Here’s our August Action Report. We hope you find it useful and informative.
It’s been a really busy few weeks across West End Ward, so you’ll find lots of news and updates below as well as details of the issues we’ve taken up on behalf of local residents.
GET IN TOUCH if there’s something in your street or block that needs action or an issue we can assist with. We will always do our best to help.
- Email: plilley@westminster.gov.uk
- Phone: 020 7641 5377 – leave a message and he will get back to you.
Patrick holds an Advice Surgery on the second Saturday of each month at 68 Dean Street W1D 4QJ in Soho (10-11am) and at Mayfair Library, 23 South Audley Street W1K 2PB, Mayfair (11.30-12.30pm). Just drop in – no appointment needed.
REPORT IT
You can help to get problems sorted quickly via Report It Use it to report dumped rubbish, overflowing bins, broken street lights, wonky pavements, potholes, animal welfare concerns, anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance and much more.
THE WEST END TEAM: Sarah Littleton and Tim Lord have joined Councillor Patrick Lilley as Labour candidates for West End Ward at next year’s Council elections.
Councillor Patrick Lilley has represented Fitzrovia, Mayfair and Soho on Westminster Council since 2022 . He is the Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Lead Member for Soho and LGBTQ+ Champion. He entered politics to oppose Conservative cuts and is proud Labour is now investing in free school meals and safer streets.
Sarah Littleton lives in the West End ward having previously been a student at the London School of Economics. She is a community activist and has led campaigns for both Rachel Blake MP and across London. She feels that much more can be done to ensure the safety of women and girls especially in the West End.
Tim Lord has been a Soho resident for over 34 years and has played an active role in the community as Chair of the Soho Society and other local groups. He has worked on issues including safety, regulation of pedicabs, controls on short lets, noise nuisance and better public toilet provision in Soho.
Westminster Residents’ Survey
Please take a few minutes to fill in our residents’ survey. Labour gained control of Westminster Council from the Conservatives in May 2022. Now we’re keen to hear how you think we’re doing, as well as your views about your area and what the Council’s priorities should be for the future.
Oxford Street Transformation
West End Labour and Westminster Council have successfully lobbied the Mayor of London and GLA to ensure that public transport (buses) will continue along the Eastern stretch of Oxford Street from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road, thus limiting potential traffic displacement into Soho and Fitzrovia.
No buses will be diverted into the narrow streets of Soho or Fitzrovia.
Making the West End Safe – 80 More Police Officers
West End Labour Action team welcome the news that the Met Police is adding 80 permanent officers to tackle crime hotspots in the West End and St James’s wards.
Along with Rachel Blake MP, we have long campaigned for more police to protect residents, workers and visitors.
Combined with the Council’s new 200-camera CCTV network, extra City Inspectors and specialist enforcement teams, this will mean a safer, more welcoming West End day and night.
Councillor Lilley said: “Residents have been asking for more police and now we are able to deliver them. This is good news for residents and visitors alike and will help make Soho and the wider West End safer.”
Labour Westminster Has Reversed Tory Cuts to CCTV
Labour-run Westminster Council has fully reversed the cuts to the CCTV in the borough made by the previous Conservative administration.
We have invested in a network of cameras in West End, monitored 24 hours a day, including Bateman Buildings, Berwick Street, Brewer Street, Broadwick Street, Carlisle Street, Dean Street, Frith Street, Great Windmill Street, Greek Street, Hollen Street, Ingestre Place, Manette Street, Old Compton Street, Peter Street, Romilly Street, Soho Square, Sutton Row, Tisbury Court, and Wardour Street. There are plans to install more cameras in Mayfair and Fitzrovia.
Labour candidate Sarah Littleton said: “Soho at night can be a challenging place for the safety of women and girls, so I believe residents and visitors to Soho will welcome the additional CCTV that is monitored 24/7 that our Labour-led Council is bringing in.”
