CHURCH STREET WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – April 2021
News from your Church Street Labour Councillors Aicha Less, Matt Noble and Aziz Toki
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.
Below are some of the Church Street issues we have been taking up recently, many as a result of residents’ responses to our regular newsletters. Let us know if we can take up a local issue in your area.
You can read our latest news on http://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk
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 let us know if we can be of any help or assistance.
Former Paddington Green Police Station
You can read the latest on the plans for the former Paddington Green Police Station site here https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/new-skyscraper-could-replace-mets-former-counter-terrorism-hq/
A planning application has now been submitted and you can make comments on line at https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/ using reference 21/02193/FULL
Canalside lighting
We have raised this issue with the Council:
“Many residents use the canal path to go to the Regent’s Park mosque. The railway line underpass is sometimes very dark and hazardous. Some lights used to be working, but currently, they are not working. These lights need urgent attention for pedestrian safety.”
The Council say that the Canal & River Trust is responsible for the lighting of the underpass and we will be pressing them to take urgent action.
Edgware Road – Planning deregulation threatens local shops
We have drawn attention to the threat to our local shops from Government decisions to allow landlords to convert shops, cafes, restaurants and offices into flats without planning permission. This deregulation of “permitted development rights” for Class E premises threatens all shopping parades outside conservation areas.
Retail units were not designed to be lived in and conversions are often low quality with little natural light or outside space. Worryingly, there is also no obligation on landlords using these new permitted development rights to provide any affordable housing.
Councillor Matt Noble, Church Street Ward councillor said:
“Edgware Road is one of London’s most dynamic streets and it caters for communities not well served elsewhere. Property prices in the surrounding streets are very high and landlords will be tempted to convert retail and restaurant units into low quality flats with little natural light. Westminster Council needs to take this threat seriously and produce a plan to save Edgware Road.”
The Blue Lamp
Dave Hill writes about The Blue Lamp, the iconic 1950s film that was filmed in Paddington around the Grand Union Canal and Edgware Road.
https://www.onlondon.co.uk/the-london-of-the-blue-lamp-and-dixon-of-dock-green/
Edgware Road
You might like Jago Hazzard’s YouTube video called “Too Many Edgware Roads’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RklIYScYds
Voting by post
It is 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/
Food Waste collections – update
Following our enquiries about food waste collections, we have received the following update:
“Our food waste collection pilot schemes were unfortunately curtailed due to covid but we are currently finalising plans to recommence the roll-out of food waste collections to all residents. We expect to start introducing food waste collections from September this year but the timetable for services to individual wards hasn’t yet been agreed.”
Help when there is a power cut
UK Power Networks has a free Priority Services Register (PSR) for residents. People on the Priority Services Register get extra support during a power cut, including:
- A priority number that they can call 24 hours a day
- Text and voice message alerts
- In certain scenarios UKPN may also offer a free hotel overnight and transport to the hotel, or complementary hot meals whilst they fix the power cut
There is no cost for being on the Priority Services Register, nor is there ever any charges for any of the free support residents will receive during a power cut.
Residents can register if they, or a member of their household:
- Has a medical condition, mental or physical impairment or requires reasonable adjustments
- Is of pensionable age
- Has children under the age of 5 years
- Is struggling with mental health
- Is undergoing difficult circumstances such as bereavement, job loss, etc.
- Needs communications to be in a different language or format
You can sign up by visiting www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/councils, calling the free number 0800 169 9970 or sending an email to psr@ukpowernetworks.co.uk
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.
‘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
Report It
You can report rubbish dumping, graffiti, broken street lights and more at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
Dispelling the vaccination myths
Here is the link to a video featuring Black 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
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/
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
Keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours in these difficult times.
Regards
Councillors Aicha Less, Matt Noble and Aziz Toki
Your Church Street Labour Councillors – Here to Help
aless@westminster.gov.uk
mnoble@westminster.gov.uk
atoki@westminster.gov.uk