HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – May 2023
News from your Hyde Park Labour Councillors Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road/Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Bathurst Street
We have asked the Parking Team to investigate a car which has been abandoned in Bathurst Street. Residents say, “The car has been receiving plenty of notices but hasn’t moved yet. Maybe it’s a stolen vehicle or the owners left the country and left the car. It would be worth checking.”
The Parking Team say, “Checks confirm that the vehicle’s Road Tax and MOT has expired; therefore, we will aim to have the car removed from the location as soon as possible.”
Hyde Park Crescent
The Highways Team tell us that the pedestrian crossing improvements in front of the church along Hyde Park Crescent will be carried out in July/August. The improvements involve kerb buildouts at the junction with Southwick Place and a pedestrian ‘refuge’ in Hyde Park Crescent.
25 Porchester Place
We have again asked the Council’s Short-Term Lets Team and the Church Commissioners to take action to stop the unauthorised short-term letting at 25 Porchester Place. The Church Commissioners say;
“Our solicitors have been instructed to take action against illegal subletting on a number of flats in the building. We are also reviewing other measures we may be able to take to gather further evidence to assist with legal proceedings. We are also engaging with firms such as Airbnb, embassies and agents to explain that short lets are not permitted in our buildings.”
Hyde Park Square
We have asked the Short-Term Lets Team for an update on their investigations of properties in Hyde Park Square being used as Airbnb. The cleaners dump rubbish outside 40/42 to the daily annoyance of residents living nearby.
The Quadrangle
We have repeated our call to the Church Commissioners for CCTV security cameras to be located around The Quadrangle. Residents say, “There is quite a lot of anti-social behaviour occurring just outside the walls of the Quadrangle. Amongst other things, drug dealing and soliciting. There used to be security cameras up on the walls, however, they seem to have been taken down. Would it be possible for them to be resurrected, along with a sign informing people that there is CCTV in the area? It would make a huge difference.”
Bayswater Road
Following our enquiries about the noisy drain covers on Bayswater Road, the Thames Water say, “We have sourced an alternative chamber lid that we feel will withstand high level traffic flow better than the current one. I have sent out an instruction to remove the defective chamber so we can remove the noisy chamber and replace it using the newly sourced frame and cover.”
Seymour Street
We have asked the City Inspectors to arrange for dumped furniture on Seymour Street to be removed and to issue fines to those responsible for the dumping. The dumped furniture has now been removed.
Sussex Gardens
We have asked the City Inspectors to arrange for a street sign in Sussex Gardens to be cleaned.
Marble Arch
We asked Veolia to clear up litter which had accumulated on the grassed and planted areas around Marble Arch.
Lancaster Gate station
We have written to TfL to ask for a response to this enquiry from a resident, “Please can you find out what is going on at Lancaster Gate tube station? This is a lifeline for us in the ward and yet over the last few weeks it has been subject to random opening and closing. A station where you cannot rely on it being open is worse than not having one at all. It is a crucial part of the transport system in the area not only for residents but also many visitors.”
46 bus stop at Lancaster Gate
We have also written to TfL about the number 46 bus stop at Lancaster Gate following a resident enquiry, “The 46 bus from St Barts Hospital continues to terminate at Paddington Bishops Bridge and kick passengers off. Then it continues on the original route empty down Eastbourne Terrace by way of Lancaster Gate past the now redundant bus stop and circles back to the end of Eastbourne Terrace route start bus stop near Bishops Bridge. The original 46 bus stop is still there opposite the Royal Lancaster Hotel and it’s absurd that this situation should continue any longer. There would be no extra negative pressure on economics to TFL to reinstate the bus stopping at Lancaster Gate. Only positive feedback being able to pick up passengers from the Central Line and Kensington Gardens etc.”
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.
Please note, you can only use this number to report incidents within the boundary of the Hyde Park Estate as Croma are paid to operate within that area only.
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
London Mews
We have asked the City Inspectors to give special attention to London Mews where there appears to be a rubbish dumping issue.
Star Street and St Michael’s Street
We were very pleased to see contractors at work installing new double-glazed windows to the NHG properties on Star Street and St Michael’s Street. The new doubled-glazed windows will not only improve the heating of the flats, but they will also help to keep energy bills low.
Praed Street/Norfolk Place
We have written to Delivero, Uber Eats and the Police about this issue raised by residents, “Can you tell me if anything is being done about Uber Eats and Deliveroo bikers riding down the wrong way on one-way streets, such as Praed Street and Norfolk Place? This happens constantly. Plus, they tend not to stop at pedestrian crossings.”
