HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – February 2024
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 very busy month right across the ward.
We attended a meeting with Professor Tim Orchard, St Mary’s Chief Executive, to hear an update about the plans to build a new hospital.
We went on a walkabout with the Police to visit crime ‘hot spots’ and discussed actions to reduce crime in the area. We also met the Marble Arch BID street team, at La Maritxu, listening to their insights about Edgware Road and Connaught Village.
We also had a walkabout with our new Veolia service delivery manager, Jason, and highlighted fly-tipping hot spots.
Westminster Council is returning CCTV cameras to the city to focus on anti-social behaviour, local crime and fly-tipping. You can read more about the public CCTV network here https://bit.ly/47DMoA9
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced action to freeze TfL fares this year, to support Londoners struggling with the cost of living and London’s recovery from the pandemic. All pay as you go fares on the bus, Tube, DLR, Tram are frozen, as are the majority of pay as you go fares on London Overground and the Elizabeth line.
We were sad to hear of the death of Honorary Alderman Ann Mallinson who was a Hyde Park Ward Councillor from 1974 – 2006 and lived in Albion Street. She was Lord Mayor in 1986/87. Her funeral was held at St John’s Church on 30th January and was well attended by her family and friends.
Finally, thank you to everyone who recycled their real Christmas tree at one of the recycling points. The Council collected 45 tonnes of real trees (approx. 5,660 trees, nearly 1,000 more than last year) which have now been recycled and turned into woodchip and soil improver.
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 1st February, 6pm-7pm.
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
Stanhope Terrace/Sussex Place
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix faulty lampposts outside 6 Stanhope Terrace and 10 Sussex Place. Both have been reported for repairs.
Kendal Street
We asked the Highways Team to raise the issue of badly parked e-bikes with operator Lime to ensure e-bikes are parked properly within the bay, not on the pavement.
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix the streetlights on Kendal Street. The streetlights are now working.
We also asked the Parking Team to take action to stop cars at the Kendal Street car wash blocking the pavement and parking on double yellow lines.
Sussex Gardens
We contacted the police following reports of vandalism to the historic Te Deum windows at St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens. The church says, “The window that has been repeatedly vandalised is from the 1940s after WWII.” The church gave the police CCTV coverage of the area and the police increased patrols in the area, resulting in a suspect being apprehended and held in police custody before appearing before the court.
Read the latest here https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/priest-hailed-a-hero-in-his-new-parish
Norfolk Crescent
We are pleased to see newly planted trees and double yellow lines along Norfolk Crescent.
We asked the Highways Team to fix a drain which was causing a danger to cyclists and pedestrians outside 35 Norfolk Crescent. The problem has now been fixed.
Devonport
We are very disappointed that the Church Commissioners have appealed against the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the demolition of the existing garages and erection of two new houses in the Devonport Garden. The Council will be writing to residents about the appeal process and how to make further comments to the Planning Inspectorate. We will be making strong representations against this totally inappropriate ‘bunker’ development.
The Church Commissioners have requested the appeal be dealt with via an Informal Hearing and a date has yet to be set.
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/2023/07/12/great-victory-for-devonport-residents/
Hyde Park Square
We told Lime to remove an abandoned e-bike on the pavement on corner of Hyde Park Square and to fine the rider.
Hyde Park Crescent
Following the installation of a traffic island and kerb build-outs outside St John’s Church, Hyde Park Square, residents have installed a Telraam speed monitoring device at a flat across from the church. The initial results have been posted on the HyPER website and you can read the full post here. You can also see the data yourself here. There are two key early observations:
- Significantly less speeding, including excessive speeding (double the speed limit)
- Continued high volumes of traffic, especially northbound, during peak commute.
We asked the Highways Team to look at the data to see if the results point to any further actions here and elsewhere in the area to reduce traffic speeds and improve pedestrian safety.
Brook Street
We again asked the City Inspectors and Parking Team to take action to stop the alleged drug dealing and other anti-social activities by people sleeping in a parked car in Brook Street.
The City Inspectors now tell us “the abandoned car at the junction Brook Street and Hyde Park Gardens was finally removed by our Parking team. Our outreach and Police teams are monitoring the area and will target any rough sleeping or street based ASB that they encounter.”
