ST JOHN’S WOOD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – March 2021
News from the St John’s Wood Labour Action Team
Dear Resident,
We hope you are well.
With the number of people getting vaccinated increasing every day and the number of people testing positive for coronavirus decreasing, we hope that we will soon be through the pandemic. Along with Karen Buck MP, we are doing all we can to help the local community and individual residents and their families.
You can read our latest news on http://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/
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. If you know of anyone else who might like to receive this report, please send them this sign-up link http://bit.ly/signuplabnews
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Council Tax
We voted against the Council Tax rise proposed by Westminster Conservatives because now is not the time for tax rises. We believe the Council should be sending a message to the Government that they should be the ones to fund vital local services at this unprecedented time.
For the last decade, we have identified examples of local waste and suggested efficiency savings to help protect local services to those most in need. We will continue to suggest new ways to protect council services and, as in previous years, we will accept the proposed increase in the Adult Social Care precept to limit the cuts in care for the elderly and vulnerable, services that have proved so vital during the pandemic.
Abbey Road
We have asked the local City Inspector to investigate this issue:
“The residents living in the blocks of flats between 35-40 Abbey Road have had persistent problems with overflowing rubbish bins, foxes exploiting the rubbish, and neighbours roving the neighbourhood in search of empty rubbish bins for them to use. We want to secure one additional rubbish collection as well so that we always have the use of our own bins to discard their rubbish, and to prevent the rubbish being strewn across the road by the foxes.”
Also, a street sign from Abbey Road has sold for more than £37,000 at auction. The classic white, black and red sign was created in 1967 by Sir Misha Black and was one of 275 signs being sold on behalf of Westminster City Council.
Boundary Road
We have asked the Street Lighting Team to investigate this issue:
“The street light in Westminster on the corner of Boundary Road going north to Swiss Cottage has been broken for several days and is completely dark at night”
Boyton House
We have asked the Housing Department to investigate reports of anti-social behaviour at a flat in Boyton House.
Nothwick Close
We have asked the Highways Team to investigate problems with the drainage in Northwick Close. Residents say:
“Several residents have reported this to Thames Water in the past fortnight but nothing seems to be happening. The water is rising and increasing in volume.”
St Anne’s Terrace/Circus Road junction
We have asked the local City Inspector to investigate this recurring issue:
“An old bike is again parked on a bicycle stand outside Pret a Manger on the corner of St Anne’s Terrace and Circus Road St John’s Wood. This time it has three new padlocks on it and the crude notice says: Man & Van £30 p/h. It is an eyesore and prevents anyone else using the stand to leave a bike.”
A few days later, residents commented:
“That was quick! I see a removal notice already on the old bike outside Pret a Manger in St John’s Wood, well done”
However, a few days’ later, the advertising bike was back. We have now asked for the bike to be confiscated.
St John’s Wood Park
We have alerted the police to a number of parking issues in St John’s Wood Park.
Circus Road
We have asked the local City Inspector to investigate this issue:
“Outside old Post Office on Circus Road there is a small space with two benches, always in use. Pigeons hover there all day waiting for scraps and there is no council bin nearby to deposit litter. People just leave their sandwich wrappers and cans on the benches. As a new sushi restaurant is going to open there soon, could the council consider a new bin there?”
The City Inspector tells us:
“I will check if the current street litter bin by the public benches has been removed. There was building works recently here, so the bin may have been relocated to facilitate such works.”
Wellington Road
We asked the Highways Team to investigate a long-running water leak outside St John’s Wood Station. The Highways Team say:
“This water leak is on the TfL network south of junction with Queen’s Terrace. Thames are on site with a projected end date of 19/03/21 The ponding at the crossing point on Wellington Road is being caused by a blocked gully.”
Regent’s Park
Edward Kellow writes about the secrets of St John’s Lodge Garden
https://fitzrovianews.com/2021/03/08/the-secret-of-st-johns-lodge-garden/
St John’s Wood Air Quality
The St John’s Wood Society has been using diffusion tubes to monitor pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) since 2017, doing so every second month at roughly 30 sites across NW8. The results are available from a link at the foot of the Society’s air quality webpage (or from click here).
The annual average NO2 concentration in and around St John’s Wood has declined considerably over the last couple of years, due particularly to the ULEZ and (for most of the last twelve months) also to the pandemic.Unsurprisingly, given their heavy traffic, TfL Red Routes continue to be amongst the most polluted, with NO2 concentrations tending to exceed the legal limit (at the sites from which measurements have been made).
The annual average NO2 concentration along the A41 Wellington Road where footfall is particularly heavy (just south from St John’s Wood tube station) no longer exceeds the legal limit. NO2 concentrations are – now – also lower than that limit on other busy routes through NW8. The downwards trend may well continue, in anticipation of the ULEZ being extended to the North and South Circular roads.
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/
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
Mayoral Election on 6th May – Voting by post
The Government has announced that the London Mayoral and GLA elections will be going ahead on 6th May 2021.
Some people may be concerned about going to the polling stations in person, having to wear a mask and waiting in a socially-distanced queue.
It will be much easier, quicker and safer to vote by post.
You can use this form to apply for a postal 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.
Rita Begum is Labour’s candidate for West Central in the GLA Elections
You can visit Rita’s website at https://www.ritabegum.com/
‘Westminster Extra’
You can 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
Dispelling the vaccination myths
Here is the link to a video featuring Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic celebrities dispelling myths about the vaccine and encouraging people to have the vaccination
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Ald__AhbI
Interactive Map
You can see the latest data for your area here
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map
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
Westminster Connects COVID-19 phone line – 020 7641 1222
Help and Advice for businesses
You can get the latest information here https://www.westminster.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-businesses
Beware the Coronavirus scammers
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/27/beware-the-coronavirus-scammers/
What you say
“Recently I wrote to the Conservative Councillors for NW8 area. I haven’t had a reply from the Councillors, and in fact this is my second time of writing to them in 10 years and I never received a reply from the first time either.”
“Good luck with any coming elections and thanks for keeping in touch with updates.”
“Thanks for your input along the way. Very much appreciated.”
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