News from your three Queen’s Park Ward Labour Councillors Paul Dimoldenberg, Patricia McAllister and Hamza Taouzzale and Cara Sanquest
Dear Resident,
We hope you are well.
As more people are getting vaccinated and the number of people testing positive for coronavirus is falling, we hope that the pandemic will soon be at end. 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 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.
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
New leisure centre for the Jubilee site on Lancefield Street
There will be new Leisure Centre as part of the redevelopment of the Jubilee sports centre. The new facility on Lancefield Street will include a 3-court sports hall and community room which can be used flexibly for exercise classes or community meetings. It is due to open in Autumn 2022.
The Council has asked for our thoughts on the name for the new centre and has suggested
- Jubilee Community Leisure Centre
- Queen’s Park Community Leisure Centre
Do you have a preference for either name? Do you have another suggestion?
Please let us know.
Kilburn Lane
We have asked the Highways Team to liaise with Brent Council on enforcing the 20mph speed limit. The Highways Team say; “Westminster officers are working with Brent on designs to ensure both sides of the boarder become 20mph.”
We have also repeated our call to the Council to take the necessary action to address the unpleasant cooking odours from Sam’s Chicken on Kilburn Lane which is causing problems for adjacent residents.
Naylor House
We are again supporting Naylor House residents in their opposition to a planning application for unsightly telecommunications equipment on their roof. This is the third application, with the previous two being refused.
Bruckner Street
We contacted the Housing Department following complaints from Bruckner Street residents about early morning works by the Hyperoptic broadband installation team and their failure to clear up. The Council told us:
“Operatives are not to carry out works before the agreed time of 09:00 AM and that all areas are to be cleared, cleaned and tidied on works completion. I therefore pass on sincere apologies on behalf of Westminster City Council and Hyperoptic for any distress that this has caused. This afternoon, operatives have re-attended to complete a clean and tidy of all areas and that a site briefing was held to reiterate the above expected works standards.”
Queen’s Park Gardens
We asked the Parks Team to take the necessary action on this issue:
“The litter in the bushes around the Queens Park Gardens play equipment is very bad at the moment and wonder if it can be cleaned up ASAP? The children play in the bushes and it is a health risk with the amount of rubbish that is there currently.”
The area has now been cleared.
Shirland Road/Ashmore Road
The Ashmore/Shirland Road planters are thriving and local resident Lori has kindly volunteered to give them a much-needed fresh coat of white paint. Thanks Lori!
Ha’Penny Steps – update
We have received the following update from our local Inspectors:
“Last week we were made aware that some bicycles that were at the bottom of the canal. We worked with the Canal River Trust for their removal following a magnet drag of the canal. We will continue to try to get our counterpart from K&C involved with improving the steps from both sides. We will also try to get the graffiti removed from the area.
Harrow Road – update
Following our enquiries about the missing bench outside St John’s Church, ‘engine idling’ buses and abandoned bikes, we received the following update from the Council:
“The bench will be replaced by the end of this week or early next week. In addition, the Westminster traffic Marshalls will be visiting the location and also passed this information onto TfL to instruct all drivers when on rest period to switch off their engines. Unfortunately, we could not authorise the bicycles for removal as they were claimed.”
Also, we raised this issue with the Highways Team:
“There is a collapsing manhole near my house which causes my home to shake with passing traffic. I don’t understand why this is not being fixed as part of the resurfacing! I would be grateful if you could please draw this to the attention of the relevant works department and ask for this to be addressed.”
Vacant Land and buildings
Local resident, Emily Engel, has started a petition calling on the Council to make good use of vacant properties and land in the borough. You can sign here
https://petitions.westminster.gov.uk/nospacewasted/
Environmental Issues
- Fernhead Road – we asked the Highways Team to investigate a piece of metal that was protruding from a wall on Fernhead Road. The metal has now been removed.
- Queen’s Park Gardens – we asked the Parks Team to clear broken glass in the children’s play area. The glass was cleared the same day.
- Beethoven Street – we have contacted the Council about the noise and vibrations coming from the demolition works in the grounds of Beethoven School where the new St Marylebone Bridge School is being built. We have also asked the Street Lighting Team to repair a number of non-working street lights.
- Ashmore Road – we have asked the Refuse Team to remove an abandoned safe in Ashmore Road on corner of Kilburn Lane.
- Droop Street – we have asked the Highways Team to fill a deep pothole outside Queen’s Park Primary School.
