LANCASTER GATE

Lancaster Gate Station Closures

We’ve been dismayed to see Lancaster Gate Tube Station shut on a near daily basis over recent weeks. We launched a petition to urge TfL to rectify this issue and stop the closure of Lancaster Gate Station: https://chng.it/SsyLBPFS. After the overwhelming response to this petition we have been working with Transport for London and the Mayor’s office to work out a solution, acknowledging the immense pressure TfL is under due to central Government cuts. The closures reflected the fact that, when there are shortages of supervisory staff, Lancaster Gate bore the brunt as a station with lower footfall than other local stations. This is of course extremely frustrating for those travelers living closest to Lancaster Gate.

We are pleased to say after a meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, supported by local MP Karen Buck, we have now had confirmation that, in the event of any future staffing shortages, Lancaster Gate will not be treated as the default for temporary closure. This should make a difference very quickly. In the long-term TfL are confident their review of staffing across the board will alleviate this issue in its entirety. Moreover, we have absolute confirmation that Lancaster Gate is not being considered as a candidate for permanent closure.

Football Association Green Plaque 

Lancaster Gate was long the home of The Football Association, with its headquarters at 22 Lancaster Gate and subsequently 15-17 Lancaster Gate for decades. However, there is nothing to commemorate this outside the buildings. Therefore, with the 160th anniversary of The FA’s founding this October, we have written to the FA’s CEO to request their support in putting up a Westminster green plaque outside the old headquarters. More details can be read in Cllr Jude’s article in the latest SEBRA magazine. We will update residents on how this moves forward.

No Mow May Extension

This May, Westminster City Council took part in Plantlife’s campaign “No Mow May” for the first ever time. This involves allowing certain areas in our parks and housing estates to grow during May, to provide important food for pollinators, which improves biodiversity. Given the overwhelmingly positive response, we have been able to extend some of the benefits into June – by keeping areas around hedges and trees unmowed. In the longer term, we will look at ways to improve our biodiversity in our green spaces more widely. More details can be found here: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/plans-prolong-benefits-no-mow-may

National Express Coaches on Westbourne Terrace

We are disappointed to hear the National Express coaches are back on Westbourne Terrace. We previously supported a resident campaign to get the coaches diverted back onto their rightful route on Eastbourne Terrace. We are working with both highways and TfL to get this issue resolved. We have also asked that the ability to report coaches using the wrong route, which residents were able to do after interventions when this issue last surfaced, be reinstated.

Short-Term Lets

Residents have highlighted several suspected short-term lets on the Hallfield Estate. Freeholders, leaseholders and tenants (with permission from landlords) can legally rent their homes on this basis for up to 90 nights a year in Westminster without planning permission unless it is council-leased property. The council has now taken enforcement action against landlords violating the council lease agreements or operating without the correct permissions.

Queensway American Candy Stores

We were concerned to see two new American Candy Stores open on Queensway. We don’t feel these stores are conducive to the retail experience we want for residents and visitors on Queensway, moreover as an administration we have broader concerns about the legitimacy of these businesses. We are working with the landlords to confirm the legitimacy of their new tenants. Check out our Dirty Money Strategy for Westminster and the work we’ve done on the Oxford St Candy Stores: Westminster City Council takes aim at dirty money in the heart of London | Westminster City Council

Hallfield Rough Sleepers

We are aware of a persistent problem of rough sleeping under the stairwell of Pickering House on the Hallfield Estate. We are in constant contact with the Outreach Team and policing colleagues to get these individuals the support they are entitled to and to get them off the estate.

Hallfield Anti-Social Behaviour

We are aware of long-standing and persistent anti-social behaviour from a small minority of residents on the Hallfield Estate. We are in talks with the new Housing ASB Officer to explore what enforcement action is available to us.

Craven Hill Gardens

Access to and maintenance of Craven Hill Gardens has been a persistent long-standing issue. Cllr Ormsby held a residents meeting last year with Bruton, the managing agents, and since then has been chasing for action on the points raised. We are pleased the council is now going to initiate talks with British Land to hopefully resolve the issue.

Ward Budget 

We also wanted to inform residents that we have confirmed the use of our ward budget to revamp and maintain several planter locations across the ward, including in Queensborough Terrace and Bishops Bridge Road. We were shocked when the flower pots on Bishops Bridge Road were removed without our permission and are currently investigating what went wrong. We have also agreed to further extend our support for the popular lunch club held on the Hallfield Estate.

Council Housing

We have been helping several residents with repairs issues and leaks in their buildings. We have been alerting officers to the problems and seeking to expedite action where possible.

Queensway Bins

A resident notified us of a bin being moved too close to the post box at the corner of Queensway and Bayswater Road, making the post box difficult to use. We received confirmation that the bin had been moved after traffic control signage was erected by a developer. The officer and Veola quickly returned the bin to its usual position.

WCC Marshall Mopeds

We have received an update regarding the shift of all WCC marshalls to using electric mopeds. Due to supply chain issues, there has been a slight delay in NSL completing the transition. Officers told us:

“There was a short delay from the supplier related to import/customs delays […] The change-over process is short and nothing more than a 10-20min session is required to familiarise each rider with their new machine. NSL are confident that they will be able to be fully switched to EV mopeds by mid-June therefore (at the latest).”

We are confirming if this has been the case, and will provide an update in our next newsletter.

Ward Panel Meeting

We were pleased to attend the latest ward panel meeting with police on June 14th. Police priorities in Lancaster Gate for the next 12 weeks were agreed in this meeting: theft, burglary and ASB. If you are a local resident or business owner, and would like to attend future ward panel meetings, please do let us know.

Resident Meetings

We were pleased to attend multiple resident meetings over the past month, including the Hallfield Residents Association and meetings with residents of Chilworth Mews regarding the Eastbourne Terrace developments, including a meeting with the developer to discuss management plans.