras along Kilburn Lane after residents told us:
“We have a problem which has got worse since lockdown of people using road as their personal racetrack for their cars. It is especially bad late at night. During the first lock-down there was an orange Lamborgini who frequently speeds on Kilburn Lane.”
Queen’s Park Gardens
We are delighted that the cracks in the surface of the games area in Queen’s Park Gardens have been filled in and the area resurfaced. Earlier this year, pupils from St Marylebone Bridge School wrote to us to say:
“We go to play football every morning at Queens Park Gardens. There is a crack in the concrete in the football cage. I keep trying to score goals but I keep missing because I fall over. This might happen to other people. I think it is dangerous and it is getting much worse. Please can you fix it so it is much safer for the other people who want to play football.”
The Parks Manager has now told us that “all necessary repairs to the Queens Park MUGA playing surface how now been completed”.
Queen’s Park Estate
A resident has asked us this question:
“Can you tell me what the green paint in horse shoe shapes that has been painted on the pavement adjacent to our front garden walls is for? Every house on the Queens Park Estate has it, and everybody is wondering what is going to happen and what it is for.”
The Highways Team told us that this is part of the broadband installation and “these are markings for small Toby connection boxes (GNET). However, no dates have been agreed at the moment, so I cannot provide a date for the works yet. Once I have an update in relation to this, I will let you know”
Oak House
We asked the Housing Office to fix a broken intercom at Oak House. Residents say:
“The ‘Call’ button is not working now and we currently have a heavily pregnant woman living in our block, deliveries are being returned because the ‘call’ button isn’t operating. God forbid if there’s an emergency and communication can’t be made! When is Westminster Council going to fit a new intercom for Oak House like the other buildings?
Caird Street
Residents have contacted us about the brightness of the hoarding lets along Caird Street which are keeping residents awake at night. We raised this with the Council who told us:
“There is a H&S/Highways requirement for these lights, however the contractors have acquired some film to apply to the hoarding lights to reduce the brightness.”
Shirland Road Medical Centre
We are supporting the Doctors at the Shirland Road Medical Centre in their plans to move to Queen’s Park Health Centre so they can continue to serve their local patients. We were delighted to hear from the Doctors that;
“We have now received the lease documents and written agreement in an email that the improvement work will be completed in January in time for our agreed start date at Queens Park Health Centre on 1st February 2021.”
St Marylebone Bridge School
After many months of planning and preparation, the works to build the new St Marylebone Bridge special school on the site of the single storey building on the Wilberforce School site are scheduled to begin in January. The refurbishment of Wilberforce primary school by United Learning is nearing completion, and the school will be moving across from the single storey building during the next few weeks.
The construction is currently due to commence on 11th January 2021 and be complete by March 2022. For further details contact Kevin Hendley, Project Manager at Kevin.Hendley@gallifordtry.co.uk (01483 477 000)
Environmental Issues
- Bravington Road – We have the Council to contact the owners of 125 and 157 Bravington Road after residents told us “The rubbish has been dumped in the front gardens of 125 and 157 Bravington Road for over three months now. The rubbish is starting to degrade and look really disgusting, and whoever dumped it there has had plenty of time to get rid of it but hasn’t done so.”
- Sixth Avenue – We have asked the Street Lighting team to fix a broken street light near 34 Sixth Avenue.
- Bravington Road – We asked the Highways team to arrange for a blocked drain to be fixed.
- Shirland Road/Ashmore Road junction – We have again urged the Council to impose maximum fines on those people wo continue to dump rubbish.
- Beethoven Street – We asked the Tree Officer to fix a tree which has been knocked off the upright position and needs straightening. A week later, residents told us; “Thank you for your help with this. I walked by yesterday and the tree looked straightened up again”
- Barfett Street – We have asked the Street Lighting team to fix a broken street light at the corner of Barfett Street and Caird Street.
- Malvern Road – We asked our local Inspectors to remove dumped rubbish in Malvern Road.
Housing Issues
- Harrow Road – We asked the Environmental Health team to help a resident who was having problems with a broken gutter next door. A few days later she told us, “I am pleased to say that the gutter/downpipe has now been fixed and my part of the guttering cleared. The water seems to be clearing well now.”
- Huxley Street – We are helping a resident in Huxley Street with problems of mould in their home.
