HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – December 2023
News from your Hyde Park Labour Councillors Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg
Dear Resident,
We hope that all is well. It has been another few weeks of activity right across the ward.
We did a walkabout with the new team of City Inspectors down Praed Street, Norfolk Square, Edgware Road, Star Street, Portsea Place, Connaught Square and Connaught Street to show them the locations where there are issues which need to be resolved. We will be doing further walkabouts along other streets over the coming months.
We attended the annual Remembrance Day Service at Lancaster Gate War Memorial to remember the men and women of Paddington who gave their lives in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. Lest we forget.
We attended the SEBRA AGM at Porchester Hall. SEBRA (South East Bayswater Residents’ Association) covers a part of the Hyde Park Ward.
We hold a regular advice surgery at St John’s Parish Hall, Hyde Park Crescent, on the first Thursday of the month from 6-7pm. The next will be on Thursday 7th December, 6pm-7pm.
For details of Christmas Tree recycling points see www.westminster.gov.uk/xmas-recycling
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road/Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Connaught Street
We asked the City Inspectors to remove the abandoned key boxes on the bike stands outside the Griffin House Hotel on Connaught Street. We also asked for an abandoned bike frame to be removed by the tree at the corner with Kendal Street.
We again asked the City Inspectors to warn First Mile that their customers must not leave rubbish bags by the tree outside 12 Connaught Street.
We asked the City Inspectors to stop Voug leaving hot coals on the pavement outside Connaught Court and to stop this dangerous practice.
Connaught Square
We asked the City Inspectors to arrange for the utility box door on the traffic island in Connaught Square to be securely fastened.
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a faulty streetlight in Connaught Square. The streetlight is now working.
We are very concerned to hear about a bad accident involving a young cyclist hit by a car at the north-east corner of Connaught Square and Connaught Street. Local residents came to his assistance and we hope he makes a full recovery. The proposed road safety measures within the C43 cycle route will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Winter Wonderland
Following concerns raised by residents, we asked the Council to take action against the chestnut, hotdog, balloon and other vendors using Connaught Place to clean their equipment while serving Winter Wonderland visitors. The Council says,
“Since Winter Wonderland started the City Inspectors patrol the area to the north and west of Marble Arch. Yesterday alone, the teams disrupted several illegal traders selling various goods. During the day, they seized one peanut trolley and moved on two balloon sellers. Later in the evening they seized goods from two more. These were flashing toys at Hyde Park Corner entrance and at the Cumberland Gate entrance to the Park. There were a handful of other flashing toy sellers who ran away when the CIs approached.”
If you have any questions or comments about Winter Wonderland you can email eventfeedback@royalparks.org.uk
Bathurst Street
Bathurst Street residents have contacted us about the street sweeping service which we have asked to be investigated and maintained.
Residents are also concerned about the regular rubbish dumping by the tree on Westbourne Street/Bathurst Street. We have asked the City Inspectors to put this location on a regular watch and issue fines whenever appropriate.
25 Porchester Place
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to investigate four flats at 25 Porchester Place where residents say, “residents at those flats are changing every 2-3 weeks.”
Porchester Place
We asked the Waste Team to clear rubbish dumped on the pavement outside the Porchester Place shops and to issue fines to those responsible.
The Quadrangle
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to investigate a flat at The Quadrangle.
Hyde Park Crescent
The works to install a central island in Hyde Park Crescent so that pedestrians can cross this busy road safely are underway. The kerb corners are also being extended so that crossing the wide road is easier and safer.
The extended kerb corners and central island will also slow down speeding traffic. The works have been called for by local residents and prior consultation revealed support for the proposed pedestrian safety works.
Southwick Place
It seems that the long-running daily problems with hundreds of pigeons swarming around a house in Southwick Place, where the owner was feeding the pigeons four times a day, is finally over. Neighbours say, “The ‘pigeon house’ has been sold and the courtyard garden is being thoroughly jet-washed. The pigeons have largely dispersed, so it now seems like the past 2 years have been simply a nightmare.”
“Without Westminster’s Councillors, Environmental officers and the Anti-Social behaviour department taking action my neighbour would never have taken notice of us.”
Norfolk Crescent
Following concerns raised by residents about late night anti-social behaviour from drivers parked in Norfolk Crescent, we asked the Council to install double yellow lines “at any time” waiting restrictions (a) outside 7 to 20 and 23 to 36 Norfolk Crescent; and (b) on the south-eastern corner of the garden crescent, opposite 36 Norfolk Crescent.
