HARROW ROAD WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – May 2021
News from your three Harrow Road Councillors Ruth Bush, Guthrie McKie and Tim Roca
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
Fernhead Road
We are making enquiries with the Council about this issue affecting Fernhead Road residents:
“For some time now, we’ve had to live with a lot of noise, and some tremors, when vehicles drive across our building on Fernhead Road. It looks like there is a fault in the road itself where when vehicles (mostly buses, trucks etc.) drive over a section of it there is a thud and movement which is a real annoyance, particularly at night where some buses run late into the night and the early mornings. This happens often during the day and night. And this is not good for us residents but also critically it can’t be good for the building itself.
The other serious issue is speeding buses, especially at night when the street is empty. Some buses just come hurtling down the street which make the noise and impact worse.”
Kilburn Park Road/Shirland Road pedestrian crossing
We have asked the Road Safety Team to investigate this issue with a view to introducing measures to improve pedestrian safety at the pedestrian crossing:
“Incidents both yesterday and today have woken me up to the fact that this crossing is completely unsafe. I was almost hit crossing it yesterday, to the point that another driver confronted the car as he just wasn’t looking when he drove through the crossing. And today was particularly bad. A car turned in from Shirland Road on completely the wrong side of the road and almost hit a woman pushing a buggy with a small child in it. I think our screams were the only think that stopped the driver.
Cars often jump the queue at the traffic lights, drive down the wrong side of Shirland Road and then cut in at speed, and just don’t look. The other issue is that cars often pull onto the crossing and stop to turn right into Shirland Road, obscuring pedestrians who may be crossing. This route is also used by countless school children, so needs to be safer.”
Chippenham Road/Shirland Road
We have asked the Highways Team to fix the potholes and cracks are at the crossing/traffic lights at the Chippenham Road/Shirland Road junction. The road surface is generally in poor condition with lots of cracks, as is the pavement/kerb.
Bradiston Road
Following enquiries from residents, we asked the Council to remove a piece of contractors’ fencing from Bradiston Road which was blocking the pavement and becoming a focus for rubbish dumping.
The Blue Lamp
Dave Hill writes about The Blue Lamp, the iconic 1950s film that was filmed in Paddington around the Grand Union Canal, Harrow Road and Edgware Road.
https://www.onlondon.co.uk/the-london-of-the-blue-lamp-and-dixon-of-dock-green/
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 visiting https://www.nhsbt.nhs.ukto arrange an appointment to donate.
Survey of Residents’ Views
We want to know what you think the Council’s priorities should be over the coming years. Please let us know by completing this short survey so we can take action on your priorities. Thank you
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90333853/Westminster-Labour-Survey
Report It
You can report dumped rubbish, broken street lights, graffiti and more using the Report It service https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
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
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.
‘Westminster Extra’
You can read the Westminster Extra online
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
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/
Local Police
You can read the latest news from the local police here https://www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/met/westminster/harrow-road/
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
Please keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours.
Regards
Councillors Ruth Bush, Guthrie McKie and Tim Roca.
Your Harrow Road Labour Councillors – Here to Help, All Year Round