News from your Bayswater Labour Councillors
Get in touch if there’s something that needs action in your area or an issue we can help with. Just click a link above to email us.
Or drop into one of our Advice Surgeries – no appointment needed.
- 1st & 3rd Saturday each month, 2pm to 3.30pm, Paddington Library, 45 Porchester Road, W2 5DU
NEWS, CASEWORK AND ACTION
Pothole Repairs
Labour-run Westminster City Council has doubled the amount invested in repairing and maintaining our roads and pavements, compared to the previous Conservative administration.
Meanwhile, the Labour government has almost tripled funding to the Council for pothole repairs and highways maintenance. As a result the Council has been able to increase the number of streets which will get new tarmac laid for the coming year. Here is a list of the streets in our area programmed for work:
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Leinster Square to Prince’s Square on Hereford Road
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Gloucester Terrace between Orsett Terrace and the A40 sliproad
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Inverness Terrace from Inverness Place to Bayswater Road
This is at the same time as achieving a 23% reduction in carbon emissions associated with highways maintenance for this year, compared to 2022/2023.
Cycle Movement Strategy PH 3: Westbourne Terrace Informal Consultation Launch
As part of the Council’s Cycle Movement Strategy, we are improving and making permanent a number of cycleway schemes introduced across the borough during COVID-19. This consultation invites your views on the proposed improvements for Westbourne Terrace.
Phase 2 of the Westbourne Terrace scheme was introduced in early 2025, delivering key safety enhancements. We are now seeking your views on the Phase 3 scheme, which aims to introduce more permanent improvements for both cyclists and pedestrians along this route. https://cmswestbourneterrace.commonplace.is/
There will be a Q&A Drop-in event at Pickering Hall, Hallfield Estate, London W2 6HF on Wednesday 16th July, 3pm to 6pm, where you can meet the project team and ask any questions you might have.
Met Engage
The Metropolitan Police launches a new way for Londoners to hear about neighbourhood policing – you can learn more and sign up here: Met launches a new way for Londoners to hear about neighbourhood policing | Metropolitan Police
P.S. We’d like to hear from you! – It would be great if you could take a few minutes to fill in our residents’ survey.
Labour gained control of Westminster Council from the Conservatives in May 2022. 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.
Garway Road
Council officers shared a design aimed at solving congestion issues at drop off and pick up at College Park School. Following a meeting on site with the school Head, and communication from local residents, council officers are addressing the feedback raised to the initial design before statutory consultation. We will support any design which will address the issues on site, and are keen to see a solution implemented as soon as possible.
Needham Road
Unfortunately council contractors were recently refused access to a long standing failing vault structure on Needham Road after providing the necessary notice to the owner. Officers say:
The owner has responded with some queries. We will respond and I have asked for confirmation that the uninterrupted access from Monday 14th July. If this is not confirmed I will ask out legal team to start the court proceedings. I have kept the legal team informed and I hope that we do not have to go down this route.
Porchester Road
Residents had concerns that Porchester Road wasn’t fully included in plans for Bayswater High Street improvements, despite a 2023 public consultation showing a clear need for upgrades. They also wanted to confirm the improvements would cover the entire road up to Royal Oak station. Max confirmed with Council officers that the program will include the street right up to Royal Oak station. Stay up to date with the project here.
Westbourne Gardens
Residents have asked for two waste and recycling bins at Westbourne Gardens, near Porchester Road, to be moved or removed. They say the bins contribute to anti-social behavior and fly-tipping, by providing cover. Max has proposed a trial removal of the bins to council officers alongside monitoring.
Pembridge Square / Moscow Road
We are supportive of RBKC’s plans for a School Street outside Pembridge Hall School on Moscow Road and Wetherby School on Pembridge Square – we lobbied the Conservatives in our neighbouring ward to do this back in 2022 when residents raised issues with us. The consultation period has now concluded and we await a decision from RBKC.
Canal Cleanup
While cleaning and repair of the Regent’s Canal is the responsibility of the Canal & River Trust, it’s clear they do not have the resources to do this properly. So, we asked the council to step in. As a result, council contractors have undertaken major clearances of flytipping along the canal and are organising further community litter picks. See below for a usually notorious spot under the flyover looking tidy last weekend.
Illegal sub-letting of housing association flat
While visiting the Octavia block at *** Gloucester Terrace on Saturday, I was informed that flat * was being used for short term lets. Residents were concerned that this should not be allowed to continue and that the flat should be allocated to a family in need.
This was followed up by sending evidence that residents had found on Booking.com Octavia Housing Association replied:
Thank you for your email. I have asked ****, who heads our housing team to investigate. We are also keen that social housing is put to the best use.
Elsie Lane Court – Notting Hill Genesis
Residents told Maggie of a persistent problem with sewage back-up flooding from the empty basement flat up to the ground floor entrance. After writing to NHG she received this response:
I have spoken to my team, and they are very aware of the sewage issue. It is something I have now escalated with our internal team who look after all of the mechanical and electrical assets in our buildings
We had contractors attend to clear the most recent flooding on Friday and then a further deep clean and disinfection of the area took place early this week.
I have stressed that we need a long term solution here as this is a repeated issue and I have been advised that the root cause of an over spill is due to a blockage which occurs once every so often. Essentially, it is caused by residents flushing items which they should not down the toilets.
We do have equipment in place that pre-warns an event of an overflow occurring. However, upon inspection, the pre-warning panel appeared not to be working so we have arranged for this to be repaired asap.
We are also putting in place a drainage contractor to visit every six months to check down the drain covers and jet wash and unblock anything which could cause further blockages.
Ward budget applications
Applications remain open to organisations and clubs to apply for project funding which benefits local residents:https://www.westminster.gov.uk/about-council/democracy/apply-ward-budget-funding
If you would like to apply for ward funding for a project but don’t know where to start, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to assist you with your application.
Whiteley’s Community Foundation
The developers behind the Whiteley’s are offering funding for organisations and individuals who want to make a difference in the area, with a focus on projects that benefit young people. For more information please reply to this email.
Don’t lose your vote
Whether you’re registering for the first time or recently changed address, make sure you’re registered to vote by following this link. It takes just a few minutes and you can register for a postal vote which gives you the option of posting your vote in case you’re away, unwell or busy on election day.