HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – Late February 2022
News from your Hyde Park Labour Action Team – Judith Southern, MD Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg
Your three Hyde Park Ward Labour Candidates
Md Shamsed Chowdhury has lived and worked in Westminster since 2016. He is experienced in the business and hospitality industries and keen to use his knowledge to support young people into work. Shamsed is also a volunteer with a homeless charity in Westminster. He speaks English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Bengali and is keen to support all residents in the ward to ensure everyone has a decent home and feels safe on our streets.
Paul Dimoldenberg has been a Queen’s Park Labour Councillor for nearly 25 years and was a Harrow Road Councillor for 8 years before that. He is a former Leader of the Labour Group and led the Team that uncovered the ‘Homes for Votes’ and ‘15p Cemeteries’ scandals. Originally from Manchester, he has lived on Marylebone Road since the 1970s. Paul’s knowledge of the Council has enabled the Hyde Park Labour Action Team to ‘get things done’ for local residents.
Judith Southern grew up in rural Cumbria and trained to be a nursery nurse. She then worked in West Yorkshire as a bus driver before starting nurse training. She worked at Paddington Green Children’s Hospital and has lived in Hyde Park ward since 1985. Before retiring she worked at Trinity Hospice at Clapham Common where Judith says she felt privileged to be able to give the best palliative care possible.
Don’t forget, you have three votes in the Council elections on 5th May. You can vote for all three of us. Use your three votes to vote for Shamsed, Paul and Judith.
Our priorities for Hyde Park Ward
- Freeze Council Tax for all residents until 2024
- Keep our area safe with more police to tackle crime
- Stop illegal rubbish dumping with fines for offenders
- Put residents first in the planning system
- Stand up for better NHS services against cuts and sell-offs
- Deliver cleaner air, and greener homes and transport
- Stop the financial waste – remember the £6m Marble Arch Mound disaster!
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road/Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Bathurst Street – update
Following our report to the Council regarding the poor state of the street, residents say, “as regards the street cleaning follow up, as it seems to have worked. The street seems to be consistently much cleaner.”
Connaught Street/Connaught Square junction
Residents say there is another streetlight not working at the junction of Connaught Street and Connaught Square. We have asked the Street Lighting Team for this to be investigated. Residents say:
“The lights on the north side of Connaught Square are still out and have not worked since early November. I have raised seven reports with the council and each time they send a ‘no reply’ email saying it has been repaired. There has been drug dealing on the Square and last night a car window was smashed – none of this is helped by being in semi darkness. Any assistance you can provide would be much appreciated.”
The Council say:
“Our Highways Team have inspected the location and have identified that there is a cable fault is affecting two streetlights and two sign lights. There is a lane closure to take place on the 10th of February to have the fault repaired.”
Residents say:
“I really appreciate your intervention in this long running saga. Fingers crossed it shall be sorted now.”
“I see they’ve done the three things by my corner, i.e. two street lamp posts and the no entry sign that wasn’t lighting. Many thanks for your intervention”
Sussex Gardens/London Street
We asked the Highways Team to fix a loose manhole cover at the junction of Sussex Gardens and London Street which is keeping residents awake at night. The Highways Team said, “I have sent the team out this morning to attend and action.”
Sussex Gardens
Well done to the City Inspectors who cleared up the tree and broken branches in Sussex Gardens following the damage caused by Storm Eunice last Friday.
Portsea Mews
You can read about the history of Portsea Mews here. Portsea Mews is a cobbled cul-de-sac that is approached through an entrance under a building on Portsea Place. In a courtyard configuration, the Mews is positioned behind larger properties on Kendal Street, Porchester Place, Connaught Street, and Portsea Place.
https://marble-arch.london/culture-blog/portsea-mews/
£6 million Marble Arch Mound
MVRDV, the architects of the £6m Marble Arch Mound have blasted Westminster Conservatives for their failures in controlling costs, poor construction and ignoring warnings.
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Star Street
Residents tell us that the new ‘Don’t Dump’ sign on Star Street with rounded edges and all Council logos removed has been ripped off by council officials. The ‘Don’t Dump’ sign was paid for by local residents and did not infringe any ‘corporate protocols’. We have written to the Council to ask for an explanation for this further act of Council vandalism and theft. We said:
“The promised larger Council signs have not materialised, despite your past promises and the Leader of the Council’s commitment to act “at pace” to deal with matters. Can you not understand residents’ total frustration with the Council’s continued failure to deal with the regular illegal rubbish dumping at this location? Is it any wonder that residents take matters into their own hands to keep their streets clean?”
