ST JOHN’S WOOD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – January 2022
News from the St John’s Wood Labour Action Teams in Abbey Road and Regent’s Park Wards
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Norfolk Road
We have asked the Street Lights Team to investigate this issue:
“I live In Norfolk Road and it’s very dark at night because a few of the streetlights are out and have never been replaced.”
St John’s Wood Road
We have asked the Highways Team to investigate the issues raised in this enquiry
“I write to you regarding the construction work of a new build (One St John’s Wood) taking place on St John’s Wood Road. The work has been going on for almost 2 years now. This has resulted in narrowing of St John’s Wood Road due to cordoned of road for work trucks reducing the width of St John’s Wood Road. One way on Lodge Road and work vehicles double parked on Oak Tree Road. Due to also the fact that there is a coach parking spot across from the construction site this makes St John’s Wood Road impossible to pass during peak hours? This affects many residents and commuters who use St John’s Wood Road and Lodge Road.”
Reynolds House
We have asked the Housing Department to investigate this issue:
“There’s a large oak tree within boundary walls front of Reynolds House and the pigeons mess all over the communal paving stones boundary walls and large pathway to the front of block and public pavements. This means anyone walking into our block has to navigate over green wet slime of pigeons faeces and can easily slip over. The communal carpets are covered with pigeons faeces and mud.”
The Housing Department says:
“The area has been pressure washed and is clear of debris. There was no evidence of carpet being dirty however we have spoken to the cleaning team about the matter. With regards to the tree causing the problem, regular cleaning regime is required with regular and target cutting back of the overhanging branches. I have let our estate services team about this and hopefully this will help with the issue.”
Farnham House
We have been helping an elderly resident in Farnham House who has been without heating and have urged the Housing Department to fix the malfunctioning storage heaters as a priority.
£6 Million Marble Arch Mound
The Marble Arch Mound is finally coming down! The Council has told us
“The Marble Arch Mound will close to the public on 9th January. The process of decommissioning the Mound will begin on 10th January, with the removal of the art installation and onsite operator facilities. Deconstruction of the Mound will then begin 18 January 2022 and our contractors FM Conway will erect site perimeter barrier. It is anticipated that the decommissioning work will be completed around May 2022.”
The Marble Arch Mound cost £6 million – three times the original budget – and entry up the Mound has been free since it opened as the Council had to scrap the plan to charge visitors because of the very poor reaction to the promised ‘spectacular views’ that never materialised.
UPDATE – The Council Officer responsible for the £6 million Marble Arch Mound fiasco was Westminster Council’s highest paid employee at £220,000 a year. You can read more here
Council Tax
We have called for No Rise in Council Tax until at least 2024. As residents face a challenging winter with rising prices and energy bills, they want to know that they aren’t going to have any nasty surprises in the spring in when it comes to Council Tax.
Labour Councillors will vote against any increase in Council Tax until at least 2024 to try to help residents through these difficult times. We think that at the very least Council Tax should be frozen at its current rate, while further efforts are made to protect those on low incomes.
Green New Deal for Westminster
We have launched a Green New Deal for Westminster which sets out a clear, ambitious agenda to achieve the change we desperately need. Key measures include:
- Appointing a Cabinet Member with responsibility for climate action. This will be pivotal to driving change from day one of a Labour Council.
- Implementing a Net Zero Test for all decisions to assess the climate impact of decisions made, and a sustainable approach to procurement.
- Seeking to refurbish first rather than demolish, putting real emissions standards on all developments, and retrofitting our existing housing.
- Driving a green recovery and a just transition, with a Local Climate Bond for investments in our neighbourhoods, a focus on green jobs, and training available to all.
- Starting recovery in the streets, with a commitment to 15-minute neighbourhoods, new tree planting, and high streets that attract customers with active travel infrastructure.
In the spirit of working collaboratively with others we are keen to hear from residents, experts, and other stakeholders about how to develop and build on this plan. So please do get in touch with us to share your thoughts.
Electric Car charging points
Charging points have been installed in lamp columns across the area and you can register your interest in having a lamp post charger installed near you by completing the form below. You can also register an interest in having stand-alone charging posts installed in your local area.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/request-vehicle-charging-point
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 https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=09649383-4dbb-4a3d-b164-9d26398578f3
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 10 days 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
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 this interesting report and all your good work you do.”
“I am grateful to you as ever for your helpful newsletter. I’m also grateful to our fantastic local MP Karen Buck.”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
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Keep well, take care and look after yourselves and your neighbours.
Regards
Your St John’s Wood Labour Action Team – Here to Help, All Year Round