HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – January 2026
News from your Hyde Park Labour Councillors Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg and Action Team member Nigel Medforth
Dear Resident,
Happy New Year!
Last month was another very busy month.
We attended the first Tyburn Fair at 21 Star Street, organised by residents with help from The Royal Exchange Pub on Sale Street.
We attended St John’s Hyde Park for a Carol Service for the North Paddington Food Bank, helping to raise funds for this vital service that provides help for those in need, and the Nine Lessons and Carols service on 21st December.
The Police have launched a major crackdown on phone snatchers and luxury watch thieves on e-bikes blighting the West End. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/met-police-launch-christmas-crime-blitz-on-ebike-phone-snatchers-west-end-london-b1261682.html
The Police say that recently:
- 11 arrests made for a range of offences.
- Multiple stop and searches conducted in and around Park West, targeting drug-related activity.
- 7 Community Protection Warnings issued for Anti-Social Behaviour.
- Quantities of drugs seized, contributing to the disruption of local supply and criminal activity.
The Council removed a £250,000 Rolls Royce in a crackdown on illegally parked supercars. The Saudi-registered supercar was towed after the Council said the usual practice of issuing £160 fines was not deterring rich visitors from parking badly.
Westminster City Council has been recognised by ‘Inside Housing’ as the 5ᵗʰ biggest council housebuilder in the country. This follows a strong performance last year, when Westminster also ranked among the top ten nationally. https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2025/12/07/westminster-labour-delivers-now-the-5%e1%b5%97%ca%b0-biggest-council-house-builder-in-the-country/
Free cultural events for Westminster residents aged 65+.
‘Out and About’ offers free tickets to attend cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions, film and theatre shows, coordinated by Westminster City Council. The Council says, “You can book these free events by becoming a member of the ‘Out and About’ scheme. Email outandabout@westminster.gov.uk with your name, age, postal address, telephone number and email address. We will then email you the programme, which is released monthly. For more information please visit Cultural events for older people | Westminster City Council”
For Christmas tree recycling please use the drop-off point outside St John’s Church, Hyde Park Crescent, available until January11th. Please remove all decorations so that the tree can be recycled for woodchip.
We hold a regular advice surgery at St John’s Parish Hall, Hyde Park Crescent. The next advice surgery will be on Thursday 8th January 2026, 6pm-7pm.
Every week we go door-knocking to ask residents if there are any local issues on which we can help. Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance at hplabour@gmail.com.
We post regular local news on Facebook at https://facebook.com/LabourHydePark
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road, Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Burwood Place
Three of the Burwood Place planters have been relocated to the Edgware Road junction with Old Marylebone Road. The remaining pot was damaged, and the contractors will break this up on site and remove the debris.
Kendal Street
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a faulty streetlight in Kendal Street.
Hyde Park Street/Hyde Park Square
We asked the Highways Team to fix an open telecoms cabinet door on the corner of Hyde Park Street and Hyde Park Square.
UPDATE – The Team told Virgin Media to fix the cabinet door lock, and this has now been done.
Portsea Place
Following our request to the Trees Team to inspect the large tree on Portsea Place, the Tree Officer says, “I inspected the tree and have specified that some of the lower branches be removed to increase clearance over the footway. In terms of size there plenty of space around the tree but we will need to keep an eye on how the roots may affect the pavement.”
Albion Street
We asked the Highways Team to contact to Thames Water to fix a noisy manhole cover at the end of Albion Street, close to Bayswater Road.
Connaught Village Green
The police are aware of the late-night issues at Connaught Village Green caused by a small group and say, “We are targeting the area as part of our late patrols …… I will contact the CCTV operators to review the footage and circulate the footage to the team so we are aware of who these individuals are.”
Bayswater Road
We asked TfL to fix the four defective pedestrian crossing signal lights at the junction of Cumberland Gate and North Carriage Drive.
Hyde Park Place
We asked the City Inspectors to monitor the building site at 11 Hyde Park Place where the contractors have been leaving building rubble on the pavement.
Hyde Park Street
We asked the Highways Team to paint the telecoms box black on Hyde Park Street. Painting it black will ensure that it does not stand out as much as the current white colour.
Hyde Park Crescent
We asked the Trees Team to plant a new tree at the corner of Hyde Park Crescent and Somers Crescent to replace the one that has been lost.
Gloucester Square
We asked the Planning Enforcement Team to take action to remove the ‘temporary structure’ from outside 12 Gloucester Square which has been there for almost four years while no building works have taken place.
