BAYSWATER & LANCASTER GATE LABOUR ACTION REPORT – July 2021
News from Councillor Maggie Carman and the Labour Action Teams in Bayswater & Lancaster Gate
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Prince’s Square Gardens
Councillor Maggie Carman has been actively working with local campaigners to try to protect residents’ access to the square amid attempts by current owners of Prince’s Square Gardens to sell it off to the highest bidder.
Gloucester Terrace
We have contacted the Housing Department and asked that they deal urgently with this issue affecting residents in Gloucester Terrace:
“For the past 10 days, there has been a major leak from the roof with water penetrating through the building into all of the flats. The adverse weather and torrential rain over the past week is just making the situation worse. We reported this as an urgent issue to the Housing Department and nothing has been done since. A contractor has been out to assess the roof and has provided a quote back and for 5 days it has been awaiting approval from the surveyors’ team.”
“We are seriously concerned about safety and damage, particularly the top floor flat where the ceiling is now caving in and is a danger to the tenants who have children living there. Water is flowing out of my bedroom ceiling and onto my bed where I sleep.”
Queensway
Westminster CIty Council’s Planning Committee has granted planning permission for an application from Bourne Capital which fails to provide the number of affordable housing units as laid down by the City Plan.
The development proposals cover a large part of Queensway. Part of the development is the construction of 61 housing units, with 8 flats at intermediate rents. This falls well below the requirement of the City Plan which would see 24 affordable homes (a mixture of social and affordable).
Hereford Road – housing issues
We have contacted Notting Hill Genesis about this appalling situation in a flat in Hereford Road and called for urgent action:
“I have had no heating or hot water for 3 months now due to a burst underwater pipe. Contractors keep coming and going then not contacting me or making an appointment to get the matter resolved. Also, NHG don’t respond to my urgent need to resolve the matter quickly or quicker. I’m just left here freezing in the basement, boiling kettles of water for wash downs and washing up and trying to dry laundry washed in cold water. I’m having to go to the Porchester Spa to wash my hair. It’s depressing me.
Also, I have large damp patches on my lounge wall that was reported in March this year and only last week did someone turn up to look at it. I want to be compensated for the inconvenience and feel I shouldn’t pay rent for the last 3 months due to lack of hot water and heat.”
We are also helping another NHG resident who is experiencing difficulties with outstanding repairs.
Hereford Road – traffic concerns
Following a recent traffic accident in Hereford Road involving 2 scooters and a car, Councillor Carman has written to the Highways Team about residents’ concerns. Residents say that motorcycles and scooters regularly enter Hereford Road via the narrow cycle access at the island at the top of Talbot Road and come flying down Hereford Road doing more than 20mph. Maggie has asked Highways to look into this and ways of preventing future accidents.
Westbourne Grove
Councillor Maggie Carman has been assisting the Tiroler Hut restaurant on Westbourne Grove which is recovering from a fire just before the lockdown. Maggie has written to the Council to ask if any assistance can be given as part of the Government schemes to help small businesses. Maggie says:
“Until the fire it had been open for 52 years and run by the same family. It is a Bayswater institution and much beloved by its loyal patrons who have been looking forward with anticipation to its reopening.”
Westbourne Park Baptist Chuch
Councillor Maggie Carman has welcomed the proposed Green Plaque to Reverend Dr John Clifford at Westbourne Park Baptist Church. The nomination was submitted by Rev Jeremy Sewell who has sadly since passed away and the nomination is now being led Elizabeth Welch, Assistant Pastor in his memory. For details of Reverend Clifford’s life and achievements see https://spartacus-educational.com/REclifford.htm
Bayswater Children’s Centre
Bayswater Children’s Centre, in Shrewsbury Road, is one of a number of Council–owned premises threatened as part of a new Council sell-off plan. The centre was shut four years ago during a wave of cuts during the austerity years. Councillor Maggie Carman said: “Families across Bayswater used to benefit from the children’s centre in the past and they still use the holiday club there today.”
http://westendextra.com/article/childrens-centre-the-target-for-sell-off
St Petersburgh Place
We have asked the local inspector to investigate this issue:
“The recent coffee shop opened at 31 St Petersburgh Place has placed a sign board blocking half the pavement on Moscow Road. I do not believe the recent planning permission granting tables and planters on St Petersburgh Place related to the coffee shop granted this sign.”
