HARROW ROAD WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – July 2021
News from your three Harrow Road Councillors Ruth Bush, Guthrie McKie and Tim Roca
Flash Flooding
The recent heavy rainfall caused serious flooding, leaving dozens of basement flats uninhabitable. Flood water rising from the sewers reached as high as three feet in some homes. Residents’ furniture and bedding was ruined and many treasured possessions destroyed. This comes despite a £17m flood prevention scheme by Thames Water which built two giant reservoirs – at Westbourne Green and Tamplin Mews Gardens – specifically to contain the risk of sewer flooding.
We have worked with the charity One Westminster to launch a crowd-funding campaign to help local residents hit by the floods. The crowdfunding link is here https://localgiving.org/appeal/WestminsterResidentsFloodFundraisingAppeal1/
All monies will be used to support to residents in replacing items or costs incurred due to the floods.
These are not luxury flats. Most of the affected families are social tenants on Kilburn Park Road and Shirland Road and many cannot afford insurance. Many are older or vulnerable residents who don’t have the capacity to deal with this level of devastation.
It was heart-breaking to see residents piling their water-logged possessions in the street. In the short-term we have been in touch with Westminster Housing and Notting Hill Genesis demanding action to help their tenants cope with the damage and disruption. Longer term, we need answers about how this was allowed to happen. It seems that the expensive new flood defences failed and we need to know why. This can’t be allowed to happen again.
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/maida-vale-flash-floods-leave-basement-flats-uninhabitable-8142056
For advice on how residents can get support
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/flash-flooding-westminster
For details of support for businesses impacted by the flash-flooding
https://mailchi.mp/westminster/business-update-146746?e=aee1a1aa77
Former Chippenham pub
Work has begun on the pub area of the building. We are concerned that the heritage tiles should be protected, as promised, and are making urgent enquiries about this, as well as seeking to ensure safety for pedestrians as works proceed.
Anti-social behaviour
We are in ongoing contact with a number of residents groups, working with police and council officers to deal with anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods.
Litter dumping
This remains a continuing problem. We press the Council and Veolia to be as efficient as possible, but we would urge everyone to keep their rubbish and recycling inside until collection days or put it inside (not outside) the Big Black Bins. Please don’t plonk it by trees or lamp posts or on the pavement.
The link to your collection dates appears later in this newsletter and also here:
http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/env/streetsearch.aspx
Morgan Sindall Parking and Idling
A number of residents have raised the issue of excessive numbers of Morgan Sindall contractor vehicles parking and idling near their Goldney Rd Office. We raised this with the Council and Morgan Sindall have now issued a reminder to all staff that they are not permitted to park within 1 mile of their Goldney Road office or on any of the following places:
- Warlock Road
- Corner of Elgin Avenue and Chippenham Road
- Junctions, in residents’ bays, and for long periods on single yellow lines ‘at all times of the day and night’, when the parking does not to relate to any works being carried out in the vicinity
and not to idle anywhere.
The Council has also warned of the potential removal of parking privileges if the problem persists, and Morgan Sindall will follow up with disciplinary action if the offending drivers are identified.
Edbroke Road Gardens Picnic Tables
After residents raised concerns that the raised concrete edges the tables sat on might be a hazard, particularly to young children, we asked that the issue be rectified. Works were underway this week to raise the grass around the base and make the edges safe.
Maida Hill Market place
We have asked the Council to arrange for Maida Hill Market Place to be given a clean up after receiving this message from a Vaccine Bus volunteer:
“The area was quite dirty which wasn’t ideal for the Vaccine Bus, but also not very nice for the Market Traders or the people who pass through or gather there. I know there’s a problem with street drinking and marijuana smoking there which contributes to the uncleanliness of the area, but I’ve also seen one of the regulars there sweeping before they sat down to play cards. I think the benches and pavement could benefit from more regular pressure washing.”
The Council says:
“Maida Hill market is flushed on a daily basis, especially where the fish stall is, at about 6pm. It is not easy to flush there as there is heavy foot fall, in fact most of the afternoon and evening. Maybe a proper early flush (between 6:30 AM- 7:30 AM) would be more appropriate and we would still visit on Evenings?’
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-Scooter hire trial
Transport for London is holding an e-scooter hire trial over the coming months. If you have any comments on the trial, please contact TfL by email at haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk.
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/
What you say
“Many thanks for your sustained commitment to – and effective work on behalf of – Westminster North residents.”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
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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