HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – Mid-January 2026
News from your Hyde Park Labour Councillors Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg and Action Team member Nigel Medforth
Dear Resident,
The last few weeks have been very busy.
Westminster City Council has set out plans to tackle poverty and food insecurity across the city. Many Westminster residents still face rising living costs, insecure incomes, and difficult choices between essentials such as heating and eating. The plan sets out immediate, practical steps the council can take. For details see https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/westminster-city-council-sets-out-bold-plans-tackle-poverty-and-food-insecurity
As well, as getting things done quickly and efficiently on the day-to-day issues raised by residents, we have improved safety and security by installing new CCTV cameras. For details see https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/ward-news/hyde-park/2026/01/07/new-cctv-cameras-help-cut-crime-and-anti-social-behaviour-in-hyde-park-ward/
The Council has launched a public consultation to expand the South Westminster On-street ASB Public Spaces Protection Order to cover Hyde Park Ward and will make it an offence to use or prepare to use, illegal drugs, use foul or abusive language amounting to harassment of members of the public, and loiter, on your own or in a group, to cause harassment, alarm or distress. To respond to the consultation, go to https://westminsterasbpspo.commonplace.is by 21st January.
70% of new affordable homes built in Westminster will now be expected to be social housing, an increase of 30%, as part of the City Plan Partial Review. The Council has also announced a new ‘Retrofit First’ policy which requires developers to explore all options for retrofitting existing buildings before seeking permission for demolition. The Council has also identified four site allocations that will be transformed for residential and commercial use. Read more at https://bit.ly/4bilLGA
Rachel Blake MP has launched a ‘Homes aren’t Hotels’ petition calling on the Government to trial the short-term lets register in Westminster to address the nuisance and damage of short-term lets https://www.rachelblake.org.uk/homes-arent-hotels
The Freedom Pass has been saved after Labour Councils block threat to free travel for over-65s in London
We hold a regular advice surgery at St John’s Parish Hall, Hyde Park Crescent. The next advice surgery will be on Thursday 5th February 2026, 6pm-7pm.
Every week we go door-knocking to ask residents if there are any local issues on which we can help. Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance at hplabour@gmail.com
We post regular local news on Facebook at https://facebook.com/LabourHydePark
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road, Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Brook Street
We asked the Highways Team and TfL to review the situation on Brook Street, following residents’ concerns. We have asked for the interval for the traffic lights by Victoria Gate to be increased to allow more cars through.
We also asked the Street Sweeping Team to deal with the horse droppings in the cycle lane and they say, “I have raised your concerns with the street cleansing service. The local depot will now deploy a mechanical sweeping vehicle here to assist with cleaning and for the location to be monitored more closely.”
Park West Place
We asked the Parking Team to investigate a car which appears to have been abandoned in Park West Place.
Hyde Park Crescent
We asked the Parking Team to investigate defective EV charging points in Hyde Park Crescent.
Hyde Park Crescent/Somers Crescent
We asked the Trees Team to investigate a tree with low branches at the edge of Hyde Park Crescent and Somers Crescent where a resident banged his head as he walked by.
Cambridge Square
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a defective streetlight in Cambridge Square.
Southwick Street
We asked the Highways Team to repair a leaning column at the edge of Southwick Street and Sussex Gardens or remove it completely if it is now longer needed.
Clarendon Mews
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a defective streetlight in Clarendon Mews.
UPDATE – The streetlight has now been fixed.
Sussex Gardens
At the request of a resident, we visited 163 to 173 Sussex Gardens to inspect the street lighting in the private roadway managed by the Church Commissioners. The area is very dark, so we asked the Church Commissioners to improve the lighting in this section of Sussex Gardens.
Gloucester Square
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix a defective streetlight at the corner of Gloucester Square (column 10).
94-bus and 7-bus routes
We are opposing plans to terminate the 7 and 94-bus routes at Marble Arch as part of the Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans. This proposal will result in much worse and less convenient service for passengers travelling beyond Marble Arch.
To see the bus route proposals and make comments go to https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/oxford-street-transport-highways
To sign our petition see https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/uncategorised/2025/12/01/sign-the-petition-protect-bus-routes-7-and-94/
Marble Arch Theatre
Planning permission has been granted for the temporary theatre at Marble Arch, with capacity for up to 500 people and due to open in spring 2026. The theatre will be operated by HH Productions and will act as a temporary home for productions while the Arts Theatre undergoes redevelopment.
https://marble-arch.london/news/marble-arch-theatre/
Hyde Park to Marylebone Cycleway (C43)
Information on the Hyde Park to Marylebone Cycleway (C43) is available on the website Community Forum – C43 Cycleway – Commonplace where you can see information on the whole scheme, construction programme, phasing and FAQs. If you have any questions please contact the Public Liaison Officer, Bob Burton at 07760 962103 or email Cycleway43@wsp.com.
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
Sale Place
We asked the Highways Team for an update on the works to the unstable vaults on Sale Place, near the junction with Sussex Gardens.
Star Street
The start of work on the new pavements in Star Street is starting this month.
St Mary’s Hospital A&E Department
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found in top-floor roof slabs of the A&E Department at St Mary’s Hospital. This is a type of concrete that was widely used in the building sector but has been found to be structurally unsafe and capable of collapse with little or no notice. The building will be closed by the end of March and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said clinics would not be cancelled and would be provided in other hospitals or elsewhere on site. https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/outpatients-building-set-for-closure
Edgware Road
Edgware Road/Praed Street junction
We asked TfL to investigate this issue raised by a resident:
“Can anything be done about the reckless driving on Edgware Road as the amount of speeding and simply ignoring red lights is of control. I have noticed this every day at Edgware Road/Praed Street junction and the crossing can be very dangerous. Can TFL be asked to install cameras at this junction? And speed cameras?”