- Brooke Court, Kilburn Lane – We have asked A2Dominion if timers could be installed to the internal lighting system so that lights go out at night and do not disturb neighbouring residents.
- Bravington Road – We are making enquiries with the Council about long-delayed and uncompleted repairs to a house in Bravington Road where residents were to leave the conditions were so bad.
- Parry Road – We have asked the Housing Department to investigate the increasing number of vacant and boarded up houses in Parry Road and to ensure that they are made available for rent soon.
- Birch House – We have asked the Housing Department to investigate reports of long-standing damp in a flat in Birch House.
Dogs
If you have any issues with dogs you can contact Crissie Chambers (canineculture@googlemail.com) as well as Nuno Reis (nreis@westminster.gov.uk) and they will deal with them together on their twice weekly patrols.
North Paddington FoodbankIf you can help the foodbank or are in need of emergency support, please see the information here: https://www.npfoodbank.org.uk/
If you need the foodbank, or know someone in need please call 07511 590997The Foodbank is on the frontline helping more people than ever before in a very difficult situation. Please donate here
Blood Donors
The NHS Blood and Transplant service is appealing for donations from people who have recovered from coronavirus to help save lives as London moves from “medium” to “high” alert. Donating blood plasma is a simple procedure and very similar to giving a normal blood donation but the red blood cells are returned to the patient and the process takes a little longer.
The nearest donor centre is at 26 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia. W1. Anyone who has had coronavirus, either a test result or the symptoms, can offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visitinghttps://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk to arrange an appointment to donate.
Warm Homes Discount Scheme
You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2020 to 2021 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2020 to 2021 will open on 12 October 2020. The money is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between September and March. See here for more details https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
Jobs and Skills
Microsoft and LinkedIn have produced a free programme to help those looking for a job and learn new skillswww.opportunity.linkedin.com
Cycle Mechanics
If you’re between 18-24 and looking at building a new skill that is in high demand, Westminster Wheels offers a paid six-month programme in cycle mechanics. By joining the project, you will be able to (1) learn how to refurbish unwanted bikes and provide affordable high-quality bikes for Westminster residents and (2) get a training and employment experience to help prepare you for a career in the growing cycle industry. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/westminster-wheels-programme .
‘Early Voting’ – Voting by post
Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting. Millions of people in the USA voted early by using a postal vote. You can, too!
You can use this form to apply to vote by post:
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&Shttps://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/g15049323/brands-reward-throwing-things-away/
Report It
You can report dumped rubbish, graffiti, broken paving stones and street lights and more to the 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 options).
Local Police
You can keep an eye on the latest local crime information through the Met Police website:https://www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/met/westminster/queens-park/
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
Test and Trace Support Payments
You may be entitled to a Test and Trace Support Payment of £500 if you are self-isolating because of COVID-19 and you are either employed or self-employed. The payment is to support people on low incomes who are unable to work from home if they are told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and lose income as a result.
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
Queen’s Park Covid-19 Task Force
Queen’s Park Community Council has set up a Covid-19 Task Force. The Task Force is coordinating help and support for local people. If you can spare some time and would like to volunteer during lockdown please sign up here
For help or further information, you can phone 0208 960 5644 and leave a message, or text 07511 590 997 or visit https://queensparkcommunitycouncil.gov.uk/covid-19-response/.
Beware the Coronavirus scammers
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/27/beware-the-coronavirus-scammers/
What you say
“Thank you so much for both your recent emails – very grateful. The newsletter is a good, informative read as ever! Nice to have the lights on at Ha’penny Steps”
“Thank you for an informative newsletter”
“I really do appreciate your thorough response, it has restored my faith that there are still good people at there trying to do good things!”
“Just wanted to let you know that Westminster reimbursed me for the dehumidifier. Thanks again for all your support throughout.”
Please let us know if we can be of any assistance.
Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your neighbours. If you know of anyone else who might like to receive this report, please send them this sign-up link http://bit.ly/signuplabnews
Keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours.
Regards
Paul Dimoldenberg, Patricia McAllister and Hamza Taouzzale
Your Queen’s Park Ward Labour Councillors – Here to Help
pdimoldenberg@westminster.gov.uk
pmcallister@westminster.gov.uk
Facebook @QPLabourTeam