Bayswater Road
We asked TfL to clean the graffiti from the bus shelter on Bayswater Road by Hyde Park Street (Bus stop B).
Bayswater Road/Hyde Park Street
Following another vehicle collision, we asked the Highways Team to look again at the Hyde Park Street junction with Bayswater Street to see if the junction can be improved so that view of drivers/pedestrians/cyclist’s is not obstructed.
25 Porchester Place
We asked the the Short-Lets Team to investigate further Airbnb lets at 25 Porchester Place.
Connaught Street
We continued to press the Church Commissioners to find new café operators for the units previously occupied by Le Pain Quotidien and Abasto and to attract some ‘everyday’ shops to the street.
Shops on Connaught Street have been reminded about commercial refuse collection arrangements:
“Red bags can go out on Connaught Street 7 days a week at 7.30am or 7pm and blue recycling bags and cardboard bundles at 7pm every day. Waste should be placed outside on the public highway at above times close to your own shop as possible, without blocking the public highway.”
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
St Mary’s Hospital – update
The hospital has sent us the following update on their redevelopment plans:
“Following the Government decision in May to delay the main capital funding for our schemes, we have been working with the New Hospital Programme to explore ways to keep our redevelopments on track, particularly St Mary’s where the need is so urgent. We are now hopeful of securing funding to enable us to embark on detailed design and planning for St Mary’s in the coming months, with a view to then bridging the gap to our main capital funding through the sale of land that will become surplus to requirement.”
Please see www.imperial.nhs.uk/st-marys-development for the latest on the redevelopment plans and an online survey.
Star Street/Bouverie Place
We asked the City Inspectors to investigate this issue raised by a resident, “I contacted you once before about dumped rubbish on the raised area at the corner of Star Street and Bouverie Place. The problem is that it is a private area so any rubbish is left there, but last time you did organise it to be removed. New rubbish has since appeared, old furniture, fridge etc. Is there any way this unsightly dump can be prevented in future?”
The dumped rubbish has now been collected by Veolia.
Star Street
We asked the Parking Team to take action against drivers who park in one of the disabled bays in Star Street. We asked the Highways Team to fix a wobbly paving stone outside 6 Star Street.
Southwick Street
We have asked the police to increase their patrols in Southwick Street where residents are concerned about drug dealing.
Norfolk Place/Sussex Gardens
We again urged Thames Water to fix the long-standing water leak at the junction of Norfolk Place and Sussex Gardens.
Sussex Gardens
Following reports from residents in Sussex Gardens about anti-social behaviour in the area, we asked the Police and City Inspectors to increase their patrols. We were pleased to receive this message from a resident, “I’m not sure what your teams have done, but there has been a massive decrease in this type of ASB, I really notice it day to day, so a massive thank you, it has made a huge difference walking around the ward.”
Southwick Street/Star Street
We asked the Highways Team to install extra signs in Sussex Gardens to warn large vehicles not to enter the smaller side streets, after a very large vehicle was trapped in Star Street for over 2 hours before it was able to manoeuvre out of Southwick Street. Luckily no harm was caused, but the pavement was damaged and the traffic build up was massive.
Balmoral Apartments, Praed Street
We are helping a resident in Balmoral Apartments with long-standing problems getting essential repairs completed by the managing agents. The West End Quay management said, “We will reach out to the resident today and invoke the lease to insist on a property inspection and fault correction.”
Paddington Square
As part of the Paddington Square development currently taking place, highway improvement works to Praed Street have started. This includes new pedestrian crossings, wider pavements and carriageway resurfacing.
Works started on Tuesday 22nd January and will be completed in May. Standard working hours will be Monday – Friday 08:00 – 17:30.
Praed Street
We asked the Highways Team to request Thames Water to fix a protruding water valve on Praed Street causing a pedestrian hazard outside the Hilton hotel.
And Praed Street is the location for Amelia Dimoldenberg’s latest ‘Chicken Shop Date’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1T_mVGe0hk
Paddington Underground Station, 175-185 Praed Street
A planning application has been submitted by Transport for London for the upgrade and refurbishment of the building above the underground station on Praed Street opposite the Paddington Station Hilton Hotel. TfL’s intention is to combine the restoration works to the building with a commercial project to merge the existing 7 commercial units to create 4 new commercial units.