We also asked the Church Commissioners to install a new secure lock to the storage cupboard of a house in Norfolk Crescent which is being used to store bedding by those bedding down on Edgware Road.
Street Lighting
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix broken lights in Sussex Place, Stanhope Terrace and outside 31 – 51 Sussex Square. Arrangements are now being made to fix these streetlights.
Sussex Square
We asked the City Inspectors to investigate concerns that food is being thrown out of the back windows of a house in Sussex Square. Residents say, “This is obviously totally unacceptable and disgusting and will certainly encourage rodents, roaches, etc which we do not want. It also creates a very bad smell, so much so that one of the residents in that block keeps his window closed so as not to have to smell all of this.”
Porchester Place/Kendal Street – update
We asked the Highways Team to repair the uneven pavement at the junction of Porchester Place and Kendal Street. The pavement has now been fixed.
Norfolk Crescent/Burwood Place
We asked the City Inspectors to issue fines to those responsible for dumping rubbish at the corner of Norfolk Crescent and Burwood Place.
Hyde Park Gardens
We have asked the Police and City Inspectors to investigate and take action on this issue raised by a resident, “There is a car parked immediately in front of our building with people living in the car. They are either dealing drugs and/or stealing parcels from neighbours. Every morning two of his associates come and they do some type of business. He then proceeds to empty all of the trash out of his car into the street. He has also been urinating and defecating on the pavement. The car has been ticketed several times but has not been towed.”
Bayswater Road
We asked the Highways Team to investigate a water leak outside the Royal Lancaster Hotel who say, “We have what seems to be a persistent leak coming into our basement from the Bayswater Road side whenever it rains.”
We also asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a streetlight at the junction with Albion Street.
Brook Street
We again asked the Police to investigate a vehicle which has been parked in Brook Street for many weeks and where people are sleeping and anti-social behaviour is a regular occurrence. We understand the car has a valid licence and MoT and has attracted numerous parking tickets.
Lancaster Gate cycling
A resident tells us that the traffic light timings at Lancaster Gate have taken place and “the signal timing is much better. It is possible to cycle through the system much quicker/smoother than before, without waiting at each set of individual lights.”
Lancaster Gate Station
We received the following update from Transport for London about the recent station closures at Lancaster Gate,
“We have recruited additional staff to support stations across our network, including Lancaster Gate station. Last month, TfL and RMT came to an agreement on changes to staffing at stations. This means action short of a strike has now ended. We continue to have positive conversations with TSSA, the other union involved in this matter too. We expect additional staff recruited to be trained and deployed by January.”
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.
Please note, you can only use this number to report incidents within the boundary of the Hyde Park Estate as Croma are paid to operate within that area only.
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Star Street
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to investigate a property in Star Street where residents say, “there are at least three groups of people a week going in and out with suitcases and cleaners, etc. I feel very strongly about this outright disregard for the rules.”
We asked Royal Mail if they would relocate the post box outside 42 Southwick Street, at the junction with Star Street. Residents say, “The gap between the post box and the railings is 68cm and I have witnessed on many occasions users of wheelchairs and children’s buggies having to cross the road or travel down the road to get around the pinch point between the railings and post box.”
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2023/11/16/call-to-relocate-star-street-post-box/
Norfolk Place/Sussex Gardens
We asked Thames Water to fix a water leak at the corner of Norfolk Place and Sussex Gardens and asked the Highways Team to fix cracked pavements in the same area.
St Michael’s Street
We asked the City Inspectors to issue fines to those responsible for dumping rubbish behind Starbucks in St Michael’s Street.
Sussex Gardens
We asked the City Inspectors to inform hotels in Sussex Gardens to keep their waste for collection by First Mile inside their private internal road area, and not on the Sussex Gardens pavement.
London Street
We are assisting a resident in London Street who has had their electricity turned off by their landlord and been issued a s21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice.
Jamuna, 38 Southwick Street
Jamuna is now open offering “contemporary cuisine celebrating the diverse regional tasting across South Asia with a British twist.” For more details see https://jamuna.co.uk/
Edgware Road area
Park West
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to investigate and issue Planning Contravention Notices to the leaseholders of two flats at Park West where Airbnb holiday lets adverts have been identified. We also ask the City Inspectors to remove a key box from a pole on Park West Place.
Restaurants on Edgware Road
We asked the City Inspectors to visit two restaurants which have been serving hot food without a licence. We also asked that the City Inspectors also visit another restaurant whose customers are responsible for late night anti-social behaviour in Burwood Place, Norfolk Crescent and Park West Place.
