PIMLICO LABOUR ACTION REPORT – April 2022

News from Liza Begum, Robert Eagleton and Jason Williams

Tackling housing disrepair in Pimlico

We know social housing tenants are experiencing a poor repairs service. We’re calling for:

• Urgent review of current repairs
• A single point of contact for every repair
• Regular data on how long repairs take

You can sign our petition here https://bit.ly/pimlico-housing

Mary Smiths Pantry

Mary Smith’s Pantry provides vital resources to the most vulnerable in our community in south Westminster. Mike and his volunteers cannot continue to operate from the Ebury Bridge construction site and we have urged the Council to find them permanent premises in the area.

Pimlico District Heating Unit

We have been contacted by worried residents about recent stories on rising heating costs for communal systems. Residents are worried about gas prices and would like cost transparency of PDHU costs which serves Churchill Gardens and the surrounding area.

Lenthall House, Churchill Gardens

Following our enquiries about anti-social behaviour and security issues at Lenthall House, the Housing Department tells us:

“The ASB Case Officer has arranged to complete door knocks to gather further information from residents, to identify those involved and further details of the behaviour witnessed. In relation to stolen parcels as this is a crime, it will need to be reported to Police and investigated by them, if a perpetrator is identified as a resident or visitor to the estate, we will work alongside the service to take appropriate action.

In regard to the paving slabs, our surveyor has walked around the estate and the paving slabs have been inspected. There has been some movement to the slabs over the years; however, there are no defects or trip hazards. The work we completed to the communal drainage on the ground floor 1-15 flats has left one slab in need of replacement.”

Queen Mother Sports Centre 

Following our request to ‘call in’ the Council’s proposed £16.5 million purchase of 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, next to the Queen Mother Sports Centre, the local press reports on the Scrutiny Committee meeting where we called for full disclosure of the Council’s redevelopment plans for the Sports Centre:

https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/labour-fear-back-door-deal-at-sports-centre-site 

Ebury Bridge Estate

Westminster City Council is preparing to follow through with compulsory purchase orders, a legal mechanism used to acquire land, against 11 leaseholders who do not want to leave Ebury Bridge Estate.

https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/defiance-of-11-leaseholders-under-threat

https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/homeowners-feel-bullied-over-compulsory-purchase 

Dolphin Square

A new book, ‘Scandal At Dolphin Square: A Notorious History’, has been written about the colourful history of Dolphin Square. You can read more here

https://www.waterstones.com/book/scandal-at-dolphin-square/simon-danczuk/daniel-smith/9780750997140