HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – June 2025
News from your Hyde Park Labour Councillors Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg and Action Team member Nigel Medforth
Dear Resident,
It has been another very busy month right across the ward.
Paul has been elected Lord Mayor of Westminster and will be carrying out his duties across Westminster for the next 12 months. More here.
Local resident Nigel Medforth has joined the Hyde Park Labour Action Team and will be working hard alongside Judith, Shamsed and Paul.
We attended a meeting arranged by Rachel Blake MP with residents to discuss the management of Sheldon Square.
The Post Office has announced the new franchise arrangements for Praed Street Post Office. Click here for more details.
We are supporting Rachel Blake MP’s call to maintain the current levels of police support for our Royal Parks. More here.
We are very disappointed that TfL is going ahead with its plans to remove the section of the 205-bus route between Paddington and Baker Street Station, even though it will be adding more journeys to route 27. Route 205 will now operate between Marble Arch and Bow Church via Baker Street instead of Bow Church and Paddington. Travellers going to Paddington will now have to change to the 27 bus route at Baker Street. The changes will happen from 21 June 2025. We opposed the TfL plans as these changes will particularly hit people going to St Mary’s Hospital and Paddington Station.
The new ‘Tulip Wands” on Sussex Gardens are the first in London. Click for more info.
The Church Commissioners have launched ‘Village in Green’, a celebration of urban nature featuring a variety of gardening, botanical, and outdoor activities and experiences for all to enjoy. Taking place on 7-8 June, coinciding with The National Garden Scheme, you can read more here.
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 4th June, 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
Defibrillators
The Church Commissioners have been installing defibrillators across their buildings. There is one installed outside Coniston Court for easy public access in Connaught Village. There is one in Quadrangle Tower where there are on-site staff for access. Further installations are due to take place at Water Gardens, Sussex Gardens and Sussex Square.
The ones that are already installed have been registered on The Circuit so their location and availability will show to 999 call handlers who can direct people to them when required.
Albion Street
We asked the Short Term Lets Team to investigate a property in Albion Street, which is suspected of being an Airbnb short-term let where there was a recent very noisy party.
Albion Mews
Following our enquiries, the streetlights in Albion Mews have been fixed, and the problem with the lights being on during the day will be fixed by updating the central management system, which controls when they go on and off.
Sussex Place
We asked the Highways Team to fix a faulty pavement on Sussex Place after a resident had a fall. The Highways Team say, “Visited site this morning and a works order has been issued to repair footway outside Barry House Hotel.”
12 Gloucester Square
Following our request for an inspection of the poor condition of the hoarding at the front of 12 Gloucester Square by the Planning Enforcement Team, works have been undertaken to remove the graffiti and repair and re-paint the hoarding. Also, the City Council has been advised that refurbishment works are due to commence in the next few months. Residents say, “Thanks for your continued attention to this and it has improved with the removal of the graffiti.”
Sussex Square
We asked the Short Term Lets Team to investigate reports from residents of illegal short term lets at 31 – 70 Sussex Square.
Kendal Street
We asked the Church Commissioners to fix a broken car park entry system on Kendal Street. UPDATE – the entry system has now been fixed.
We also asked the Highways Team to fix a leaning signpost at the corner of Park West Place and Kendal Street.
Connaught Village Green
Work on creating Connaught Village Green has almost been completed and the new area will be officially opened on Wednesday 4th June at 4.15pm by the Lord Mayor.
We asked BT to replace the missing panes of glass and clean the windows of the Phone Box. BT say, “I have now arranged to have the missing glass replaced and for the kiosk to be cleaned.”
We also asked for CCTV cameras to be installed in the area so that any anti-social behaviour can be picked up by the police and action taken quickly. The Church Commissioners’ Night Security Team will also be giving the area special attention.
Archery Close
We asked the Street Lighting Team to investigate the street lighting in Archery Close following residents’ reports that the streetlights were not working. UPDATE – The streetlights are now working.
We also asked the Streets Team to clear the weeds from the mews cobbles and this has now been completed.
Titchborne Row
We asked the Police to investigate reports from residents about groups loitering in Titchborne Row late at night.
Norfolk Crescent
We asked the Highways Team to fix damaged pavements in Norfolk Crescent which are a pedestrian hazard.
25 Porchester Place
We asked the Church Commissioners to repair the sliding entrance door at 25 Porchester Place which has been broken for over 6 months.