Star Street/Edgware Road
We have asked the Highways Team to fix a broken paving stone on the corner of Star Street and Edgware Road where a resident fell recently and injured themselves.
We also asked the Highways Team to fix a signpost that had blown down during the heavy winds on the night of 16th February and hit a parked car opposite 1 Star Street. The Highways Team say, “A priority make safe job for this has been issued by our team and has also been passed to parking to arrange for a new post asap”
If it was your car that was hit by the falling signpost please let us know.
Norfolk Place
We are supporting residents’ objections to an alcohol license application for 6 Norfolk Place. Residents say:
“All the neighbours in the Norfolk Place end of Star Street are incredibly worried about this going ahead. We have been told the new shop will be selling competitively priced alcohol. As it is, we suffer noise from anti-social behaviour at all hours and this cut-price booze shop will no doubt attract more comings and goings. Even in the day there are crowds of delivery bikes who pick up from FoodWise opposite these new premises. The bikes park in residents parking and on yellow lines and are very loud. The new off licence will serve to double this traffic which is in itself a health and safety hazard.”
The application reference is 22/00890/LIPN.
Praed Street
We have asked Royal Mail why the post box on Praed Street, opposite the Hilton Hotel, is closed and when it will reopen for local residents and businesses to use.
Praed Street/Tanner Lane
We have asked the Highways to investigate and fix a loose cover on one of the manholes on Praed Street opposite Tanner Lane which makes a loud noise when vehicles go over it. Residents living nearby say that the constant noise is keeping them awake at night. The Highways Team say, “I have sent one of the team to site to action.”
Praed Street/South Wharf Road
We contacted the Street Homeless Team to ensure that those sleeping on the street are given assistance to move off the street into safe accommodation. The Team told us:
“Praed Street receives a great deal of attention from myself, police and the commissioned outreach services to target and engage the local street population and those who bed down in that area. All persons reported either through Streetlink or to me and others more directly are offered the fullest levels of support available.”
Edgware Road area
Edgware Road
We have asked BT to remove the flyposting from the phone box outside 145 Edgware Road. BT say, “Thank you for sending in the photos, it is much appreciated. I have now arranged to have the fly posters removed as soon as possible.”
Update – the flyposting has now been removed.
We have also asked Transport for London to fix or remove a broken column on Edgware Road, at the corner with St Michael’s Street. The broken column is unsightly and a potential hazard for pedestrians.
The Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Hotel plans for The Chapel public house site
We were very disappointed that the Conservative Councillors on the Planning Committee voted for the demolition of the pub and the construction of a 7-storey hotel that would badly effect residents in Wallace Court next door. The only Labour Councillor on the Committee voted against the hotel proposal because of the light impact to Wallace Court, the loss of pub building which is undesignated heritage asset, and the inappropriateness of a hotel in a residential area.
Residents say:
“As you may imagine we were very disappointed too. I noticed that there was one Councillor who was against and rightly said that he wasn’t sure 48 Chapel Street is the right place for an Hotel. I didn’t realize he is a Labour Councillor so thank you for letting me know. Thanks again for your continuous support on this matter, it has been much appreciated.”
“Thank you for your and your team’s efforts in stopping this, frankly stupid, development from going ahead. I am concerned for Wallace Court in terms of the impact of all the drilling down that a building of that size will require to be built.”
https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/historic-200-year-old-pub-23053952
Chapel Street/Edgware Road
We are pleased that Transport for London has replaced a potential pedestrian hazard on the corner of Chapel Street and Edgware Road with a larger cabinet which pedestrians are able to see and avoid.
