News from your Hyde Park & Paddington Labour Action Team – Judith Southern, Paul Fisher and Paul Dimoldenberg
Dear Resident,
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 coming to an end. We are doing all we can to help the local community and individual residents and their families.
Over the last month residents in Hyde Park Ward have raised issues with us and this is a summary of the action we have been taking, together with an update on a number of local issues. You can read our latest news on https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
If you know of anyone else who might like to receive this report, please send them this sign-up link http://bit.ly/signuplabnews
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road/Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Talbot Square
We have asked the Environmental Health Team to inspect a growing pile of building material and rubble at the corner of Talbot Square and Sussex Gardens.
Edgware Road/Burrwood Place
We have asked the Council to fix a broken signpost at the junction of Edgware Road and Burrwood Place.
Tyburn Convent, Bayswater Road
We have written to the Prioress at the Tyburn Convent on Bayswater Road about the noise throughout the day from the cockerel which has been disturbing residents in St George’s Fields for some time.
Porchester Place
A green plaque in honour of the life and legacy of iconic artist Halima Nałęcz is to be mounted at 5 Porchester Place, which was the site of one of her most renowned galleries, Drian. You can read about her here
Hyde Park Estate Residents – HyPER
HyPER, a new residents’ group has been established by Hyde Park Estate residents. They say:
“HyPER works with all residents to create a sense of community in the Hyde Park Estate, based on the principles of respect, inclusivity and good citizenship. Membership is free and open to all residents of the Estate. We co-ordinate our activities with Westminster Council, the Paddington Neighbourhood Forum, Business Improvement Districts including local businesses and the Church Commissioners, in order to make our neighbourhood a cleaner, greener, healthier and safer place. We will work to reduce through-traffic, create more pedestrian spaces such as piazzas, and enrich the neighbourhood with family-friendly events.”
For more details, visit https://hyper.uk/
Hyde Park Estate – Open Garden
The National Garden Scheme, Open Garden, will return on Saturday 17 April and five gardens on the Hyde Park Estate will be opened to the public for this special day. Gardens included are The Water Gardens, Coniston Court, Devonport, The Quadrangle, and Reflection 2020. Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance here.
For more information https://marble-arch.london/news/open-garden-2021/
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Junction Place
We asked the Council to replace the missing top to a pavement duct outside 1 Junction Place which is causing a trip hazard for pedestrians. We also asked for a dumped bike chained to the railings on the corner of St Michael\s Place to be removed.
Bouverie Place
We asked the Refuse Collection team to remove a dumped washing machine and other household material from Bouverie Place.
Royal Exchange, Sale Place
We are delighted to hear that the Royal Exchange pub will soon be back open. A recent tweet said: “Plenty of lovely neighbours have poked their head in and said hello but thought we’d let the world know. This pub will not be flats! Plenty of work to be done, but we’ll be opening up as soon as we can. See you soon for a beer.”
Praed Street
We have asked the Council to take action to stop the unauthorized taxi rank outside the Hilton Hotel on Praed Street. Residents say:
“I have noticed that with the removal of the ‘pavement widening’ scheme in Praed Street outside the Hilton Hotel, the black cabs are back waiting for customers on the double yellow line. As usual, blocking a lane in Praed Street, increasing local congestion, making it more difficult to cycle and polluting with their idling engines – de-facto turning the street in a taxi rank – when there is a perfectly adequate taxi rank for Paddington station.”
The Head of Highways told us: “I’ve tasked parking to attend and action as appropriate. I’ve also asked TfL to look at enforcing as they license the black cabs.”
Chapel Street
We have asked the Highways Team to investigate a long-standing problem with a blocked gully on Chapel Street outside Hyde Park Mansions.
Paddington Station
You can see a short video of the new Crossrail Station at Paddington Station here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5ZMm7kZxM&t=60s
Edgware Road
You might like Jago Hazzard’s YouTube video called “Too Many Edgware Roads’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RklIYScYds
The Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Travis Perkins site
We are supporting residents in Sheldon Square who are concerned about the proposal to build a 900-bed student hostel on the Travis Perkins site. We attended a Q&A webinar where we raised the following issues:
- Will there still be the same demand for new student accommodation in the post-covid world, particularly from overseas students?
- The proposed building takes up most of the site and looks out of scale and unsuited to this very restricted site
- What will the effect of building another tall building directly opposite Sheldon Square? How will Sheldon Square residents’ light be affected? Will this create a narrow ‘canyon’ along the canal through which wind will be directed making it uncomfortable for pedestrians walking along the canal?
For details of the proposals visit https://www.balticwharfpaddington.co.uk
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2021/03/27/supporting-sheldon-square-residents/
Cladding scandal
Leaseholders in a number of blocks in Hyde Park ward have been badly hit by the cladding scandal and we were very disappointed when Government MPs recently voted down a proposal to protect leaseholders from the crippling costs involved.
This article in ‘Which?’ sets out the financial issues residents have had to deal with
And an article in the Guardian looking at the political impact
Montgomery House
We have again asked the Council’s Parking Team to investigate the need for additional residents parking. There has been an increase in the number of residents living in the area which should be reflected in the amount of residents parking on adjacent streets.
Mayoral Election on 6th May – Voting by post
The London Mayoral and GLA elections are 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/
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
What you say
“Thank you for your email and for all your help with this problem. It is due to your intervention that the Council began to take the matter seriously.”
“I am glad to hear, as a resident, that you are supporting us”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
Please feel free to pass this report 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
Please keep safe, stay well and look after yourself and your neighbours.
Regards
Judith Southern, Paul Fisher and Paul Dimoldenberg
Your Hyde Park Labour Action Team
You can contact us at HydeParkLabourActionTeam@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook @LabourHydePark