Marble Arch
We asked TfL to fix a water leak on the road between Marble Arch and Edgware Road.
The Planning Committee has unanimously approved plans for the temporary use of part of the Marble Arch Island as a theatre and event space for a period of two years.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/marble-arch-theatre-site-mound-westminster-arts-b1261983.html
94-bus and 7-bus routes
We are opposing plans to terminate the 7 and 94-bus routes at Marble Arch as part of the Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans.
To see the bus route proposals and make comments go to https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/oxford-street-transport-highways
To sign our petition see https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/uncategorised/2025/12/01/sign-the-petition-protect-bus-routes-7-and-94/
Hyde Park Corner
Following our enquiries about the tent encampment outside Aspley House, Hyde Park Corner, the City Inspectors tell us, “A successful partnership effort between City Inspectors, Police, Royal Parks, Veolia and Apsley House Estate Management resulted in the vicinity being safely and proportionally cleared. Outreach were consulted prior and throughout. We will continue to link in with them to ensure continue support is offered to those displaced.”
Hyde Park to Marylebone Cycleway (C43)
Information on the Hyde Park to Marylebone Cycleway (C43) is available on the website Community Forum – C43 Cycleway – Commonplace where you can see information on the whole scheme, construction programme, phasing and FAQs. If you have any questions please contact the Public Liaison Officer, Bob Burton at 07760 962103 or email Cycleway43@wsp.com.
Hyde Park Estate security
For residents living on the Hyde Park Estate, the Croma mobile security supervisor contact number is 07880 680257. The mobile team provides 2 patrols each evening between the hours of 19.00pm – 07.00am. This is paid for via the service charges at blocks managed by the Church Commissioners, who also pay for the patrol at Portsea Mews and around Connaught Village.
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Praed Street Post Office
We are continuing to press the Post Office to introduce a new queueing ticket machine at Praed Street Post Office and provide more chairs where those waiting can sit.
Praed Street: a new gateway to Paddington
The Council has launched the Praed Street Place Strategy which sets out a vision for turning the busy streets outside Paddington Station into a greener, safer and more welcoming place. The proposals include the creation of a new public space at London Street, with planting, seating, lighting and improved wayfinding.
The strategy also includes pavement widening, new and upgraded crossings, better cycling facilities and enhanced greenery, including rain gardens and new tree planting along Praed Street.
Star Street
The repaving of Star Street pavements is starting this month.
We asked the Highways Team to fix a broken water connection cover in the pavement outside 12a Star Street which is a pedestrian hazard.
UPDATE – The cover has now been fixed and is now flush with the pavement.
Praed Street
We asked the Highways Team to request Thames Water to fix a noisy manhole cover on Praed Street, between HSBC and Superdrug.
Norfolk Place
To improve safety and security for residents, businesses and visitors, we asked the Council to install a CCTV camera on Norfolk Place. A camera now been installed and is monitored 24/7. The police have access to all the footage in order that they can identify those responsible for crime and anti-social behaviour.
Sussex Gardens hotels
Following our enquiries about the issues with rats in Sussex Gardens, Paddington Now BID says:
“The BID has been working with the Hotels on Sussex Gardens for several months now alongside WCC City Inspectors and Pest Control. We have provided bins for food waste as well as sacks. We have also ran workshops to educate the Hotel owners/managers about proper waste disposal and recycling as rodent infestation was proven to be them leaving food waste on the road and contamination of dry mixed recycling sacks.
We have had reports from hotel owners they have not seen rats for some time. We continue to fund private pest control as well as employing Westminster Council.”
Edgware Road
Edgware Road phone box
There is an In-Focus telephone box on Edgware Road, near the bus stop for 98 & 6 buses. It has no telephone in it anymore and the frame is rusting. We asked In-Focus to repair or remove it as it is a blight on the environment. The company says: “the reason for the Kiosk not having any phone apparatus is due to this location being de-commissioned, and the permanent removal will take place in the next few weeks. We initially remove the ancillary parts in readiness for power disconnections before we finally remove the main Kiosk structure.”
Edgware Road pavement parking
We asked the Parking and Highways Teams to act against lorries parking on the pavement on Edgware Road.
Edgware Road rain gardens
Thanks to TfL for the three new rain gardens, 517 plants, five new trees and 1,030 bulbs planted along Edgware Road, near the junction with Sussex Gardens.
