News from your Hyde Park Labour Action Team – Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road/Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Albion Mews
We have asked the Council to reinstate regular street sweeping in Albion Mews after receiving this message from residents:
“I’m hoping that you can help with an issue in Albion Mews. Westminster City Council has hired contractors to sweep and clean the area, but they have not visited Albion Mews in months. Cleaning used to happen twice a week, but now dead leaves build up into large piles and we residents have been dealing with it ourselves. We’d appreciate it if you could help get regular cleaning started again, or otherwise ensure that we are not paying council fees for cleaning that is not taking place.”
The Council say:
“A City Inspector will be inspecting the area and liaising with Veolia regarding the street current cleaning schedule and any improvements that may be required. We will update once this has been reviewed.”
Corner of Connaught Square/Porchester Place
Residents tell us that the corner of Connaught Street and Porchester Place suffers from constant dumping. The pavement is now filthy and needs a ‘deep clean’. In terms of a long-term remedy, residents suggest
“This has been a constant problem and it may perhaps be addressed by extending the Santandar cycle docking station around to Connaught Street. Or maybe ‘cutting off’ this corner with more planters.”
We have asked the Council to take the necessary action.
Bayswater Road/Edgware Road
We have again written to BT to ask that they take immediate action to clean the bank of red phone boxes on the corner of Bayswater Road and Edgware Road, London W2. As residents say,
“These boxes are constantly full of dumped bedding and unbelievable rubbish and human excrement. Surely BT have a duty of care to regularly clean them, and in these Covid-19 times, to regularly sanitise them.”
BT tell us that they have cleaned the one working phone box but were unable to clean the others as they are being used to store bedding. We have asked the Housing Department to offer assistance to the homeless people who are using the phone boxes as somewhere to sleep.
Bathurst Street/Westbourne Street
We are continuing to urge the Council to take strong action against those responsible for dumping rubbish by the tree at the junction of Bathurst Street and Westbourne Street.
Pop up Planting
We very much support HyPER’s proposal for ‘Pop up Planting’ “to turn pockets of the local area into community flower beds and gardens. We want to enhance the public space for both residents and visitors, making green spaces to walk through and spend time at.”
https://hyper.uk/pop-up-plants/
We think this idea could be extended throughout the Hyde Park Ward, particularly in locations which are plagued by rubbish dumping.
Marble Arch Mound
The £6 million Marble Arch Mound fiasco continues with this article highlighting the Council’s failures
Westminster residents’ groups have issued a scathing response to the Council’s £6 million Mound fiasco and the lack of meaningful consultation on major projects.
http://westendextra.com/article/marble-arch-mound-anger-at-top-down-tories
Following the Council’s admission that its Marble Arch Mound project is costing local taxpayers a massive £6million, three times the £2 million original cost, we called for an independent inquiry into how and why the costs escalated and who was responsible for the gross mismanagement of this project. The Council has refused to hold an independent inquiry.
http://westendextra.com/article/the-mound-fiasco-needs-a-proper-inquiry
We have identified many ways in which the £6 million could have been spent to benefit local residents
Parties at Airbnb premises
There have been a number of parties in flats let out as short lets. A number of residents have experienced massive disruption as a result and it is unacceptable. As soon as parties begin it’s crucial to both contact the Council’s Noise Team and the police so they can turn up to break up the party. Both need to be there to intervene effectively and preferably they should be called out as soon as possible.
- Contact the Council’s noise team: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it or 0207 641 2000
- Contact the police on 101 or tag them on twitter on @MetCC
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Southwick Street
At the request of residents, we have continued to urge the Council to relocate the two benches at the corner of Southwick Street and Star Street. Residents say the benches attract regular anti-social activity at night/early morning as well as litter and rubbish dumping.
Residents say that much of the anti-social behaviour (ASB) centred around the benches occurs in the early hours of the morning, between 2am and 3am, when there are no police patrols. The ASB either involves drunk people resting around the benches who continue their loud drunken conversations in the early morning, or involving drug dealing and prostitution.
Just imagine how you would feel if the benches were directly outside your front door and bedroom windows!
We have also asked the Highways Team to clear the blocked gully outside 40 Southwick Street and to check the health of the tree outside 38 Southwick Street where rubbish continues to be dumped on a regular basis.
Edgware Road area
Cambridge Court
We have been contacted by residents in Star Street who say, “We’ve had to put up with five years of that horrid scaffolding on Cambridge Court! Do you know anything about it and could you pressure the owners of the building to remove it faster!”
We have written to the developers of this site to urge a speedy end to the work. They say:
“We apologise for the years the scaffold has been in place. The delay started about 5 years ago when after it being erected the scaffold we detected a major fault in the building. This took over 9 months to rectify. We then had the problem of the main contractor going into liquidation about 20 months ago. We are now pleased to inform you the development is almost complete and the Star Street scaffold will be removed in the next few weeks.”
We will be watching closely to ensure that the developers keep to their word. The most recent information we have is that the scaffolding will be removed in the week of 20th September.
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2021/08/18/action-on-star-street-scaffolding/
The Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Demolition of The Chapel public House
We are supporting residents in Wallace Court and 38-47a Chapel Street who have objected to proposals to demolish The Chapel and replace it with a 7-storey hotel.
You can read our letter to the Council’s Planning Officer is here https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2021/08/20/action-team-supports-residents-objection-to-the-demolition-of-the-chapel-and-development-of-a-7-storey-hotel/
Rubbish outside 38-47A Chapel Street
We have continued to urge the Council to take strong action against those responsible for dumping rubbish outside 38-47a Chapel Street.
Chapel Street newspaper bins
We often pass by the newspaper bins on Chapel Street by the bus stop and they are usually in an awful state as people try to stuff waste through the small openings and dump rubbish at the side. We have asked the Council if these bins really necessary here and could a better approach be taken here?