New Public Space Protection Orders To Make Our Streets Safer
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour that is detrimental to the community’s quality of life.
They do so by imposing conditions on the use of that area to ensure everyone can enjoy public spaces.
Councillor Patrick Lilley has pressed for a PSPO to limit the nuisance behaviour of both souped up cars, motorbikes and the perennial issue of pedicabs which collectively destroy the quality of life on life of those who live, work and visit the wider West End so is pleased that the Council has listened.
Westminster Council plans to:
- Extend the PSPO for South Westminster to tackle on-street anti-social behaviour(ASB) across the borough including Soho, Mayfair and Fitzrovia
- Extend the nuisance vehicle PSPO to Soho and Mayfair aimed at stopping the noisy and dangerous car and motorbike meetings plaguing the West End
- Bring in a new city-wide PSPO to tackle nuisance pedicabs
Breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence subject to a PSPO fine (FPN) on conviction of up to £1,000.
These PSPOs would give Police and Council Officers stronger powers to stop public urination, abuse, drug use and other anti-social behaviour — with on-the-spot fines for offenders.
We expect the new powers will be operating from early September another tool in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour.
Met Police Seize Supercars Worth £6million In Anti-Social Driving Crackdown In Central London
Many central London residents are fed up with anti-social supercars on our streets, so we welcome the news that in the past few days the Met Police conducted an operation to crackdown on anti-social driving in the West End and beyond, seizing 72 luxury vehicles, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys that were either unroadworthy or being driven illegally. Click here for more details.
New Powers To Stop E-Bikes Blocking Pavements
Westminster Labour has helped secure new Government powers for TfL to license e-bike operators like Lime and Forest — ending the current unregulated free-for-all.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will grant Transport for London (TfL) and other Strategic Authorities – statutory licensing powers over shared e-bike schemes. The new rules will set strict safety and parking standards, with local conditions to stop bikes blocking pavements.
Police will also be able to seize illegally modified e-bikes and scooters linked to anti-social behaviour.
Since 2022, Labour-run Westminster Council has introduced 380 parking bays, forced GPS-verified parking with fines (up to 5,000 a month levied by operators), and deployed marshals and education campaigns. But without full regulation, problems persist for wheelchair users, parents with buggies and those with visual impairments face hazards and poor parking in approved bays is a hazard to drivers.
Labour Candidate Tim Lord said: “The West End suffers more than other areas from rental bike parking and operators failing to control the number of bikes in approved bays. Without proper management of the parking areas, the large number of bikes can create a hazard for people with disabilities, especially those with limited vision. We need a clear set of rules so that our streets remain safe and accessible for all pedestrians. We are also watching the issue of rental bike safety closely.”
We’re pressing the Mayor and TfL to bring in the new rules as soon as possible — alongside long-awaited pedicab controls.
Free School Meals
All local children aged 3–14 now get free school meals including at All Soul’s in Fitzrovia and St Anne’s in Soho.
Park Lane Encampment
What many local residents and visitors feared was turning into a permanent encampment on Transport for London land, in the central reservation on Park Lane, has been cleared by following a Court Order obtained by TfL. The site was an extremely dangerous place for those sleeping rough.
Westminster Council worked to ensure those moved on from the encampment were able to access help and had an opportunity to get off the street and into accommodation.
Investing In Community Organisations
West End Councillors voted to award a £10,000 grant from the Ward Budget to support the Soho Society’s 50th Soho Fete. Hundreds of revellers came out for the waiters’ race, tug of war between our local firemen and police, and all manner of village-style antics in the heart of Soho.
Westminster Council has agreed a grant of £40,000 to the Fitzrovia Community Centre for garden improvements, room upgrades, repainting, and a vital lifesaving defibrillator. Councillor Patrick Lilley also supported a donation to the annual Fitzrovia Fete – a great community-led event taking place each year on Foley Street.
