ST JOHN’S WOOD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – May 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
Cochrane Street
Residents alerted us to uncontrolled demolition works behind Reynolds House and Fettes House on Cochrane Street. We contacted the Housing Department who told us:
“After reading the complaint and seeing the video, my team made a swift intervention with the contractor. We visited the site and discussed our dissatisfaction with the standards of management and supervision on the project. Whereas the issues should never have arisen, the response from the contractor was encouraging and they have already instigated changes in the project staff. We will continue to monitor the site very closely and reinforce the message about the standards we expect.”
Wellington Road
We have asked the Housing Team to investigate reports of fly-tipping by the black bins on the Wellington Road estate. Residents say:
“We are constantly living with building waste and sanitary items left on the wheely bin site, yet no warden monitors this part of the street. It requires hosing down with disinfectant”
The Housing Team say: “An inspection was carried out last week by the Compliance team and the bulk items/flytipping has now been removed.”
St John’s Wood Park
We have again alerted the police to a number of parking issues in St John’s Wood Park at the request of residents.
Maida Vale
We have asked the Refuse Collection Team to investigate the unsatisfactory arrangements for storing rubbish at 96 Maida Vale.
Circus Road parking – update
Following our enquiries about unauthorized parking on Circus Road, the Parking Team tells us:
“The single yellow line leading up to the Panzser’s forecourt is intended to provide servicing to the local outlets and the placement of cones on the public highway is prohibited. The Marshals will continue to monitor the area as much as possible and, if necessary, requests for an enforcement visit can be made through the website at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it/illegally-parked-vehicles, which is available 24/7”
Regent’s Park cycling, e-scooters and wildlife – what you say
“I’m particularly impressed by lobbying the parks about cycles and e scooters. I myself have reported it in person to the parks office along with my complaint about dogs being allowed off the lead and bothering wildlife in the lakes. They tell me they only have two policemen. I was astonished surely times have now changed and they have to look at employing more thus saving more wildfowl being maimed.”
“Before you clamp down on cyclists in Regent’s Park please can you deal with the cars? It is really not acceptable that cars are allowed on the Outer Circle. Whilst I know many cyclists still use it, it certainly isn’t safe. And I certainly wouldn’t feel safe cycling with my 4-year-old-daughter on there. If you make the Outer Circle car free and safe for cyclists I suspect fewer will feel the need to go through the park on the footpaths.”
“It isn’t just in the Parks that electric scooters endanger those on foot. It seems that the problem is that as yet electric scooters have no legal place. But they are widely used, and reporting users to the Met isn’t easy and realistically isn’t going to solve the problem. Is there anything more that you, or we the public, can do to push for the law to catch up with them?”
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/
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.
Survey of Residents’ Views
We want to know what you think the Council’s priorities should be over the coming years. Please let us know by completing this short survey so we can take action on your priorities. Thank you
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90333853/Westminster-Labour-Survey
Voting by post
It is 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.
‘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 to all for your most interesting emails which always has something of interest to local residents. “
“Thank you again and I particularly love the article about St. John’s Wood lodge. I thought I knew everything about the park but this has passed me by so it’s next on my list.”
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 – Here to Help, All Year Round