HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – September 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.
The Paddington Shopfront Improvement Scheme is now open for applications with businesses on Edgware Road given priority in phase 1. Applications are open until 29th September. Works can include façade repairs, repainting and pointing, new signage, heritage awnings, traditional shopfronts, security and access improvements.
We did a walkabout along Edgware Road on 4th September with the High Streets Team to identify possible shops that could be approached to apply for a shopfront grant. So far, there have been about 10 applications.
The next Marble Arch event is being run by English Heritage. From 4th to 16th September, each day between 09:00 and 16:00, a Conservation Van will be located at Marble Arch. The van will expand including furniture and will be hosting free public activities; arts and crafts related to conservation.
For details for Rachel Blake, Member of Parliament for Cities of London & Westminster, visit https://www.rachelblake.org.uk/. You can contact Rachel at rachel.blake.mp@parliament.uk
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 advice surgery will be on Thursday 3rd October, 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
Oxford Square
We have asked the Planning Enforcement Team to investigate a number of properties in Oxford Square for short-term letting where we have seen cleaners dumping rubbish on the street.
25 Porchester Terrace
We asked the Church Commissioners to remove a key box on the wall of 25 Porchester Terrace.
Norfolk Crescent
We asked the Church Commissioners to press the leaseholder of a house in Norfolk Crescent to repair the wall outside the house.
Albion Street
We asked the City Inspectors to remove an abandoned bike frame tied to the bike stand in Albion Street.
Hyde Park Gardens
We asked the Short Term Lets Team to investigate a flat in Hyde Park Gardens that is suspected of being let unlawfully on Airbnb.
We also received an enquiry from a resident following the pruning of a weeping willow tree in Hyde Park Gardens. The Council’s planners say;
“In July 2024 we received an application to undertake the drastic pruning work on the grounds that the tree has significant decay in the main structural limbs. The application included a report measuring the extent of decay in the main limbs. The report concluded that the pruning was necessary to prevent structural failure. I assessed the findings of the report and reached the same conclusion and so consent was granted for the pruning.
The tree was a very fine specimen and the works are detrimental to its appearance. However, weeping willow trees often respond well to very hard pruning. It is hoped that the tree will regrow and form a lower crown, and will regain some of its previous character and appearance. The alternative would have been to remove the tree. The application details and supporting documents can be viewed online at http://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/ using the reference number, 24/00424/TPO.”
Westbourne Street
We asked the Highways Team to fix a damaged sign on Westbourne Street.
Bayswater Road
We asked the City Inspectors to remove bottles and cans on the railings on Bayswater Road. The City Inspector visited the location, which went the whole stretch from Marble Arch to Lancaster Gate station, and removed all the litter attached to the railings.
Gloucester Square
We asked the City Inspectors to remove an abandoned blue bike frame tied to the bike stand in Gloucester Square.
Connaught Square
We asked Westbourne Management to remove a key box, suspected of being for an Airbnb short-term let, from the Connaught Square railings.
Kendal Street car wash
The Highways Team are considering options to stop cars visiting the car wash from parking on the Kendal Street pavement.
Connaught Village Green
Work on creating Connaught Village Green starts in October. After over a decade of planning and consultations, we are pleased that we will finally deliver the project for local residents and businesses. The scheme includes road narrowing and a raised table on Connaught Street, wider pavements, tree planting, new seating and cycle stands. Also, the crossing from the Duke of Kendal will be narrowed to make it easier for pedestrians to cross, with a raised table to slow down traffic entering and leaving Kendal Street.
Park Lane tents
Following our strong representations to TfL about the tents in Park Lane, TfL have been granted a possession order for the site following a hearing at the Central London County Court. TfL say, “Park Lane is a busy part of the road network that is not a safe place for people to sleep rough. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with partners to prioritise the safety and welfare of everyone currently sleeping rough there. This includes continuing to work with outreach partners who can help individuals access available and appropriate support. We will follow the next stages of the legal process towards gaining possession of the site.”
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
A design team is being sought for the transformation of land at St. Mary’s Hospital. The project will transform around 50% of the 3.5ha site making use of land to be freed up by the creation of a new 800-840 bed hospital.
https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/competitions/st-marys-hospital-redevelopment-london
Star Street
We continue to support residents opposing a planning application in Star Street which would turn residential flats into short-term lets.
We asked the Planning Enforcement Team to investigate a property in Star Street which residents say is operating illegally as House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
London Mews
We asked the Planning Enforcement Team to investigate a property in London Mews which is being used as an illegal short-term let where large, noisy parties have been organised.
Junction Mews
We came across this brief history of Junction Mews https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/londons-alleys-junction-mews-w2-74635/
Talbot Square
We asked the City Inspectors to take action to stop rubbish dumping in Talbot Square and issue fines to those responsible.