Councillor Patrick Lilley said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the Fitzrovia Fete on 10 August with my colleague Councillor Ryan Jude, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Culture and Air Quality. It was great to see hundreds of people enjoying the Fete in the sunshine. There was music, delicious food, art workshops, face-painting and much, much more just a few hundred yards north of Oxford Street. Congratulations to Donna Yay, Director of the Fitzrovia Community Centre and Fete Organiser on another successful Fete.”
Ingestre Court And Kemp House – Council Acts On Crime And Anti-Social Behaviour
Councillor Lilley was joined by West End Labour candidates Sarah Littleton and Tim Lord on Sunday 3 August on the doorstep at Ingestre Court, Kemp House and Berwick Street meeting residents and listening to their concerns.
Residents told the team of problems with cars on Berwick Street, late at night, idling, playing loud music and some openly taking drugs. We have raised this with our local police.
Councillor Lilley is championing the Ingestre Court Residents Association proposal for Westminster Council to use the Community Infrastructure Levy (tax levied on property developers) to invest £100,000 in a fence around the lower part of Ingestre Court to deter anti-social behaviour.
The existing low wall and planters have become a magnet for late-night revellers to drink talk loudly take drugs or urinate much to the horror of residents of both Ingestre Court and Kemp House.
Rupert Street & Brewer Street
Residents have told us of their concerns of anti-social behaviour and drug-taking in and around Rupert Street. Our Senior City Inspector is now liaising with the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Police to investigate further.
Greek Street Motorbike Meetings
Noisy, dangerous and nuisance motorbike meetings have been taking place, especially on Fridays, in Soho where up to 50 bikers park up, rev, do stunts and generally make the life of local residents, businesses and visitors quite unbearable.
Councillor Lilley has witnessed this and spoken with customers of Bar Italia and the management of Ronnies Scott’s nearby to hear about the effect this is having. We called for action by the local Police. Sixteen Officers recently took part in an operation when a S35 Dispersal Order was issued. This grants Police Officers the power to direct individuals to leave a specific area and not return for up to 48 hours. This was a powerful first step and display of community, Police and Council working together.
Marshall Street/Beak Street Intersection
Councillor Lilley passed on the Soho Society’s and residents’ concerns about Council plans for the intersection and has asked the Council to think again about planned changes.
Mayfair Rosewood Hotel
Councillor Lilley attended a meeting with residents and the Cabinet Member for Streets, Councillor Max Sullivan, to hear concerns about changes to residential parking in the area. The West End Labour Action Team will continue to make sure these concerns are heard at City Hall.
Mount Street Gardens
Following the opening of the Mount Street Gardens, backed by the Nature Sacred initiative, Councillor Lilley will be joining local residents on a community committee to support and protect the Gardens as a haven of nature.
Brown Hart Gardens
Residents have told us about noisy dogs and teenagers using the Gardens in an anti-social way. We have alerted our acting West End Neighbourhood Co-ordinator and the Police.
Crackdown on Problem Short-Lets
Westminster Council is stepping up action against anti-social behaviour linked to illegal and poorly managed short-term lets. The Short-Term Lets Team is doubling in size, with two more dedicated officers and extra support from across the Council. Click for details.
Homeowners can let their home on a short-term basis for up to 90 nights in a calendar year (1 January to 31 December) without applying for planning permission.
Those who want to let out their home for more than 90 days must apply for planning permission. Failure to do so may result in the Council taking enforcement action.
With over 13,000 short term lets in Westminster there is concern that they are driving up rents and driving out long-term residents. West End Labour Action team are calling for a mandatory registration scheme.
Where guests behave unreasonably, the Council can take action can take enforcement action against the landlord. We may issue a Community Protection Notice, which sets out the steps the landlord needs to take to ensure anti-social behaviour does not happen again. Breaching this notice is a criminal offence and may carry a fine of up to £20,000 for businesses or £2,500 for individuals.