BAYSWATER & LANCASTER GATE LABOUR ACTION REPORT – December 2021
News from Councillor Maggie Carman, James Small-Edwards and Max Sullivan, the Labour Action Team in Bayswater, and
Dario Goodwin, Ryan Jude and Ellie Ormsby, the Lancaster Gate Labour Action Team
WARD NEWS AND ACTION
Northumberland Place
We have asked the Road Safety Team and local Inspector to investigate these issues raised by residents:
“I live on Northumberland Place and we get people driving down the road at ridiculous speeds late at night quite a few times a week. It always seems to be from about 10pm onwards and it’s incredibly disturbing.”
“Another issue – and I’m sure you get a lot of this – is dog fouling on not just our street but the whole area. People seem to think it’s fine to let their dogs poo outside houses on our street and not clear it up. I’m not sure what can be done, but it’s horrible!”
Westbourne Grove
Following concerns raised by residents about an offensive advertisement outside a gallery in Westbourne Grove, Councillor Maggie Carman arranged for a visit from a City Inspector, followed up by a warning letter from the Planning Enforcement Team. Maggie also lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority’s code of Advertising Practice.
Westbourne Gardens
Councillor Maggie Carman has been helping victims of the recent floods with practical issues regarding Council Tax and parking matters. Residents say, “Hi Maggie – Parking have been great and responded really quickly. Thanks for that!”
Hereford Road
We have asked Notting Hill Genesis to arrange for building debris that was left by their contractors to be removed from a flat in Hereford Road. We have also ask NHG to deal with a damp wall in another property in Hereford Road which is now affecting the neighbouring property.
Councillor Maggie Carman has also asked the Council if a shop in Hereford Road needs planning permission for a 24-hour illuminated sign which is causing a nuisance for residents at night.
Bridstow Place
We asked the Council to collect a dumped mattress outside a house in Bridstow Place.
Bark Place
Residents of Bark Place have contacted us about difficulties acquiring fibre broadband. Councillor Maggie Carman has made enquiries and has been told that if there is enough demand then the providers can be encouraged to build in the area. Residents have a WhatsApp group and Maggie has suggested that this message is shared with the group
“If you are having problems with your broadband speeds please complete the following form. If you would prefer to contact the council’s team directly please email: digitalplace@westminster.gov.uk. If there is significant demand we will engage with broadband providers to encourage them to accelerate the build to Bark Place.”
Bishop’s Bridge Road
Councillor Maggie Carman has asked the Refuse Team to clear a large amount of refuse and builders’ materials dumped outside 96/98 Bishop’s Bridge Road, adjacent to Pickering Mews, and to take strong action against those responsible.
St Petersburgh Place
In response to enquiries from residents about the need for more cycle parking, the Council’s Cycle Officer tells us:
“We are looking to install 2 Sheffield stands on Ilchester Gardens by the TfL Cycle Hire station as part of the 2021/22 installation programme which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2022. We will also review St. Petersburgh Place for cycle stands and cycle hangar for 2022/23 programme, subject to feasibility, funding and consultation.”
Newton Road
We have asked the Council to remove a suspended parking notice outside of 19 Newton Road. The notice is out of date and yet is still up. There is a small document on the notice saying the works have been completed but it is not visible to someone simply driving past. The Parking Team say, “this notice will be removed as soon as possible”. We are pleased to say that, following our intervention, the notice has now been removed.
We have also made enquiries about two disabled parking bays opposite 3 and 5 Newton Road. Residents tell us that the parking bays were provided for a disabled resident of Newton Road who has now passed away and ask whether the number of disabled bays might be reduced to one rather than two to help residents on the road who don’t have access to off-street parking. The Parking Team say:
“Ordinarily the kerbside space is converted for other use, e.g. residential. This can involve a formal statutory consultation process to amend the existing Traffic Management Order, which can take a short period of time to conclude.”
Green man traffic lights at the Chepstow/Talbot Roads junction – update
We have asked the Highways Team for an update on this project:
“Work was originally programmed to start in October, but unfortunately delayed due to on-going G-Network works in the area. Due to this delay, we are not able to complete the whole scheme before the Christmas moratorium and have reprogrammed the work to start on 17/01/2022 and to be completed by 17/03/2022, with a revisit for antiskid works scheduled for 12/04/2022.”
Talbot Road
We are supporting a review of the width restriction section on Talbot Road. Residents say:
“The problem is the bollards and layout of the width restriction is too narrow at the wrong places. This is causing damage to parked cars on the north side of Talbot Road outside no 2 onwards as well as the bollards and the curbs which are badly damaged requiring repeated expensive repair. Normal sized cars struggle to get through and drivers can’t tell it’s too narrow until it’s too late and they cannot reverse back.”
Councillor Maggie Carman has again asked the Highways Team to reinstate a broken bollard at this location following it being knocked over yet again.