Graffiti
We asked the City Inspectors to remove the graffiti on the walls above the shop on 204-206 Edgware Road at the corner with Old Marylebone Road.
Cambridge Court
We asked the Refuse Team to take action to stop rubbish from Cambridge Court from being dumped on the pavement and to be stored safely in bins while waiting for collection. We also asked the Short Lets Team to investigate reports of illegal short term letting of flats at Cambridge Court.
Marylebone Flyover
The collection of tents under Marylebone Flyover has been removed by TfL who say, “The site is now clear and is being secured, ready for bridge maintenance works to start in the coming weeks. We continue to closely monitor the situation and work through next steps with partners. This includes working with outreach teams, who will be able to signpost and refer anyone sleeping rough to the available and appropriate support for each person’s individual circumstances.”
UPDATE – TfL has secured the area with fencing to deter future encampments.
Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
38-47 Chapel Street
We asked the Housing Team to repair the damaged gates to the car park at 38-47 Chapel Street.
We also asked the Housing Team to investigate a former Council flat being let out on Airbnb. The Team said, “This address had previously been under investigation, during which time the key safes were successfully removed. We will now treat this matter with urgency and will be carrying out targeted short-let inspections at the property with the aim of bringing any unauthorised short letting to an immediate stop.”
Hyde Park Mansions
We asked the Short Lets Team to investigate flats in Blocks 14 and 15 Hyde Park Mansions suspected to be Airbnb illegal short term lets. The Team said, “Hyde Park Mansions will become an area of increased focus in the 2026, as we are receiving an increasing number of reports of Short-Term Letting within these blocks.”
We also asked the City Inspectors to remove a pedicab tied to a lamppost outside Block 11 Hyde Park Mansions. UPDATE – The pedicab has been removed.
Chapel Street informal zebra crossings
The Informal zebra crossings in Chapel Street, Transept Street and Cabbell Streets are mentioned in The Standard as part of the trial across Westminster to improve pedestrian safety
Old Marylebone Road
There is another article on the ‘snail farm’ tax avoidance scam based at Winchester House, Old Marylebone Road https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/dec/04/the-long-read-snail-farm-tax-avoidance-scheme-terry-ball
Welcome to the new defibrillator on Old Marylebone Road, outside the Premier Inn.
It replaces an old phone box. We hope the new defibrillator helps to save lives in the future.
Marylebone Road
We asked TfL to review the crossing times across Marylebone Road after receiving this message from a resident, “The pedestrian crossing timing at the junction of Cosway Street and Marylebone Road does not allow enough time for a person to cross both halves of Marylebone Road. It’s particularly concerning because there is a school on Cosway Street.”
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Aster House
We again urged Octavia Housing to fix the hot water supply to flats in Aster House. We also reported this to the Council’s Environmental Health Team, who say,
“Octavia has confirmed that they were made aware of intermittent heating and hot water issues in November and identified a fault which caused sediment to be disturbed in the pipework, which blocked strainers in some properties and disrupted the consistent flow of heating and hot water.
Works at Aster House commenced on 17 December. Of the 64 properties, 13 reported issues as of that date. Portable heaters have been provided to affected households without heating. Due to the time taken to resolve the matter, an enforcement notice was issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 23 December 2025, with copies sent to all residents. The notice expires on 14 January 2026.”
North Wharf Road
We asked the Parking and Highways Teams to act against lorries parking on the pavement outside Marylebone Boys School on North Wharf Road.
South Wharf Road
We asked the City Inspectors to remind Tesco to keep their cages off the pavement as this is not for storage.
Sheldon Square
We asked the City Inspectors to investigate a Sheldon Square bar where gas heaters were placed on the pavement, causing a nuisance for residents living above
City Inspectors visited the premises and told the bar manager that if they continued to use the gas heaters without the correct permission, enforcement action could be carried out.
Harbet Road
We asked the Parking and Highways Teams to act against lorries parking on the pavement on Harbet Road and forcing wheelchair users on to the roadway.
Dudley House
We reported parcel thefts from Dudley House (and elsewhere) to the police who say, “People need to report it online as we do often look at any CCTV uploaded to see if we can identify those responsible. It is a very difficult offence to stop, as it is opportunistic, and we do reply on building securities and concierges to take some responsibility over the security of their buildings, especially at this time of year. We will keep a watchful eye on those coming and going from these areas with parcels, as we are braced for an increase in this type of crime leading up to Christmas.”