What do you think?
Cabbell Street
Very well done to Cabbell Street residents who have placed clear signs in every block urging residents not to dump rubbish outside on the street. We applaud residents’ efforts to keep their street clean.
Old Marylebone Road
We have contacted Streetlink about a homeless man sleeping outside Griffith House on Old Marylebone Road and asked for him to be given assistance to find a place to live.
The Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Cladding scandal
Which? explores the extreme mental health toll of leaseholders living in unsafe buildings they can’t afford to fix
You can read here: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/06/i-cant-see-any-way-out-the-mental-health-impact-of-the-cladding-crisis/
We have received the following invitation from the ‘End Our Cladding Scandal’ campaign:
“We would warmly like to invite you, as a support of leaseholders in the building safety crisis, to join us at the rescheduled ‘Leaseholders Together’ rally on Thursday 16th September, 1pm in Parliament Square. The event will start at 1pm and finish at 4pm. At 2pm we will commemorate victims of the Grenfell tragedy with a 72-second silence.”
Late night noise in Sheldon Square
At the request of Sheldon Square residents, we have written to the Paddington Central management about the regular late-night noise from patrons of the bars and restaurants below them. Residents’ sleep is regularly disrupted after midnight by shouting and loud noise from bar and restaurant patrons who congregate outside and do not leave for some time. This is very annoying for residents, particularly those who get up for work early in the morning. We have asked Paddington Central to initiate the following:
- Displaying prominent signs around Sheldon Square alerting visitors that this is also a residential area and that visitors should keep their voices down after 10pm.
- Urging each hospitality establishment to display similar prominent signs within their premises and on menus
- Initiate regular patrols by Paddington Central security staff at closing time to encourage visitors to leave speedily and quietly
Sheldon Square – air conditioning
At the request of residents, we have written to Notting Hill Genesis to ask for a date when the long-promised air conditioning will be installed.
Travis Perkins site, Harrow Road
We are continuing to urge residents to send their comments to the Council on the planning application submitted for the Travis Perkins site. The plans propose the demolition of the existing Travis Perkins buildings and erecting a building of between 7 and 22 storeys in height providing accommodation for 843 students. A new Travis Perkins’ builders’ merchants will be on the ground floor of the new building.
Sheldon Square residents have described the proposals as ‘gross overdevelopment’ and we have submitted an objection to the Council.
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2021/07/15/travis-perkins-site-planning-objection/
We have also written to the Mayor of London urging him not to approve the plans.
So far, over 110 objections have been made to these proposals. You can make comments online at https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/ using reference 21/04536/FULL
3 Sheldon Square
Planted balconies will be added to 3 Sheldon Square, a 2001 glass and steel building, as part of plans approved by the Council. An external steel structure consisting of nine levels of balconies will be added to the front elevation of the building. The red-coloured balcony structure, which will be fabricated off-site, will hang on large cantilever beams projecting from the existing roof structure.
Westbourne Terrace area
We are continuing to urge Transport for London to take action against coaches that continue to use Westbourne Terrace, rather than Eastbourne Terrace. Residents say
“As far as many of my neighbours and I know, not a single National Express coach has ever used Eastbourne Terrace. However, I can certainly testify that tens of these coaches are passing on Westbourne Terrace, 24hrs a day.”
Other Issues
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.
Local Police
The Hyde Park Ward Safer Neighbourhood Police Team of PC Olivia Hill, PC Ruaridh Wood and PCSO Grant have been joined by PC Lukashenko and PC Purewal, bringing the team total to five.
You can keep an eye on the latest local crime information through the Met Police website:
https://www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/met/westminster/hyde-park/
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
Report It
You can tell the Council about dumped rubbish, broken street lights, graffiti and more by using Report It https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
North Paddington Foodbank
If you are in need of emergency support, please contact your support worker or Westminster CAB for a referral, you will then be contacted by the food bank to arrange a delivery or collection. If you are struggling to access a referral or are concerned for someone you know, please call the food bank directly on 07932 623443.
The Foodbank is on the frontline helping more people than ever before in a very difficult situation. Please donate here
The Food Bank is in need of volunteers of all ages across all roles. From lunch hour delivery drivers to evening packers and daytime support. If you would like to find out more please get in touch at volunteers@npfoodbank.org.uk
Voting by post
It is much easier, quicker and safer to vote by post. You have two weeks in which to cast your vote and you can vote at home. 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.
Street Link
If you see anyone sleeping rough, please contact Street Link who are able offer help and assistance. You can contact Street Link 24 hours a day at www.streetlink.org.uk.
Free NHS Health Check
If you are between the ages of 40-74, you might be at risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, or dementia. A FREE NHS Health Check can lower your risk and make sure that you stay healthy for longer.
The NHS Health Check is your chance to get personalised health advice and access specialist support. The health check-up is FREE of charge and is designed to spot the early signs of high-risk conditions. You will be invited by your local GP surgery if you are eligible for this health check. Act now and enjoy a healthier life for longer. For more information, please visit oneyou.westminster.gov.uk/check-yourself
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
‘Westminster Extra’
You can read the ‘Westminster Extra’ online
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
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! Well done that so much work.”
“Thank you for all you do for us in the Hyde Park ward.”
“Your work is much appreciated”
“Thank you – for your emails and the speed/efficiency”
“Thank you for your great effort in trying to get the street in order. We appreciate this very much.”
“I enjoyed reading your flyer”
“Thank you again for the prompt update!”
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 https://bit.ly/labour-news
Please keep safe, stay well and look after yourself and your neighbours.
Regards
Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg
Your Hyde Park Ward Labour Action Team – Here to Help, All Year Round
You can contact us at HydeParkLabourActionTeam@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook @LabourHydePark