The Water Gardens
We asked the Short Term lets Team to investigate residents’ reports of illegal short term lets at The Water Gardens. Residents say the short term lets “dump large items in the garbage room or block the chutes. Recently a known short let flat has left numerous items in the corridor and dumped beds in the garbage room.”
Park West
We have urged the Police to take action to close down a suspected brothel in a flat in Park West.
Nutford Place
We asked the Streets Team to jet wash the area around the seating in Nutford Place which has become very stained.
Oxford Street
OnLondon has produced a podcast discussing the future of Oxford Street and the Mayor’s pedestrianisation plans. As Dave Hill says, “Some of its more confident advocates have long given the impression that transforming “the nation’s high street” into a tranquil, strollable boulevard is a simple matter of banning traffic and putting down a load of paving slabs. But there are so many ways in which it’s not that simple.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bFlXIeggVQ&t=569s
Park Lane
We have again urged TfL to take action to remove the encampment at the bottom of Park Lane and to offer those sleeping rough appropriate accommodation and assistance. TfL successfully applied for a possession order at the Central London County Court. We hope this is successful and leads to action to remove the encampment.
We have urged the use of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle illegal encampments, public urination, defecation and other antisocial behaviour. Signage clearly sets out the restrictions and substantial penalties, acting as both a deterrent and a legal basis for enforcement.
We have also urged that physical means of keeping encampments out should be installed along the Park Lane central reservation.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/park-lane-homeless-camp-migrants-tfl-b1229392.html
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
Star Street Parking
The Star Street area has 24/7 enforcement of Resident bays with pay-to-park (and Single Yellows) enforced 6 days per week. Between 1 April and 14 of May, 158 parking tickets were issued, including: 39 for parking on single yellow lines, 51 to vehicles without a valid parking permit and 44 to vehicles without a valid parking payment. This is the strictest enforcement period in all of B Zone. If you see a vehicle that you believe is parked illegally or not entitled to be parked within a resident bay you should report it via Report It: https://mywestminster.westminster.gov.uk/report-it/vehicles-illegally-parked. Reports go through directly to our enforcement team.
Star Street
We asked the Waste Team to clear rubbish dumping by the big black bins on Star Street.
Spring Street
Paddington Now BID has a battery recycling service available at their office at 1 Spring Street. “Drop off any used household batteries in the dedicated recycling tube Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. You can also drop off outside of office hours. Simply post through our letterbox in a sealed envelope.”
A new Nando’s restaurant will be opening in the former Nat West premises in Spring Street.
Junction Mews
We asked the City Inspectors to ensure that the mews is swept regularly, and the weeds removed from between the cobbles. The say, “weeds have been cleared but it is not reasonable to expect them to move residents’ flowerpots to complete weeding behind the yellow lines.”
Junction Place
We asked the Refuse Team to pick up a dumped mattress in Junction Place.
St Michael’s Street
We asked Notting Hill Genesis to fix the kitchen of a resident in St Michael’s Street.
Norfolk Place
We asked the Parking Team to investigate a car in Norfolk Place that has accumulated many parking tickets attached to its windscreen. The Parking Team say, “At this stage, there is currently no evidence that the vehicle has been abandoned as the Road Tax and MOT does not expire until April 2026. We are liaising with the Metropolitan Police to see if the vehicle is of any interest to them or has been reported as being involved in any illegal activity.”
Praed Street
Taxi drivers have been told to stop picking up fares on Praed Street, outside Paddington Station, following warnings of enforcement action by Westminster Council and TfL. There is a large taxi rank in the station where taxis can pick up and drop off passengers.
Sussex Gardens
A resident reported that there was a problem with overflowing rubbish at the big black bins outside St James’s Church on Sussex Gardens. We reported this to the Refuse Collection Team who quickly emptied the bins and cleared all the rubbish.
We also asked the Highways Team to fix an open telecoms box outside 163 Susex Gardens.
You can give your views on the Sussex Gardens ‘Tulip Wands’ trial here https://tulipwandtrial.commonplace.is/
Sussex Gardens/Talbot Square
We asked the City Inspectors to investigate rubbish dumped in the hotel forecourt at the corner of Talbot Square. The City Inspector says, “I visited the Hotel and spoke to the Manager who will inform the owners that I requested all the waste to be removed by the end of this week pending formal action.”