- Third Avenue – we have asked Nuno to arrange for abandoned bikes to be removed from the bike stand on the corner of Third Avenue and Droop Street
- Bravington Road – we asked the Tree Officer to arrange for an overgrown tree to be pruned.
- Huxley Road – we have asked the Housing Office to ask the residents of a house in Huxley Street to clear the rubbish at the front of their house.
- Portnall Road – we have asked for additional street sweeping and refuse collection along Portnall Road.
- Queen’s Park Court – we have asked the Street Sweeping team to empty the dog waste bin outside Queen’s Park Court which residents say has not been emptied for months. The bin has now been emptied.
- Marne Street – we have asked for additional street sweeping and refuse collection along Marne Street. Residents say: “I and several other residents really appreciate your help with this. I and another resident went out with our own litter pickers and did a cleaning run. I do this quite regularly unfortunately as it can get unsightly. It’s particularly bad on the rubbish/recycling days. I think some people put out the night before.”
- Ash House – we asked the Tree Officer if the trees outside Ash House could be pruned as they are blocking the light from a number of flats.
Housing and other Issues
- Ash House, Heather Walk – we asked the Housing Office to investigate problems with the col water supply at a flat in Ash House
- Banister House, Bruckner Street – we asked the Housing Office to take urgent action to repair a water leak at a flat in Banister House.
- Lothrop Street – we contacted Peabody to ask them to prune a tree at the back of a house in Lothrop Street.
- Oliphant Street – we are helping an elderly resident with Council Tax benefit and other issues.
- Bravington Road – we have asked the Parking Team to help a family who need assistance in making appropriate parking arrangements for a disabled member of the family. We are helping another family who have been experiencing regular flooding from an upstairs flat.
- First Avenue – we have asked the Housing Office to investigate the damage that has been done to a neighbouring property by a tree at the rear of a house in First Avenue.
- Local businesses – we have been helping a number of local businesses with their applications to the Council for financial support during the pandemic.
- Enbrook Street – we have asked the Parking Team to check that all vehicles parked in Enbrook Street have a valid residents’ parking permit, following enquiries from residents.
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.
Remembering Ziauddin Shakeb
We were very sad to hear of the death of Ziauddin Shakeb who lived in Third Avenue since 1987. His grandson wrote his obituary which appeared in the ‘Guardian’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/07/ziauddin-shakeb-obituary
Remembering Philip Wolmuth
We were also very sad to hear of the death from cancer of the photographer Philip Wolmuth who set up the North Paddington Community Darkroom and documented life in 1970s and early 1980s North Paddington. His photographs documented the rich cultural diversity and economic deprivation in communities that existed alongside the very rich. His family said:
“Philip had a strong sense of social justice. He sought to document the reality of people’s lives in an unjust society, including community struggles, low paid work, struggling and privatised public services. He hoped through photography to help change people’s lives for the better and his photos were used to support many campaigns.”
You can see some of Philp’s photographs here https://www.philipwolmuth.com/
Queen’s Park Book Festival
The Queen’s Park Book Festival will return on the weekend of 18th and 19th September 2021. For further details visit https://queensparkbookfestival.co.uk/?mc_cid=a0361e24a7&mc_eid=d675de24cf
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 Foodbank
If 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 590997
The 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.
Mayoral Election on 6th May – Voting by post
The Government has announced that the London Mayoral and GLA elections will go 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 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
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
We sent an email to everyone to publicise the ‘pop-up’ vaccination centre at the Beethoven Centre on Sunday 29th March. We hope that this initiative by local doctors gave residents the opportunity to be vaccinated close to home. One resident told us:
“Got my vax1 letter last Saturday but nearest centres are now White City and further. I think St Charles is fully booked for now. Great initiative here, hope they can extend and do vax2s.”
We are delighted that there was an excellent turn-out and 118 vaccinations were given.
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
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. For help or further information, you can phone 0208 960 5644 and leave a message, or text 07511 590 997 or visithttps://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
“Thanks for the informative report”
“I’m very appreciative of your work”
“Thank you for your continuous support for our community. It is greatly appreciated.”
“Thank you ever so much for being there for me, all the time!”
“Thank you so much for raising this and I am delighted to see that it is being given attention.”
“I can’t thank you enough for all your assistance, it’s much appreciated.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate your help and genuinely feel like I am finally being listened to.”
And finally…..
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg is stepping down as a Queen’s Park Councillor in May 2022. You can read more here
Please let us know if we can be of any assistance.
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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