Chepstow Road
Councillor Maggie Carman asked the Highways Team to investigate this issue:
“This week we have suffered noise from an incorrectly fitted GNetwork manhole cover on Chepstow Road near the junction of Bridstow Place. There is a loud bang-bang noise as vehicles cross it. This is audible indoors and not just nearby. The noise is worse with heavier vehicles such as buses and is a real nuisance at night. Although this has been reported to GNetwork customer service and their CEO they have not responded.”
A few days later, residents got back in touch to say, “I am delighted to tell you that the noisy manhole cover at Chepstow Road has at last been fixed today by G.Network….another successful Maggie Carman intervention!”
Clifford Court, Westbourne Park Villas
We are again helping residents in Clifford Court about rubbish dumping by the recycling bins which are for Clifford Court residents only. Councillor Maggie Carman asked the Council to arrange for a notice to be put up in a prominent place reminding people that fly tipping is an offence and culprits will be fined. Residents say, “Thanks so much Maggie, I appreciate you chasing Westminster up on this.”
Elsie Lane Court, Westbourne Park Villas
We asked Notting Hill Genesis to fix a front door to a flat in Elsie Lane Court. Apparently, NHG sent someone to measure the door for replacement on 29th May, but nothing has been done since. Following Councillor Maggie Carman’s intervention, a new door has now been ordered.
Orsett Terrace
We have again asked the Housing Department to install a new door to a flat in Orsett Terrace to replace the existing temporary door. The resident has been waiting fourteen weeks for the job to be done. Following Councillor Carman’s intervention, a new door has been ordered.
Councillor Maggie Carman has also asked the Highways Team to clear a drain on Orsett Terrace. Residents say, “Unfortunately the drain is usually very clogged up with mud, debris, rubbish and leaves to be of much use.”
Gloucester Terrace
We have asked Notting Hill Genesis to repair the door to a flat in Gloucester Terrace.
We have also received an update from the Housing Department about the pest control situation at the rear of Gloucester Terrace:
“We have received a quotation from our contractors to clean out all the bin stores in the council owned buildings at the rear of Gloucester Terrace, after which we intend to seal them with new metal covers over the disused bin rooms. Once complete the bin stores will be completely sealed and inaccessible for any pests.”
Inverness Terrace
We have asked the Parking Team to repair a faulty electric charging point in Inverness Terrace. The charging point is ok, but the plaque with the QR code has gone, so it can’t be used.
Burnham Court
We are supporting residents of Burnham Court in their battle against telecommunication mast operators. Residents say:
“We have been targeted by a telecommunications company for the installation of approximately 15 tonnes of equipment onto our rooftop. The residents of Burnham Court are extremely concerned about our health and safety, private property value, security risks, and ongoing disruptions this will pose.”
Craven Hill Gardens
We are supporting a residents’ campaign against the new £750 a year charge for access to Craven Hill Gardens. Residents have told us of their dismay at the new fee of £750 p.a. which has been an incredibly unpleasant shock for long-standing residents who have previously relied on free access to these small gardens.
You can read more here https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/residents-fury-750-fee-access-22202629?utm_source=mylondon_newsletter&utm_campaign=mywestlondon_newsletter2&utm_medium=email
Chilworth Street
We are supporting residents’ request that lights should be attached to the new hoardings around the building at 40 Eastbourne Terrace. Residents say:
“As opposed to the area on Eastbourne Terrace, no lights were installed on the Chilworth Street side on the wall around the site. As a result, the area between Eastbourne Terrace and Eastbourne Mews is extremely dark in the evening. This is a security issue and is causing garbage to be left in the area. Unsurprisingly, the wall there was already graffitied last night”
Update – Residents tell us:
“Thank you very much for your support with this. I can confirm that lights have now been installed on the wall along Chilworth Street, which is really great. Thanks again for your help.”
Chilworth Street/Westbourne Terrace
We have asked the City Inspectors to investigate this issue and take the necessary action.
“This area greatly suffers from the fact that refuse is too infrequently picked up. A few months ago, a third recycling bin was added (on top on the other two bins for general refuse), presumably to address the issue without increasing the frequency at which the bins were emptied. But it did not change anything, and in fact seems to instead have settled the status of the corner as a dumping area for anyone driving by.”
The City Inspector says:
“This site is emptied twice a day. A number of warning letters have been sent to residents and only this morning a Fixed Penalty Notice for a repeat offender. I have discussed the sweeping concerns with the local depot manager and have been monitoring the sweeping and raising any issues with him.”
Gloucester Mews
We have been contacted by residents of Gloucester Mews. They say, “there has been issues with comings and goings at a house in Gloucester Mews for ages. We have had a summer where we had open drug use in the street here and unpleasant behaviour from characters awaiting access to the house.” We have asked the police to investigate and take the appropriate action taken to deal with this unpleasant and illegal activity.
Craven Hill
Following enquiries from residents we have asked the Council to investigate dumping by the bins outside 4 Craven Hill. There is a large group of bins here, which many residents use, but they are often full, and people place rubbish next to the bins instead.