Edgware Road
Costa Coffee
It’s good to see Costa Coffee re-open at the corner of Edgware Road and Nutford Place. Another vacant premises now back in use!
Nutford Place
We asked the Street Team to jet wash the area around the seating in Nutford Place which is badly stained.
Edgware Road
We asked the police and City Inspectors to investigate an empty property on Edgware Road suspected to be involved in anti-social behavior.
Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Cabbell Street
We asked the Police and City Inspectors to investigate vandalism incidents in Cabbell Street, involving car windows being smashed.
Hyde Park Mansions
We asked the Environmental Health Team to investigate residents’ concerns about the accumulation of stagnant water at the back of Hyde Park Mansions.
We also urged Freshwater to take action to repair the extensive damage caused to flats in Block 2.
Chapel Street
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a faulty streetlight outside Edgware Road station on Chapel Street.
The Chapel pub
We asked the City Inspectors to investigate water leaking from the vacant Chapel pub, following reports from residents. The property owner’s agent says, “In the past we have attempted to turn off all water valves/stop cocks in the building, but there were a few that were too hard and difficult to turn off. We have now instructed a plumber to either remedy the old stop cocks or turn the water supply off completely from the street.”
Harrow Road
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix 3 streetlights by the subway on Harrow Road, by the junction of Cabbell Street.
Informal zebra crossings
Following concerns expressed by residents about the loss of parking spaces due to the introduction of the new informal zebra crossings, the Highways Team told us:
“The ‘Informal Side Road Crossings’ do require removal of kerb side parking to meet the ‘sight line’ requirements. It is appreciated that these are long and therefore more parking is removed than would be liked, but as it’s a trial we need to start with the ‘safest’ option.
We are running the trial under an ‘experimental order’ so will be assessing each site. Where we can make an informed assessment on visibility (local vehicle movement, yielding by vehicles) and then reintroduce kerb side facility if deemed safe to do so.”
Old Marylebone Road
According to the ‘Sunday Times’, “In an office block on Old Marylebone Road sat more than a dozen sealed boxes marked “L’Escargotiere” — the Snail Farm. To the surprise of officers from Westminster city council, a few doors down the road in a second empty office there were more. The unusual discovery is what the local authority claims is a “ludicrous” tax avoidance scheme it has spent the past three years trying to tackle, losing more than £280,000 of revenue in the process. Each box is said to contain snails that have turned two empty offices, which would be liable for business rates, into “agricultural facilities” exempt from the tax.”
Westminster City Council has raised the problem of snail farms with central government and has called for an anti-avoidance clause, similar to the powers held by HM Revenue and Customs, to make it easier to tackle them.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Westway (including St Mary’s Terrace)
Recently, Council and Police action was taken at the green area at St Mary’s Terrace and the area was cleared of tents and other material. The Council and TfL have also taken action to remove the tents under the Westway area. Security fences have also been installed around the roundabout. Through the Council’s outreach work over the past few months, several individuals were successfully encouraged to leave the area.
Montgomery House
After many months pressing Peabody to do essential works in a flat in Montgomery House, we are pleased that the work has now been completed. The resident told us, “The Peabody works, regarding leaking in my flat, is successfully finished. The flat is renovated, and I have not had leaking for couple months. I hope that problem with leaking does not comes again. Many thanks for helping me and good luck in future.”
Disability Lifts
We asked Derwent to fix the broken disability lift on Bishop’s Bridge. We also asked the Merchant Square Team to fix the disability lift on the bridge over the canal.
Derwent say, “While the lift itself is operational, we’ve had to take it offline due to an issue with the emergency call button, which currently has no reliable phone connection. I’ve contacted our lift engineers, who are now working closely with the fibre provider to resolve the communication issue as quickly as possible.”
The Merchant Square Team say, “I’m pleased to inform you that the station bridge lift has now been fully reinstated and is operational.”
North Wharf Road
We asked the Highways Team to resurface North Wharf Road at its eastern end near Merchant Square.
Travis Perkins site
We are very disappointed that the Mayor of London has ‘called in’ the proposal to build a 600+ room student development on the Travis Perkins site at Baltic Wharf after it was refused for the second time by Westminster Council’s Planning Committee in January 2025. We will continue to fight these unacceptable proposals.
For further information see https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/planning/planning-applications-and-decisions/public-hearings