We also asked that those restaurants leaving hot coals on the pavement be told to stop engaging in this dangerous practice.
We asked the City Inspectors to take action against a restaurant on Edgware Road which we saw dumping rubbish by the post box on Connaught Square.
The Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Chapel Street/Transept Street
We asked the Highways Team to look again at improving pedestrian safety at the Chapel Street/Transept Street junction. The Highways Team say,
“We are monitoring this location as part of the ‘Informal Side Road Crossings Trial’. We are collecting data on how pedestrians and drivers are interacting with each other, especially considering the recent law changes where drivers ‘should’ give way to pedestrians crossing side roads. The purpose of the trial would be to place road marking at the side road to ensure drivers are yielding and reinforcing pedestrian priority. The junction with Chapel Street and Cabbell Street is also part of this trial.”
Cabbell Street
We asked Thames Water to investigate the drains in Cabbell Street to see if there are blockages which are causing the unpleasant smells in the street. The Managing Agents for Blocks 7 & 9 Hyde Park Mansions say,
“After 3 visits prior from Thames Water, telling me in no uncertain terms that the issue was mine to fix, they finally conceded and accepted responsibility. They have cleared the drains and have found a collapsed section that was causing the issue. All in all, it is finally solved.”
We also asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a broken streetlight outside Block 7 on Cabbell Street.
38-47a Chapel Street
We asked the Housing Department to put up ‘No Short-Term Lettings’ posters in the entrance lobbies of 38-47a Chapel Street. We also asked for the lights in the courtyard to be fixed.
We asked the City Inspectors to take action against those responsible for rubbish dumping outside this block.
Edgware Road underpass
We asked TfL to clean graffiti from the Edgware Road underpass wall.
Hyde Park Mansions
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to investigate two flats in Hyde Park Mansions where leaseholders are advertising short-term lettings on Airbnb. CCTV caught images of a group of six young people arriving with their suitcases and staying in Block E.
Oxford & Cambridge Mansions
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to investigate a flat in Oxford & Cambridge Mansions where a leaseholder is advertising short-term lettings on Airbnb.
We were disappointed to hear of the theft of the main front door brass kickplates from blocks at Oxbridge & Cambridge Mansions and Hyde Park Mansions. The police have been informed.
Old Marylebone Road
We asked the Parking Team to consider this suggestion from a resident, “Outside Oxford & Cambridge Mansions, on Old Marylebone Road, is a parking bay of 4 spaces. People often park in considerately which means there is a reduced space. Could this bay be delineated with painted lines separating it into 4 bays instead of one large space to encourage people to part correctly?”
The Parking Team say, “As the idea seems sound and it is not a problem to get this sorted, I have therefore asked the team to get the lining changes ordered.”
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Waterside House, Paddington Basin
The owners of Waterside House are consulting residents on proposals to retain, refurbish and extend Waterside House. You can see the plans at https://waterside-house.co.uk/
Travis Perkins site
Many residents have made it clear to us that they do not support revised proposals by Travis Perkins and Unite for a large student development on the Baltic Wharf site. One resident said, “there is absolutely no need whatsoever to build yet another tower block, when there are already plenty of empty office blocks all over London, which are lying empty and could be repurposed and refurbished to accommodate students, who wish to be accommodated within a luxurious student building.”
Another resident said, “despite several revised designs of the proposed new building of varying sizes and shapes, I held fast to the objections stated previously, highlighting a loss of natural light, along with mass in building, dense noisy student population and congestion.”
Harrow Road/Hermitage Street
We asked TfL to fix the traffic lights across Harrow Road, adjacent to Hermitage Street.
Harbet Road
We again asked Hilton to organise the regular street sweeping of that part of Harbet Road, a private road, which is their responsibility and to enforce the double yellow line no parking which is also their responsibility.
The Hotel Manager says, “I can reassure you that we do sweep the street twice a day, currently morning and later afternoon. We struggle often with litter left after closing hours of Brewdog, where bottles and cans cardboards are left behind. I have noted your comment on the yellow lines, which will be planned with our team accordingly. We will monitor the cleaning more rigorously, all my team has been briefed.”
Marylebone Road
We asked TfL to fix a large puddle on Marylebone Road by EZ bus stop just past Edgware Road on the eastbound slip road. TfL say, “This bus stopping area and lane 1 is due for resurfacing soon.”