Oxford & Cambridge Mansions/Hyde Park Mansions
You can read about the history of these two Victorian mansion blocks here https://marble-arch.london/culture-blog/the-mansions-near-the-marylebone-flyover/
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Montgomery House – parking
We are supporting residents’ campaign for more residents’ parking to serve the area around Montgomery House. We had a meeting with residents who say:
“We pay over £140 a year to park on the street, which causes us a lot of stress when returning home not to have anywhere nearby to park, particularly at night and given the safety of women in the current climate. If the taxi ranks can’t be replaced (for some unknown reasons) with residents’ bays – can you not make the pay & display bays joint parking bays for residents too, which are available throughout the borough, including Paddington Green area? This would make our lives so much easier, one less thing to think about. This would relieve the residents of unnecessary stress. “
We have asked the Parking Team to convert two rarely used taxi rank bays to residents’ parking. Residents say
“Thank you it was great to meet you and your colleagues too. We appreciate all of your efforts.”
Montgomery House – housing issues
We have called on Peabody to restore heating and hot water to a flat in Montgomery House where the heating and hot water has been out of action for three weeks.
We have also been contacted by shared ownership leaseholders who say:
“Peabody has recently informed us that our yearly service charge amount has gone up from an estimated £1,970 to an actual £2,878. They are obliged by law to offer a clear explanation for these, and a detailed breakdown of receipts, invoices and accounting relating to any service charge increase, but despite our best efforts, we have not been able to get this information.”
We have written to Peabody to ask for the information requested by leaseholders.
Paddington Works, North Wharf Road
We contacted Paddington Works after receiving this message from a resident:
“Is it possible for somebody to speak with Paddington Works on North Wharf Road? These rusty seats have been dumped for months on en. I asked them about it and they said their contractor cancelled the installation. They’re in the way and are very unsightly, they need to be removed.”
Paddington Works tell us:
“Our contractor had cancelled due to covid and we were awaiting a date for him to return. They will be returning this week to measure up the benches and reposition them. The area is under our demise for the purpose of seating/benching, and these are planter benches.”
Aster House
We have contacted Octavia Housing Association about a security issue raised by residents. Octavia says:
“Unfortunately, the glass door was vandalised just before Christmas. A new door had to be ordered via the managing agents. The new door is now fitted but the mechanism needs repair. I am advised that spare parts are on order and should arrive in the next 5-7 working days, when the mechanism repair will be completed.”
Sheldon Square
We have chased Paddington Central to enquire if they have finally given written permission for NHG and Network Homes to install air-conditioning units so that they can start and complete the works.
Residents in Sheldon Square have also raised the following concerns regarding recent postal deliveries. Residents say:
“The postman also started to dump letters on the floor at ground level the same week. Many letters also get misdelivered to the wrong block. My missing parcel and letters arrived some days later when the resident in another block was honest enough to bring them to me. I had no idea I had missing letters! This situation with delayed and missing post is bad.”
We have written to the Royal Mail and asked that this be investigated.
We have also written to managing agents, First Port to request that Berkeley St George be asked to absorb the cost of fire safety remedial works. Residents have been contacted to require them to add fire seals to their flat front doors to comply with the London Fire Brigade notice to sort out the fire safety issues in Sheldon Square by March 2022. Following the Secretary of State’s recent announcement, we believe Berkeley St George should be covering the cost of complying with the Fire Regulations.
Travis Perkins site, Harrow Road
There are now over 150 objections to the proposals submitted by Unite Students and Travis Perkins for the Baltic Wharf site at the junction of Harrow Road and Bishop’s Bridge Road. A few minimal changes have been made from the original proposals:
- The building is now stepped from 6 – 20 storeys, as opposed to the original proposal, which was 7 – 22 storeys.
- The number of student beds has been reduced from 843 to 768 – just 75 fewer
Notting Hill Genesis are the latest to repeat their earlier objection. They say:
“We remain with our position to object to these plans as there is a far greater negative impact to our residents and the community then there would be any positive.”
You can object to the revised proposals on-line at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-and-environmental-regulations/find-appeal-or-comment-planning-application/search-and-comment-planning-applications reference 21/04536/FULL
Or you can send an email to northplanningteam@westminster.gov.uk giving your name and home address and reference 21/04536/FULL.
We will continue to support residents’ objections to the revised proposals and have submitted another objection letter to the Council.
Hermitage Street – End the cladding scandal
For the latest on the proposed amendments to the Building Safety Bill see https://endourcladdingscandal.org/legislation/building-safety-bill/proposed-amendments-to-the-building-safety-bill/
Westbourne Terrace area
Westbourne Crescent
We have again asked the Cycle Team to locate a bike hangar in Westbourne Crescent after a local resident had their bike stolen. Secure cycle parking is a priority for many residents.