Edgware Road graffiti
We asked the City Inspectors to clear the graffiti from the empty units at the corner of Old Marylebone Road and Edgware Road. We also asked that assistance be offered to the rough sleepers outside the premises.
UPDATE – The graffiti has been cleared and residents say, “That is a significant improvement, and a relief for all. Thank you for attending to this and getting it sorted.”
Edgware Road anti-social behaviour
We have asked the Licensing Team to conduct a review of late-night licences following the recent stabbings in Edgware Road.
Burwood Place
We asked the police and CCTV teams to monitor nighttime activity outside Barclays Bank and the Self-Storage Unit at Burwood Place where there are reports of anti-social behaviour.
Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Chapel Street area zebra crossings
Pedestrian safety in the Chapel Street area has improved dramatically following the introduction of three new zebra crossings at Transept Street and Cabbell Street as part of a pilot scheme introduced by Westminster City Council in 2025.
The new pilot scheme has introduced ‘informal’ zebra crossings (without flashing belisha beacons) to support changes in the Highway Code which now require drivers to stop at side roads to allow pedestrians to cross the road.
Cabbell Street
The police have given us an update regarding recent activity in Cabbell Street:
“Yesterday, there were two additional arrests made. One arrest was in relation to an individual wanted for theft offences, and the second was for an immigration offence. The Safer Neighbourhood Team continues to patrol the area and identified hotspots, maintaining a visible presence to tackle crime and address ongoing community concerns.”
38-47 Chapel Street
We reported a former Council flat at 38-47 Chapel Street being used as an illegal Airbnb short-term letting. Neighbours say, “The owner has changed the door lock to a combination lock and there is also a combination key-safe that has been drilled into the wall. The apartment is advertised on Airbnb. From the photos you can see that it is across the road from the substation, and it has the same layout as the other Chapel Street flats.”
We also asked the Housing Team to repair the damaged gates to the parking area on Transept Street.
Hyde Park Mansions
We have asked the City Inspectors and Police to investigate the use of the roof space in one of the blocks in Hyde Park Mansions where residents have reported intruders and anti-social behaviour.
Chapel Street
We asked the Planning Team to investigate the surprise appearance of a large ‘In Post’ parcel collection unit on the pavement in Chapel Street, and they say, “the use of public highway for the placing of a collection/drop off unit requires planning permission from the City Council and no evidence of an application for planning permission has been submitted to or approved by the City Council.”
Letters requiring the removal of the unit and the restoration of the pavement to its previous condition within 28 days have been issued.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Travis Perkins site
Some very good news. Unite Students has announced that its plans for a 600+ student hostel on the Travis Perkins site are ‘financially unviable’ and has said it “will have to write off £10m in planning costs after the firm said it had pulled the plug on proposals for a 20-storey tower”.
Residents say, “That’s great news, so are we now finally free from this daunting building” and “Thank you for kindly sharing this great news with us all”.
Montgomery House
After being contacted by residents, we urged Peabody Housing to fix a power outage at Montgomery House. A resident told us, “This evening my power has blown out again. We smelt burning plastic and called the out of hours line at Peabody. The electrician was extremely shocked at the state the fuse board left by the previous electrician, with live wires hanging out that have burn out and have left the board severely unsafe. We have no power, no heating or hot water.”
Aster House
We are continuing to press Octavia to fix the hot water and heating In Aster House where at least 12 households are affected. Residents say, “There is still no heating and no hot water in the property. This appears consistent with an ongoing block-level issue, rather than an isolated dwelling fault. The loss of both services at this temperature indicates the system is not holding under cold load, and that remedial works to date have not resulted in a stable or resilient supply.”
Octavia says, “We appreciate residents’ patience and understanding whilst Savills fix their communal system and restore heating and hot water to a consistent flow and temperature. As a gesture of goodwill for our residents, Octavia will be offering each household at Aster House £175 towards energy costs.”
We also asked the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team to investigate and to take whatever action is necessary to get Octavia and Savills to restore the heating and hot water.
North Wharf Road
We asked the City Inspectors to issue a fine for fly tipping to someone who left their address on a box dumped under a tree on North Wharf Road opposite Marylebone Boys School.
Merchant Square
We are chasing up the repair of the Merchant Square Grand Union Canal bridge Accessibility Lift which has now been out of order for many months.
Harrow Road/Hermitage Street
We asked the Street Lighting Team to fix two defective streetlights at the corner of Hermitage Street and Harrow Road.
Paddington Square
JD Wetherspoon is planning to apply for planning permission to use three vacant restaurant/retail units located in the Ticket Hall of the Paddington Square development, to create a new public house/restaurant. The Ticket Hall is the lowest publicly accessible level of the development and provides direct access to the Bakerloo line.
JD Wetherspoon say they are “keen to engage with the local community and key stakeholders and are hosting an in-person exhibition at their nearby public house The Sir Alexander Fleming, 5 Merchant Square Paddington Basin on Wednesday 28th January between 3pm and 6pm.”
Canal boats
We asked the Environmental Health Team to investigate this issue raised by a resident, “I walk almost every day on the canal footpaths and see fuel being burnt every day. Please can you clarify if the boats are allowed to burn fuel and pollute the air? “