Craven Road
We have asked the Council to investigate this recurring issue:
“I wonder if anyone could remind the shop at 35 Craven Road (Le Supermarche) to stop leaving the wooden pallets out for days. They are unsightly. I told them multiple times, but they keep doing it. No other shop does it.”
Devonshire Terrace
We are investigating issue raised by a resident:
“It looks such a sight, two large air conditioning units recently installed on Devonshire Terrace behind the railings by the new dental practice. The dental practice entrance is on Craven Road”.
Cleveland Gardens
We have asked the Council to investigate a bike which has been chained to the railings outside a flat in Cleveland Gardens.
Westbourne Terrace
In response to our enquiries about the continued use of Westbourne Terrace by National Express coaches, the Council has told us:
“The City Council understands that National Express are at a very advanced stage of negotiation with TfL (as the Licensing Authority for most express coach services that link London) to amend the route of its A6 route from Paddington, Bishop’s Bridge Road, to Stansted Airport. At the time of writing details of this development cannot be published until a formal license amendment decision is published.”
Swanleys
Councillor Maggie Carman is making enquiries about how the broadband installation works will affect Swanleys residents and how the works will be carried out.
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival Board has taken the decision not to proceed with this year’s event. Having consulted with the Carnival community, it became clear that due to Covid and timescales, there was a great deal of uncertainty around levels of participation across the parade and bands. The organisers are looking to revert to the digital event that they successfully delivered in 2020.
Supporting Leaseholders
Local leaseholders have given us details of two organisations which are able to help leaseholders in battles against freeholders:
The Leasehold Partnership (run by leaseholders and solicitors)
https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com
The National Leasehold Campaign (set up leaseholders)
https://nationalleaseholdcampaign.org
Policing
For the latest local police statistics see https://www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/met/westminster/bayswater/ and https://www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/met/westminster/lancaster-gate/
Parties at Airbnb premises
There have been a number of parties in flats let out as short lets. A number of residents have experienced massive disruption as a result and it’s unacceptable. As soon as parties begin it’s crucial to both contact the Council’s Noise Team and the police so they can turn up to break up the party. Both need to be there to intervene effectively and preferably they should be called out as soon as possible.
- Contact the Council’s noise team: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it or 0207 641 2000
- Contact the police on 101 or tag them on twitter on @MetCC
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/
‘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
Report It
You can tell the Council about dumped rubbish, broken street lights, graffiti and more by using Report It https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
Dispelling the vaccination myths
Here is the link to a video featuring Black 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 Covid 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
Volunteers at the he Bayswater Mutual Aid & Community-based Response Group are offering to shop or run errands. You can contact them on 020 8123 7839 and bayswatercovid19@gmail.com
Westminster Connects COVID-19 phone line – 020 7641 1222
Beware the Coronavirus scammers
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/westminster-news/2020/03/27/beware-the-coronavirus-scammers/
What you say
“Thank you very much for helping to address the noise nuisance in Artesian Road. The bus and the outside players were the loudest I have known in forty years”
“Many thanks Maggie, when your “Saint” nomination comes up it will get my vote!”
“Thank you all the updates and I read all of them even if the places are not near me.”
“Thank you for your help engaging G.Network to bring fibre broadband into a broadband blackspot in Chapel Side. After considerable effort engaging with residents and G.Network, unfortunately this is come to nothing as we are unable to muster enough in the small mews road for it to be financially viable for G.Network to cable us without having to pay £2,000 each per property to be connected!”
“Thanks, Maggie, for your very swift action. You seem to have got them moving”
“After months of inaction by NHG, your intervention has been successful in getting them moving. I’ve finally got an appointment booked with a contractor to address my damp walls and chunks of loose plaster. It shouldn’t take your involvement to get NHG to act but I very much appreciate it.”
“Many thanks again for all your help. It is very re-assuring to know we have people like you looking out for us”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
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Keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours.
Regards
Councillor Maggie Carman, James Small-Edwards and Max Sullivan
Bayswater Labour Action Team – Here to Help, All Year Round
Bayswater@westminsterlabour.org
Tweet @bayswaterLabour
Dario Goodwin, Ryan Jude and Ellie Ormsby
Lancaster Gate Labour Action Team – Here to Help, All Year Round
Tweet @LancGateLabour