ST JOHN’S WOOD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – June 2021
News from the St John’s Wood Labour Action Team
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Elgood House
We have asked the Housing Team to investigate the broken lock to the bin store in Elgood House where there have been reports of a rough sleeper living there. The Housing Team tell us:
“There were 2 people rough sleeping in both the bin area and an empty garage on the Wellington Estate. Our Outreach team referred both of them to Passage House Assessment Centre and managed to find accommodation for one person. We now have one person still at the location, who was sleeping in the bin area. The client has disengaged from Outreach after agreeing to move into accommodation and a supported reconnection sourced with Camden or another London Borough.
We did place a padlock on this door to try and prevent this gentleman from gaining access to the area but regrettably it has been vandalized. We are working with the repairs team to move this case forward. The housing team are actively working on trying to resolve the problem.”
We have now been informed that a new, more robust lock has been fitted to the bin store.
Hamilton Gardens
We have asked the Police and the Council to investigate this issue:
“I wanted to reach out as we have an ongoing anti-social problem in the normally quiet cul-de-sac corner of Hamilton Gardens. Exactly because it is so quiet we are often frequented by drug dealers and other car visitors who will sit in their car for hours, eat in their cars and then discard their waste through their windows, leaving it all over the road.”
The Council say:
“Veolia street sweepers cover Hamilton Gardens and surrounding streets weekday AM period, so they will clean up litter and mess accordingly. I will engage with Veolia, just to ensure the cul-de-sac section of Hamilton Gardens is given more attention.”
We also asked the Council to take action on a recent hit-and-run incident which damaged a resident’s car.
Oslo Court
We have asked the Environmental Health Team to investigate this enquiry from residents:
“Now that the Oslo Court restaurant is open you can hear for yourself how loud the air condition unit is. A terrible drone which disturbs the peace. I can hear it droning from here.”
Canal Tow path
We have written to the Canal & River Rust about this long-standing issue:
“Could you find out when will we regain access to the Regent’s Canal towpath from the North end of the Maida Hill Tunnel to the access near Park Road. This section has been closed, nominally for repairs, for two years or more.”
The Canal & River Trust say
“The towpath has been closed since the spring of 2019 due to the towpath being unsafe. There are two main reasons for this, oil leaking from the redundant underground cables and a collapsed waterway wall in a couple of areas along the towpath. The oil has been purged from the cables and as such is no longer a problem.
The waterway wall repair works are due to be done from the 19/4/21 – 25/7/21. Once these are complete and Permanent Moorings returned to their berths, I believe our health & safety department should be attending site and giving their opinion on the re-opening.”
Blandford Estate
We have asked the Housing Department to give us an update on this issue raised by Blandford Estate residents:
“Our major works programme is now over 10 years behind schedule and has just been delayed another 2, previously it was the pressure of cladding works, now the excuse is the pandemic. There are areas of the estate that just begin to look derelict.”
St John’s Wood Road
At the request of residents, we have asked the Tree Officer if the trees along St John’s Wood Road can be pruned in the autumn. He has referred this to TfL who are responsible for this road.
Royal Parks toilets
We have contacted The Royal Parks about this issue:
“The toilets inside the Royal Parks (Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Regents Park) have changed access from putting a 20p coin into a slot to open the barrier, to having to put a debit or credit card onto a reader. The problem is that they just do not work, and nobody can get into the toilets. This is a huge nuisance and does need rectifying immediately. I have tried to find a park office, and of course there are never any attendants at the toilets to complain to.”
E-scooters – what you say
“Currently, an electric scooter can now come up behind me silently & at a frightening speed (faster than a bicycle) dangerously scaring the life out of me! Are electric scooter-riders licensed & insured? Do they have to take a proficiency test? Are they even aware of the Highway Code? Do they have lights? As an otherwise independent pensioner, I resent the fact that I now seem to have been demoted & ‘prevented’ from being able to walk along the pavement, safely. Remember. pedestrians have nowhere else to go!”
Regent’s Park – what you say
Once again, we have received a number of different views:
“There has recently been a consultation on cars in the Royal Parks and now to state none should be in the Outer Circle is absurd. London’s roads were built centuries ago before cars, bicycles and scooters. We have to accept the provision is not ideal but a war between the various demands of the present day is not useful. The aim is to make the streets and pavements safe as possible for everyone. Public transport if well provided should reduce car use but there are occasions when the car is the only possible option for a particular journey or user. If everyone observed the rules, speed limits, and where they are allowed, life would be safer and pleasant when out.”
“I would like to see more done to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians. I do not support penalising cyclists who cycle through the park because they don’t feel safe. I would like to see the outer circle prohibited to all motor vehicles – excepting the usual emergency vehicles, or vehicles which have business at an address on the outer circle, e.g. the Zoo/ Winfield House etc”
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/
E-scooters
The police have told us the following:
“Currently in the UK, you can legally buy an e-scooter, but you cannot ride it on a public road, cycle lane or pavement. The only place it can be used is on private land. The reason for this is that e-scooters are treated as motor vehicles by the Department of Transport and are subject to the same legal requirement as other vehicles, such as MOT, licencing, tax and insurance. Because they don’t always have number plates, signalling ability or visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the roads.
What happens if I am stopped by the police? The police will advise you on the law and may ask you to take your e-scooter home. They may, however, still penalise you depending on the seriousness of the offence. If caught riding an e-scooter, fines you may receive can include: (a) a Fixed Penalty Notice for no insurance, with a £300 fine and six penalty points, (b) a Fixed Penalty Notice for no driving licence, up to £100 fine and three-six penalty points.
Other offences which may result in penalties include riding on the footpath, using a mobile phone, riding through red lights and drink driving offences.”
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
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
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 dumped rubbish, potholes, uneven pavements and other hazards to the Council’s ‘Report It’ service https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
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/
What you say
“Thank you for your helpful reports and initiatives”
“Really, really appreciate your prompt response here so thank you very much.”
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 – Here to Help, All Year Round