ST JOHN’S WOOD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – April 2021
News from the St John’s Wood Labour Action Team
Dear Resident,
We hope you are well.
With the number of people getting vaccinated increasing every day and the number of people testing positive for coronavirus decreasing, we hope that we will soon be through the pandemic. Along with Karen Buck MP, we are doing all we can to help the local community and individual residents and their families.
You can read our latest news on http://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
Please feel free to pass this report on to any of your neighbours who may be interested. If you know of anyone else who might like to receive this report, please send them this sign-up link http://bit.ly/signuplabnews
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Kingsmill Terrace
We have asked the Housing Office to investigate claims that there is a squatter living inside one of the Council-owned garages on Kingsmill Terrace.
Regent’s Park
Sue Blundell writes about another of the secrets of St John’s Lodge Garden
https://fitzrovianews.com/2021/03/15/dont-go-near-the-water-the-story-of-hylas/
Top floor development
The ‘Wall Street Journal’ features an article on freehold properties which have been extended on the upper floors, removing penthouse status from the property owners on the top floors. Jacky Erteman, 74, has owned her two-bedroom penthouse apartment in St. John’s Wood for about three decades. The freeholder that owns Ms. Erteman’s building won permission from Westminster Council to build six new apartments on its roof, demoting her penthouse-level apartment in the process and reducing the value of her home.
Regent’s Park – cycles and electric scooters
We have written to the Royal Parks about this issue:
“I’ve written before about taking action to stop cyclists and electric scooter users from using the Regents Park’s footpaths, often at speed and with no consideration for those on foot. I gather the Park police don’t actually police the Park so who can bring some sense to this worsening issue?”
The Royal Parks say:
“Whilst e-scooters are not permitted in The Royal Parks at all cyclists are permitted on the park roads and on the Broad Walk north of Chester Road. The Royal Parks are re-painting the ‘No Cycling’ signage at each gate and will set out larger signage when appropriate.
While the majority of park users are respectful and treat others with consideration, we’re afraid that there are a small minority who do not and we encourage the public
to report any antisocial behaviour to the Metropolitan Police who enforce The Royal Parks regulations.”
Linhope Street
We asked the Planning Department for an update on the long-vacant and derelict former Swan & Edgar pub in Linhope Street after local residents contacted us:
“No 43 Linhope Street, which used to be the Swan and Edgar little pub, has been unoccupied for many years. It has fallen into disrepair and is an eyesore, apart from being a potential home for someone. I think something should be done about it.”
We have received the following response from the Planners:
“After winning the two appeals to prevent this former public house being converted into a single house, we have not heard anything from the owners for some time regarding its future use. We have written to the freeholders of the building regarding its poor state of repair. The freeholders for the pub have agreed to tidy up the building and a site visit will take place to monitor the condition of the property.”
North Paddington Foodbank
If you can help the foodbank or are in need of emergency support please see the information here: https://www.npfoodbank.org.uk/
Food Waste collections – update
Following our enquiries about food waste collections, we have received the following update:
“Our food waste collection pilot schemes were unfortunately curtailed due to covid but we are currently finalising plans to recommence the roll-out of food waste collections to all residents. We expect to start introducing food waste collections from September this year but the timetable for services to individual wards hasn’t yet been agreed.”
Blood Donors
The NHS Blood and Transplant service is appealing for donations from people who have recovered from coronavirus to help save lives as London moves from “medium” to “high” alert. Donating blood plasma is a simple procedure and very similar to giving a normal blood donation but the red blood cells are returned to the patient and the process takes a little longer.
The nearest donor centre is at 26 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia. W1. Anyone who has had coronavirus, either a test result or the symptoms, can offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visitinghttps://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk to arrange an appointment to donate.
Voting by post
It will be much easier, quicker and safer to vote by post.
You can use this form to apply for a postal vote
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/postal-vote-application-form.pdf
You can email your completed form to electoralservices@westminster.gov.uk or post it to Electoral Services, Westminster City Council, 14th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP.
Rita Begum is Labour’s candidate for West Central in the GLA Elections
You can visit Rita’s website at https://www.ritabegum.com/
‘Westminster Extra’
You can read the ‘Westminster Extra’ online
Refuse collection and Recycling collection times
Recycling bags can be ordered from https://webforms.westminster.gov.uk/order-recycling-bags/
Bags will be delivered within approximately 48 hours of order.
You can check when refuse and recycling is collected from your street here http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/env/streetsearch.aspx
The doorstep recycling service concentrates on the recyclable materials most commonly produced by houses so that these can be easily separated into the different material types. The link below summarises what can be put in recycling bags
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/what-can-i-recycle-home#can-recycle
Lots of other materials can be recycled but not through the doorstep collection service. The A-Z list below gives details of what and where items can be recycled or re-used:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/a-z-recycling
Report It
You can report dumped rubbish, potholes, uneven pavements and other hazards to the Council’s ‘Report It’ service https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
Dispelling the vaccination myths
Here is the link to a video featuring Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic celebrities dispelling myths about the vaccine and encouraging people to have the vaccination
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Ald__AhbI
Interactive Map
You can see the latest data for your area here
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map
Westminster Council’s advice and response website:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-and-information
Westminster Connects COVID-19 phone line – 020 7641 1222
Help and Advice for businesses
You can get the latest information here https://www.westminster.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-businesses
Beware the Coronavirus scammers
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/27/beware-the-coronavirus-scammers/
What you say
“Thank you as always. And thank you for the link to St John’s Lodge garden. Despite regular walks in Regent’s Park, we have never discovered it.”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
Keep well, take care and look after yourselves and your neighbours.
Regards
Hussain Ahmed, Janet Seale and Liam Taggart
Your St John’s Wood Labour Action Team