The building is part of the original station development built in 1868 and remodelled several times during its history. The building is Grade II listed and is a building of special significance. You can see the plans and make comments at www.westminster.gov.uk/planning using the reference number 23/08842/FULL
TfL says it “wishes to create a sympathetic retail and commercial offer that will reinvigorate the building and attract high quality tenants. It is TfL’s aspiration that this will restore the building’s former prominence and act as a place making feature of Praed Street, able to complement with the other commercial development schemes in the area.”
Edgware Road area
Edgware Road/Kendal Street
We asked the Highways Team to check when the new map will be installed in the wayfinding post at the corner of Edgware Road and Kendal Street.
Edgware Road/Seymour Street
We asked the Highways Team to repair a pedestrian crossing pole which was knocked over on the east side of Edgware Road and Seymour Street.
Park West
We asked the Short-Lets Team to investigate further Airbnb lets at 6 flats in Park West and asked the City Inspectors to remove a key box attached to a bike stand in Park West Place.
Edgware Road issues
We did a walkabout on Edgware Road to investigate street lighting levels in the side streets to see if any streetlights need to be upgraded. We identified lighting in St Michael’s Street, Cabbell Street, Connaught Square/Street, Burwood Place, Kendal Street for further investigation.
We also visited the Marylebone side of Edgware Road where Crawford Place/Cato Street, Nutford Place/Seymour Place (around Sylvia Young Theatre School) are to be investigated further.
We asked TfL to investigate an A board obstructing the pavement and graffiti outside Starbucks and to remove graffiti from a bus shelter and on the hoarding next to M&S.
Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Chapel Street/Transept Street
We asked the City Inspectors to take action against those responsible for dumping rubbish outside 38-47a Chapel Street. The City Inspector says, “It appears that the waste originated from 3 premises, with 2️ addresses successfully identified. Section 46 warning notices will be dispatched accordingly.”
We also reported a vandalised phone booth outside the Chapel pub to the Highways Team and asked that the operators be asked to repair it.
Chapel Street/Cabbell Street
We told Forest to stop e-bike parking on the pavement on the corner of Chapel Street and Cabbell Street. This is not a designated parking location.
Chapel Street
An additional EV fast charging unit is to be placed in Chapel Street over the coming months.
Old Marylebone Road
At the request of residents, white dividing lines have been marked in the residents’ parking bay on Old Marylebone Road to denote four parking spaces.
Hyde Park Mansions
We again asked the Short-Lets Team to investigate further Airbnb lets at a flat in Block E Hyde Park Mansions. We are also helping residents in Block A who have a water penetration problem.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Baltic Wharf
Unite Students and Travis Perkins have announced revised plans for the redevelopment of Baltic Wharf. They are holding two public exhibitions:
- Tuesday 6 February 2024, Paddington Works, 8 Hermitage St, London, W2 1BE 2pm-7pm (drop-in anytime)
- Tuesday 13 February 2024 over Zoom 6:30pm-7:30pm (sign up here)
They will upload the exhibition boards to https://www.balticwharfpaddington.com/ on 6 February 2024.
Montgomery House
We contacted Peabody following Montgomery House residents reporting the loss of heating and hot water on New Year’s Day and the following week.
Eastbourne Terrace
We continue to support the relocation of the National Express coach stop from Bishop’s Bridge to the northern end of Eastbourne Terrace, so that coaches can turn on Cleveland Terrace on their way back to the A40.
Paddington Gardens
We told Lime to remove an abandoned e-bike outside the front door of Aster House and to fine the rider.
South Wharf Road
We told Lime and Forest to remove e-bikes parked on the pavement on South Wharf Road in front of the cash machine and to fine the riders.
5 Harbet Road
We again asked Octavia to carry out essential repair works to the entrance area and bin area at 5 Harbet Road.
Number 18 bus
There appears to be a problem with number 18 buses not stopping to pick up passengers. Please let us know if this is something that has happened to you.