Supporting local businesses
Councillor Maggie Carman has supported a local language school’s application for Government grant to help with the impact of the pandemic. As a result, Council officers to say, “we agree that we should use discretion in this instance and award the grant. My team tell me the grant will total somewhere in the region of £80k which is great news for a vital business within the borough.”
Flooding
Some good news. We’ve heard from Westminster Council that people whose homes are not habitable due to flooding may not be obliged to pay Council Tax. This would apply for the period you are not living in the property.
Unhelpfully, Westminster hasn’t published this on their website or sent us a form for you to complete. Instead, we’ve been informed that affected residents should email Rehana Hannan at the Council rhannan@westminster.gov.uk with details of your property, reasons it is not habitable and some indication of how long it will be vacant.
We are assured that Westminster will treat the flooding victims fairly but please let us know if you have any problems claiming this exemption.
Rubbish dumping
Westminster’s streets are littered with mounds of dumped rubbish from Pimlico to Paddington despite the Council spending £50 million a year with Veolia whose contract has just been extended for another three years. The time is long overdue for tough action against the regular rubbish dumpers who litter the streets of Westminster and who are currently getting away with this particularly selfish and nasty form of anti-social behaviour. We have put forward a 5-point plan to tackle the rubbish dumping menace.
Council Tax
We have called for No Rise in Council Tax until at least 2024. As residents face a challenging winter with rising prices and energy bills, they want to know that they aren’t going to have any nasty surprises in the spring in when it comes to Council Tax.
Labour Councillors will vote against any increase in Council Tax until at least 2024 to try to help residents through these difficult times. We think that at the very least Council Tax should be frozen at its current rate, while further efforts are made to protect those on low incomes.
£6 Million Marble Arch Mound
It is costing Westminster Council Tax-payers about £150,000 a month to keep the Marble Arch Mound open to the public. The Council had planned to charge visitors for entry to recoup some of the £6 million it has cost to build the Mound. But, because the Mound failed to live up to the Council’s misguided high expectations, the Council was forced to scrap entry charges.
The costs have trebled from £2 million to £6 million and the Deputy Leader of the Council, who was responsible for the debacle, has resigned. The £6 million could have been put to much better use – for example, on CCTV to catch illegal rubbish dumpers or on more police on the beat or on re-opening the youth clubs that were closed by the Council a few years ago.
For the latest news see https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/marble-arch-mound-costs-spiralled-22358616
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
Green New Deal for Westminster
We have launched a Green New Deal for Westminster which sets out a clear, ambitious agenda to achieve the change we desperately need. Key measures include:
- Appointing a Cabinet Member with responsibility for climate action. This will be pivotal to driving change from day one of a Labour Council.
- Implementing a Net Zero Test for all decisions to assess the climate impact of decisions made, and a sustainable approach to procurement.
- Seeking to refurbish first, rather than demolish, putting real emissions standards on all developments, and retrofitting our existing housing.
- Driving a green recovery and a just transition, with a Local Climate Bond for investments in our neighbourhoods, a focus on green jobs, and training available to all.
- Starting recovery in the streets, with a commitment to 15-minute neighbourhoods, new tree planting, and high streets that attract customers with active travel infrastructure.
In the spirit of working collaboratively with others we are keen to hear from residents, experts, and other stakeholders about how to develop and build on this plan. So please do get in touch with us to share your thoughts.
Green Doctors service
Green Doctors are expert energy advisers who help residents save money, stay warm, and improve energy efficiency in the home. They are now offering pre-booked home visits/phone consultations to help families and individuals to maximise their income by:
- Sharing easy tips on how to save money on their energy bills
- Helping to switch onto cheaper tariffs to save money
- Delivering free energy-saving items such as draft proofing strips/LED light bulbs/showerheads, etc
You can call 0300 365 3005 or email greendoctorsldn@groundwork.org.uk
Bike Hangars
Please let us know if you would like to suggest locations for additional bike hangars where bikes can be stored safely and securely.
Electric Car charging points
Charging points have been installed in lamp columns across the area and you can register your interest in having a lamp post charger installed near you by completing the form below. You can also register an interest in having stand-alone charging posts installed in your local area.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/request-vehicle-charging-point
‘Westminster Extra’
You can read the ‘Westminster Extra’ onlinehttps://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=09649383-4dbb-4a3d-b164-9d26398578f3
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 10 days 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
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
What you say
“Thank you all for your hard work!”
“Thank you for all you do”
“Thank you, Maggie. As usual, everything moves once you get involved.”
“I just wanted to thank you for all your help and advice around my flooring situation.”
“Thank you so much for coming to our AGM, Maggie. We do appreciate all that you do for us – you are such a stalwart!”
“I am sorry to only come to you when there is an issue. You have been so helpful in the past.”
“Thanks Maggie – I heard from them this afternoon. You sure know how to get the council responding. Much appreciated”
“Thank you for your attention to this, Maggie. Once again, you are our champion ……”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
If you know of anyone else who might like to receive this report, please send them this sign-up link https://bit.ly/labour-news
Keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours.
With very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
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
Email: lg@westminsterlabour.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LancGateLabour/
