WESTBOURNE WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – February 2022
News from Councillors David Boothroyd, Adam Hug and Papya Qureshi and Action Team member Angela Piddock
Local News and Action
Brunel Estate
We have been working with local residents, the council’s Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team and the police to try and tackle the scourge of professional fly tippers, helping identify vehicles that are using false plates. We have also raised concerns of ASB around parked cars in front of the garages.
Wessex Gardens
We have been supporting residents in Anglebury House who have problems with repeated lift breakdowns. After our intervention the council have undertaken work on the lift entrances and are investigating new options to make them more reliable in the future (including a full replacement). We also ensured that alternative methods of exist through the neighbouring block were kept open in case of breakdowns.
We have been working closely with the leadership of the new residents’ association around problems with Westminster finding a venue for RA meetings and to resolve an issue around the speed at which Westminster is willing to register the group.
Shrewsbury Gardens
We have been told there is someone sleeping rough regularly in Shrewsbury Gardens, who appears to be vulnerable. The outreach teams have been told and have visited. Please contact Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 if you are concerned about someone sleeping rough.
Aldridge Court
We have been working with residents in Aldridge Court for a couple of months to try and get the front door to work properly (it had previously often failed to close). Despite (and in fact partially due to) work on the mechanism it is now too heavy for people to open properly and council officers have confirmed they will be taking further steps to address this.
Westmead
Despite our objections, the council’s planning committee allowed a five-storey redevelopment of Westmead care home on Tavistock Road early last year, and after some legal negotiation the council formally issued its permission in November. The council tells us it is instructing a Rights of Light consultant who will be working on a strategy to negotiate with residents whose light is affected by the development. Affected residents will be written to. We have raised concerns about the lack of site management whilst it is being left empty and called on the council to take action on the graffiti and littering around the site.
Westbourne Park station
We are pressing Transport for London to take action about the graffiti which is on the Shan News Agents shop next to Westbourne Park Station, as they appear to be the freeholders. We have got the council to take action against the disgusting recycling bins that had previously been left unemptied but are now pushing for new bins to replace them.
Grand Union Close
We have been pressing Notting Hill Genesis to deal with long term problems of damp and disrepair in a flat, and the failure of their contractors to contact the tenant.
319 Harrow Road
We continue to work with residents to address longstanding problems in their treatment by Notting Hill Genesis, including issues around service charge levels (particularly for cleaning and communal electricity), roof repairs and tree pruning.
Marylands Road
We welcome the long-overdue work to build out the pavement on Marylands Road around the entrance to Chippenham Mews, hopefully reducing traffic speeds and improving matters for pedestrians. We have raised concerns about the way in which the E-Scooter bay is working and have asked officers to look at removing it or moving to a more suitable location. We regularly raise concerns about rubbish dumping in the section of the road near Harrow Road with the city inspectors and expect further action from them in February.
Elmfield Way/Woodfield Road
Although Carlton Gate and the Elmfield Road development was completed nearly a quarter of a century ago, the NHS kept ownership of the road. Ward councillors have been campaigning for years to get Westminster Council to ‘adopt’ and take over Elmfield Way, repair it where it is falling apart, start sweeping the road and pavements, and bring in parking control.
The council has recently agreed to acquire all the remaining NHS land on Elmfield Way, so it can improve its learning disability residential home. The council is working through legal negotiations but has indicated it hopes to adopt the road. We have been reassured the multi-use games area will stay, that the bushes around it will be cut back and cleaned up and that it will ultimately be replaced with a new games area in the new scheme.
Carlton Gate
A private tenant living in Carlton Gate has asked for help with their hot water boiler. Although the council’s role is limited, we can sometimes get help in disputes between private tenants and their landlords or managing agents, and arranged for officers to get involved.
Harrow Road Bus Shelter
After chasing by us, TfL have confirmed that they are planning to replace the bus shelter
outside 344 Harrow Road that they removed- the delay has been apparently due to the need for the foundations to be strengthened.
Amberley Road
We have been working with residents on the Amberley Estate around long-running issues of parking on the estate (in front of garages and blocking the road) during pickup and drop-off times at Ark-Atwood, despite the recent introduction of a long overdue school street. After engagement from the councillors parking wardens are now able to operate on the estate during these critical periods for traffic congestion (having previously been restricted from entry). We have also helped residents affected by the recent parking suspensions for work at the electricity substation.
Gaydon House and Westbourne Green
We’ve responded to complaints about flytipping near the block and on the Westbourne Green openspace, getting the council to remove dumped waste.
Bourne Terrace
We have been helping one household in a Warwick Estate low-rise block on Bourne Terrace who have a persistent water leak which the council believes comes from a defect in the new roof fitted a few years ago.
Rowington Close
We are working with St Mary Magdalene’s church and Grand Junction to get a new dropped kerb installed to making disabled access easier.
Delamere Terrace and Westbourne Terrace Bridge
We are working with local residents to make it easier to walk from Delamere Terrace to the canal basin. At the moment officers are resisting plans to introduce a pedestrian crossing but are considering improving the dropped kerbs across the bridge.
Little Venice Basin
We are working with the Canal and River Trust and Council to try and address issues of noise and air pollution from Idling canal boat diesel engines.
‘Ring’ Doorbells
Doorbells which include a camera and connect with your mobile phone to allow you to answer the door anywhere are being heavily marketed and becoming quite popular. However please check with your landlord that you are allowed to install them. Westminster Council has told us it is taking legal advice and preparing a briefing for the council’s cabinet member. Some other councils have been refusing permission.
Broadband Works
We have been made aware by the council that they are currently looking at facilitating the installation of fibre broadband on Ascot House, Windsor House and Warwick Crescent. Please let us know if you are experiencing problems with the way the council’s contractors are operating on these schemes.
Other News
£6 million Marble Arch Mound
The £6 million Marble Arch Mound is finally being dismantled after just six months. The controversial eyesore is being dismantled after it was branded the ‘capital’s worst tourist attraction’. The Westminster council official in charge of the Marble Arch mound fiasco was paid more than the authority’s Chief Executive with a £220,000 salary making him the authority’s highest-paid employee. You can read the latest in this Westminster Conservative Council fiasco 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.
Council Rents
We are also calling on the Council to freeze Council rents. We have been told that the upcoming Council budget in March will include a Consumer Price Index inflation plus 1% rise in rents for council flats, shops, and other commercial properties owned by Westminster’s Housing Department. That’s the maximum rise local authorities are allowed to impose.
Energy bills
We have called for local action to help with energy bills.
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.
Local Police
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
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.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
Interactive Map
You can see the latest data for your area here
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map
Please let us know if we can ever be of help or assistance.
Yours sincerely
Councillors David Boothroyd, Adam Hug and Papya Qureshi
Your three Westbourne Ward Labour Councillors – Here to Help, All Year Round
You contact Adam, Papya and David by email or telephone.