This is a common complaint from residents across Westminster and we have asked the companies what they intend to do to ensure that their delivery riders abide by the Highway Code.
Norfolk Square Gardens
The Council has received a planning application for the continued installation of a Paddington Bear statue located inside the Norfolk Square Gardens entrance for a
period of 5 years. You can make comments online at www.westminster.gov.uk/planning. Please use
the reference number 23/02754/FULL as the primary search criteria.
Sale Place
We have asked the Highways Team for an update on when the works to the vaults along Sale Place will be completed so that the protective fencing can be taken away. The Team says, “We are not at the stage where we can carry out any remedial works yet as we are in the process of engaging with the property owner, as the vaults are privately owned. If we are unable to get any traction with this then the next step will be to issue a Section 180 Notice, which will enable us to undertake the required works. I intend to write to the owner today and if we do not have a response by 24th May, we will follow up with the Section 180 Notice.”
Edgware Road area
210 Edgware Road
We have asked the City Inspectors to investigate this issue raised by residents, “210 Edgeware Road now see fit to park a shopping trolley as a bench on the pavement. Is this not a violation of public space?”
The City Inspector says, “It was used for moving goods belonging to the shop and was moved back to storage upon my request. I explained that it isn’t to be left out again in future.”
Dudley Court
We have reported unauthorised short-term lettings at Dudley Court, Upper Berkeley Street. Also, we are very concerned at the appalling condition of the common parts on all 8 floors of Dudley Court which are in a shocking state. We have asked the Council to take urgent action to require the long leaseholder of Dudley Court to improve the state of this block.
Citadel of Erbil
We have asked the Council for any information that is available on the huge amount of police activity at the Citadel of Erbil on Edgware Road recently. On one night, the police were called at 4.30am and many vehicles arrived.
The Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Oxford & Cambridge Mansions
We have asked the Short Term Lets Enforcement Team to investigate a flat in Oxford & Cambridge Mansions which is being used as an Airbnb letting. We have sent a picture showing a delivery of bed linen and towels to the flat in readiness for the next booking.
Transept Street
We have reported dumped Tier e-bikes in Transept Street and asked for the riders to be fined and the bikes removed.
Chapel Street/Cabbell Street
We have asked the City Inspectors to relocate a free newspaper bin from the corner of Chapel/Cabbell Streets back to its place outside Edgware Road Station.
38-47a Chapel Street
We have asked the Housing Department to fix a broken cycle rack in the parking area at 38-47a Chapel Street. We are also concerned to hear about instances of vandalism in the car park area and have asked the Housing Department to increase security.
Also, following our enquiries, the Housing Department has agreed to clear the blocked drain and to repair the storage doors in the basement area.
Chapel Street
We asked Tier to remove a dumped bike outside Edgware Road station and to fine the rider for leaving it in a position that obstructed the pavement.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
5 Kingdom Street
British Land’s plans for a ‘zero emission’ last-mile delivery hub at 5 Kingdom Street have been unanimously approved by the Planning Committee. Located in the ‘Crossrail Box’, the space was used for the storage of materials during Elizabeth line construction. It was originally intended to be railway sidings, but these have been moved further west.
The hub will be serviced by HGVs and the goods distributed by e-cargo bikes, which will operate in two shifts, one delivery in the morning and one in the afternoon. The planning permission includes a provision that British Land makes a £1 million contribution towards cycle infrastructure improvements in the vicinity. While the development will result in some increase in the number of HGV vehicle movements, it will significantly reduce the number of LGV movements into Westminster and will ensure that ‘last mile’ deliveries will be zero emissions.
Committee members raised questions about the potential impact on road and cycle users and decided the application will have a significant benefit to Westminster.
Eastbourne Terrace
We have asked the Council if the wayfinding maps outside Paddington Station on Eastbourne Terrace can be installed as soon as possible.
Harbet Road
We have asked the City Inspectors if the Hilton Hotel can be asked to sweep Harbet Road every day. Harbet Road is a private road and the Hilton is responsible for street sweeping and parking in the road.
Paddington Basin
Residents have asked if action can be taken to stop barges moored close to St Mary’s Hospital emitting smoke and causing a health hazard. Also, residents say, “The boat that caught fire alongside St Mary’s hospital a year or two ago continues to moor alongside the hospital. There are two together in poor condition. We walk past many times a day and only ever once in several years seen someone on either boat.”