Praed Street taxis outside the Hilton Paddington
We are continuing to urge action to stop taxis parking in the cycle lane in front of the Hilton Paddington on Praed Street. The Parking Team says;
“We have more marshals (almost permanently) at that location with instructions for zero tolerance. We have met with TfL Taxi office who have issued instructions to the black cab trade that this must not be used as waiting/ranking. We have confirmed with the hotel that they send guests to the Eastbourne Terrace entrance.
The problem here is that the station has a main entrance there and passengers come out that way and want to hail a cab. As cabs can stop where they like to pick up and drop off, we are limited in what we can do to narrow the road further as they will just stop in the middle of the road and cause obstruction.”
Edgware Road
Park West
We are supporting the call from the Park West management to serve Planning Contravention Notices on six flats in Park West suspected of being illegal short-term lets.
Edgware Road/Sussex Gardens
We asked the Street Cleaning Team to jet wash the area around the tree at the corner of Sussex Gardens where the pigeons congregate.
Go Puff
Go Puff was recently served with a Closure Order due to ASB related to the premises. Go Puff has reopened, but since the Closure Order the pavement is free from delivery bikes that used to obstruct pedestrians and residents say it’s much more peaceful and feels safer. However, drug sellers still operate in the area and have mainly moved to the Burwood Place area which we have asked the police to increase patrols.
Rymans
We were very disappointed to see that Rymans has closed at the corner of Harrowby Street. The nearest branch is at 51-55 Praed Street.
Public Protection and Licensing Activity
The Team has undertaken a range of actions recently in Edgware Road, including:
- Waste compliance – A business was found to be fly tipping and the case has been escalated for prosecution. A resident has admitted guilt in dumping a significant amount of building waste. Due to admission of guilt and a single offence, the Council has served an undertaking not to commit the same offence again. If this undertaking is breached, the Council will prosecute and utilise the original offence as supporting evidence.
- Food Hygiene – A few properties have been served Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices, effectively closing down the business until Environmental Health Teams are satisfied that the issues have been rectified.
- Unauthorised service of hot food and drink at 3am – Following multiple breaches of hot food provision without a licence, court action is underway against one business.
- Trading Standards – Prosecution proceedings have commenced against three businesses found to be selling illicit tobacco and counterfeit goods.
- Unauthorised use of the public highway – A business is currently under investigation for significantly oversizing their agreed pavement licensed area for tables and chairs.
Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Edgware Road Station
Do you think Edgware Road Station needs a new name?
Marylebone Road
A serious road collision on Marylebone Road, at the lights at the corner of Old Marylebone Road. No news on injuries, but one of the lighting columns was demolished and TfL secured the site and have installed a new column.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Travis Perkins site, 149 Harrow Road, W2 6NA
Almost 80 objections have been made to the planning application for the demolition of the existing Travis Perkins building and new buildings up to 20 storeys in height, comprising the reprovision of Travis Perkins builders’ merchant and 605 rooms of student accommodation above.
We have submitted our objections https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/planning/2024/06/21/labour-supports-residents-objections-to-baltic-wharf-overdevelopment/
The application documents can be viewed online at www.westminster.gov.uk/planning where you can also make comments. Please use the reference number 24/03600/FULL as the primary search criteria.
Hermitage Street
No one was hurt at the ninth-floor flat fire in the Munkenbeck building on Hermitage Street at the corner with North Wharf Road on 15th August. The police and fire brigade say the flat was empty and do not yet know the reason for the fire, possibly faulty air-conditioning. The fire was brought under control in under an hour. Thanks to the fire brigade for the quick action.
An observation from one person who was there, “The whole building seemed to be more of a hotel than residential, but some medical lets too, as I helped an Arabic-speaking cancer patient recover his medicine from the building with the help of the police. I spoke with a person from Kuwait whose flat was underneath the fire, and he asked for help to find a place to stay as he had his ill father with him.”
The Planning Enforcement Team say, “We currently have six short-term let investigations open in the Munkenbeck building.”
Brunel Building
Residents of Dudley House have contacted us about the regular noise coming from the building works at Dudley House. Residents say, “Every weekend and bank holidays we wake up with the annoying humming of the cradle system going up and down, that carries on for the rest of the day. There is no way of having a peaceful and relaxing non-working day at home.” We asked the Brunel Building Manager when the works will be completed.
Aster House
We again urged Octavia Housing to repair a broken lift at Aster House.
Bishops Bridge Road
We told the e-bike operators to ensure that bikes are properly so they do not block the pavement.
Westway tents
We have received the following update from the City Inspectors on the tents under the Westway:
“The Westway site is jointly owned by the council and TfL and the Council is working jointly to take back possession of the site. Once vacated, the council will clear the site and work with TfL to improve security in future. Any personal possessions left behind will be stored securely.”