Gloucester Mews
We have again asked the Street Lighting Team to investigate the lighting situation in Gloucester Mews to see if the lighting can be improved in the centre of the mews.
Gloucester Terrace
We have contacted the Council about these issues raised by a resident:
“There seems to be a big problem on Gloucester Terrace with dog owners letting their dogs mess on the street and not picking it up. Residents have now taken to spraying pink circles around the mess so people waking do not tread in the mess. There are no street marshalls around or CCTV, so people just walk away rather than pick the mess up.
Another problem is parking there might be a parking attendant twice a week and people are parking across 2 bays and on the kerbs and nothing is done about it.”
Other Issues
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.
Service charges – huge increase in insurance costs
We have been contacted by leaseholders who have received massively increased bills for insurance cover as part of their service charge – in one case, an increase of 20%. Please let us know if you have had a similar experience
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.
Westminster Libraries under threat
It seems Westminster Conservatives have been quietly planning radical changes to Westminster’s libraries – seemingly without any intention of telling people about them before Council elections on 5th May. An internal paper entitled ‘Westminster Libraries and Archives: Overview of Transformation and Next Steps’ outlines the key findings from the Council’s review of the library service. Based on the information in this document it seems that the Council is preparing to:
- Close Charing Cross Library and merge it with the Westminster Reference Library
- Close the Westminster Archives, removing the materials to an ‘off-site’ collection.
- Break their promise to replace the St James’ Library
- Only extend the lease on Mayfair Library for a short period with no commitment on its future
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2022/02/11/libraryclosuresrevealed/
Bike Marking
We have asked the local police to consider this suggestion from a resident:
“I was wondering if you could ask the Hyde Park Ward police to have a few bike marking days in conjunction with BikeRegister in the area in March/April – when the weather is better and there will be more cyclists out and about. I would be interested and also useful to stop bike theft in the area.”
Cargo bikes survey
The Council is asking Westminster businesses and residents to complete a 10-minute survey about using cargo bike services, such as deliveries, and household cargo bike use such as bringing home the weekly food shopping or moving large items (furniture etc). There’s a prize draw and responses will help shape future cargo bike projects.
Resident Survey:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CargoBikeRes
Business Survey:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CargoBikeBiz
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
Local Police
The Hyde Park Ward Safer Neighbourhood Police Team is PC Adam Oddy, PC Harminder Purewal and PCSO Grant. You can contact them at AWMailbox.SNTCWHydePark@met.police.uk
You can meet your local police team on Wednesday 23rd February at 5.30pm at Abasto on Connaught Street
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/
Heathrow flight path
We are supporting local residents who are concerned about Heathrow planning a flight path over Paddington, Bayswater and Notting Hill.
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/post/ugc-voting-petitions/989b8335-15f5-4964-adda-13342cf3299f
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
Recycling small electrical appliances
Any household electrical and electronic item that operates on a battery or has a plug and is smaller than 60cm in length and under 30cm in width and height, can be put in an on-street small electrical appliances recycling bin. For details of locations see https://www.westminster.gov.uk/recycling-and-rubbish/reusing-and-other-recycling-services/how-recycle-electrical-appliances/small-electrical-appliances
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.
‘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
“As ever, great work.”
“Thank you for this. It’s been long coming, that somebody listens, been banging my head against the wall for years. It’s good fly-tipping signs have gone back up on Star Street, restaurants need to know acceptable times of when to put rubbish out & not block pedestrian footpaths, letting agents too, fridges, tvs, ironing boards, beyond belief.”
“Thank you for your email and for your continuing efforts and support.”
“I’m very pleased to hear that Hyde Park Ward Labour Action Team continues to support Wallace Court residents. Many thanks for your continuous support and actions.”
“Your latest newsletter, as ever, was a font of knowledge and a demonstration of so much hard work.”
“Many thanks for your continued interest in our neighbourhood”
“I am one of those many disgruntled Tories who changed to the Liberal Democrats at the last General Election…. Now that the sterling Kier Starmer leads the Labour Party, I would like to join it. In any case, even when Boris Johnson goes, I could never vote again for the Party that chose him leader in the first place.”
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 hplabour@gmail.com
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