WEST END WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – April 2022
News from Paul Fisher, Patrick Lilley and Jessica Toale & Councillor Pancho Lewis
SOHO
Berwick Street
Following concerns raised by residents, Westminster council has hired a hawk to tackle seagulls which are attacking people and dogs near Kemp House in Berwick Street. The Council has paid for a hawk to patrol the area during seagull nesting season in early May.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-60911505
Dufour’s Place
The local press reports on a Soho pensioner who has to brush his teeth in the kitchen because of the Council’s failure to do long-standing repairs to his flat.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/pensioner-brush-teeth-kitchen-20-23547009
FITZROVIA
Fighting for a cleaner Fitzrovia
Westminster City Council has lost its reputation for keeping our streets clean.
Bin bags, carrier bags, take away boxes, dumped household belongings and commercial waste now litter our pavements. Fitzrovia residents have had to step in by forming the Fitzrovia Rubbish Action Committee (FRAC), which Labour Cllr Pancho Lewis has worked with and supported, to tackle fly-tipping and rubbish dumping in our community. Paul Fisher, Patrick Lilley and Jessica Toale are committed to tackling waste and making sure that commercial entities are fined for playing fast and loose with the rules on rubbish disposal. Help us to clean up Fitzrovia by completing our waste survey
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/uncategorised/2022/03/29/fighting-for-a-cleaner-fitzrovia/
Holcroft Court
Residents say the Holcroft Court Entrance D video intercom has not been working properly for a very long time. They say they only get audio function and not the video – which they did previously. We have asked the Housing Department to investigate and fix the problem.
We have also asked the Housing Department to finish the works opposite 201 Holcroft Court to replace the unsightly temporary sheeting.
MAYFAIR
Leconfield House
We are supporting residents’ continued campaign to stop the change the use of Leconfield House from offices to a private members’ club/hotel, with many bars and restaurants and a nightclub. The proposal would add one storey and dig three basements below the existing basement, and if approved, would mean at least four years of disturbance for residents of Chesterfield House and neighbouring properties in the local area.
Leconfield House Developments Ltd have appealed against the planning refusal of August 2021 and we have written in support of residents’ continued objections.
Paul Fisher, West End Labour Candidate, said:
“We have real concerns about the noise and disruption generated from overdevelopment and lax planning decisions in the area – we completely understand why this planning appeal causes so much consternation among local residents. We will do everything we can to help residents challenge overdevelopment and intensive construction projects like the one proposed. It’s unacceptable.”
Mount Street Gardens
We have asked the Parks Team to investigate recent incidents involving anti-social behaviour in Mount Street Gardens.
Save Mayfair Library
We are continuing to campaign to save Mayfair Library. Leaked Westminster City Council documents have raised doubt about the future of Mayfair Library.
West End ward candidates Paul Fisher and Jessica Toale met with the Friends of Mayfair Library to raise our concerns and to highlight the questions we would want answered by the Council. Patrick Lilley and Jessica Toale spoke with parents outside St George’s Hanover Square Primary School in Mayfair to raise awareness about the issue. If you would like to support our campaign to keep Mayfair Library open, sign our petition here.
£6 million Marble Arch Mound
The £6m Marble Arch Mound is coming down – at a cost of £660,000.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/westminster-council-marble-arch-mound-cost-b991093.html#
Protecting residents – what you say
“The abiding problem in the West End is protecting residents against the knock-on effects of too much licensing. Noise anti-social behaviour, deliveries at all hours and rubbish collections make this a 24-hour problem. It is just about controllable but takes a great deal of effort and knowledge of the licensing and planning acts to keep on top of the situation.
Any prospective councillors should pledge to look after the residential interests of the West End first and foremost. Licensed premises have clever barristers with much expertise, residents need the help of committed councillors who are not on a crusade to destroy business but who understand the needs of the residents whose long-term commitment to the area have made it into the place everyone else wants to visit.”