HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – August 2023
News from your Hyde Park Labour Councillors Judith Southern, Md Shamsed Chowdhury and Paul Dimoldenberg
Dear Resident,
We hope that all is well. It has been another few weeks of activity right across the ward.
We did a walkabout with the Parking Marshals who patrol the Ward. We saw the Marshals check parked cars to see if they had up to date permits. We also saw the Marshals issue tickets to commercial vehicles parked on yellow lines. As we walked around, cars and vans parked on yellow lines mysteriously started to move away as we approached. All was friendly and there was no aggressive behaviour from drivers. Thanks to Ivo, Ade and Ahmed for a very interesting tour.
The Council has launched the UK’s largest electric refuse collection fleet – fuelled by the waste they collect. The Council has invested £20m in the 45 new zero emission trucks that will benefit residents by reducing vehicle noise, cutting air pollution and reducing carbon emissions https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2023/07/20/westminster-city-council-rolls-out-the-uks-largest-electric-refuse-collection-fleet-fuelled-by-the-waste-they-collect/
Marble Arch BID tell us, “Discover Marble Arch with John Nash. With funding from the Council’s Culture Grants team, we’ve laid on character-led walks around the Marble Arch area https://marble-arch.london/news/discover-marble-arch/”
The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens have arranged bands to perform at the Bandstand in Hyde Park on Saturday 19 August, Sunday 3 September and Sunday 10 September 2023.
https://marble-arch.london/news/hyde-park-bandstand-concerts-2023/
We hold a regular advice surgery at St John’s Parish Hall, Hyde Park Crescent, on the first Thursday of the month from 6-7pm. The next will be on Thursday 7th September, 6pm-7pm.
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
NEWS AND ACTION
The Hyde Park Estate area, bounded by Edgware Road/Bayswater Road and Sussex Gardens
Devonport
We are continuing to support residents’ concerns about the future of the former garages. Residents say,
“Devonport Garden is an exemplar of Church Commissioners’ sound support for biodiversity and sustainable planting that takes into account climate change and is in keeping with Westminster Council’s aims to improve air quality. Much can still be done to utilise the garages to the benefit of residents and creating a biodiverse roof that will encourage even more butterflies, bees and other valuable insects.”
Cambridge Square
We asked the police and City Inspectors to investigate reports of a couple sleeping in the doorway of a house in Cambridge Square and offer assistance.
Southwick Street
We asked the Short-Term Lettings Team to again investigate 3 and 5 Southwick Street where occupants have told residents that they are staying as Airbnb guests. We also asked the City Inspectors to take action against the regular rubbish dumping outside both these properties.
Southwick Place
We again urged the Council to take action to stop the owner of a property in Southwick Place feeding the pigeons four times a day in her garden which attracts hundreds of pigeons and vermin causing huge distress to her neighbours.
Park West Place
Following our enquiries with the Parking Team, parking marshals are now regularly patrolling Park West Place to stop the night-time parking on double yellow lines and consequent anti-social behaviour. There were 31 enforcement visits in the first half of July during the evening and early morning, with 44 fines issued to vehicles for parking contraventions.
We also asked the City Inspectors to take action against those responsible for regular rubbish dumping in Park West Place.
Hyde Park Square
We asked the City Inspectors to take action against those responsible for regular rubbish dumping outside a house in Hyde Park Square.
Hyde Park Street
We asked the City Inspectors to take action against the builders responsible for dumping building materials outside a house in Hyde Park Street.
Sussex Square
We have asked the Parking Team to deploy the Marshals regularly in Sussex Square after residents told us, “we have an incidence of ‘cowboy’ builders parking on the street and removing their numberplates, so they cannot be enforced, they are doing this daily on Sussex Square.”
Bathurst Street
We asked the Waste Team to remove old radiators dumped outside a closed restaurant on Bathurst Street. The radiators have been removed.
Westbourne Street
We wrote to the managing agents of a property in Westbourne Street adjacent to the lamppost where rubbish is regularly dumped to ask what arrangements are made for residents to store rubbish inside the property until the days and times that rubbish is collected.
Hyde Park Crescent
We asked the Raynham Freehold Company Ltd to take action on this issue raised by a resident, “The garden area between Castleacre and St. John’s Church has not been maintained for at least 2 years. The grass and weeds are so overgrown and neglected that the area is a haven for prostitutes and drinkers.”
Connaught Street/Portsea Place
We asked the City Inspectors to take action against those responsible for regular rubbish dumping at the corner of Connaught Street/Portsea Place.
Portsea Place
We asked the City Inspectors to remove an abandoned bike from Portsea Place.
25 Porchester Place
We asked the Church Commissioners and the Council’s Short Term Lettings team to investigate a flat at 25 Porchester Place where the tenants also leave their rubbish in an appalling state in the corridor.
Kendal Street
We contacted the City Inspectors and the police about the pedicabs parked in the Kendal Street ECP car park which play loud music when they enter and leave the car park.
Following our enquiries, the Highways Team has installed double yellow lines outside the car wash which will make parking enforcement easier. We also asked the City Inspectors to remove an advertising sign for the car wash which is blocking the pavement.
Stanhope Terrace
We have asked the Highways Team to consider this suggestion from a resident,
“There are many buses, coaches and other heavy vehicles in increasing numbers funnelling up Stanhope Terrace and onwards across The Hyde Park Estate that have no business in the area. The route along Stanhope Terrace through Connaught Street towards Edgware Road has become a well-used rat run for speeding traffic. Surely, it’s time to fine transgressors and locate an intelligent traffic camera to aid the process in Stanhope Terrace between Westbourne Street and Brook Street?”
Norfolk Crescent
We are liaising with the City Inspectors and Police on the anti-social behaviour in various places in Norfolk Crescent. In our last update, we mistakenly identified The Heron as the cause of the anti-social behaviour. We met the owner of The Heron who has also expressed concerns about such behaviour in the area and has installed CCTV cameras to cover the street outside the pub. We have agreed to liaise with each other and keep a close eye on the situation.
Clarendon Mews
We have asked the street sweeping team to clear the weeds from Clarendon Mews and sweep the mews regularly.
Bayswater Road
We again asked TfL to investigate the noise from the underground lines under Bayswater Road which is causing disturbance to some residents. TfL say, “We are planning to carry out a rail grind in September and October. Apologies, we had planned to rail grind in late March but were unable to grind this section of track within our programme due to delays. We’ve re-timed the job and believe this will improve the situation and we apologies for the disturbance in the interim.”
Marble Arch
We asked the Street Cleaning Team to pay special attention to the area around Marble Arch to keep it clean and tidy.
Parklets
We have received the following information from HyPER, “We are delighted to tell you that HYPER has been successful with its application to Greening Westminster for Parklets to be introduced to The Hyde Park Estate. There are various sites under consideration and analysis and, in time, we will be able to share illustrative views with yourselves, and the wider community, for consultation and feedback.”
Oxford Street
The Secretary of State has refused planning permission for the redevelopment of the Marble Arch M&S store on Oxford Street https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/marks-spencer-oxford-street-flashship-demolished-rejected-michael-gove-b1095682.html
Hyde Park Estate security
For residents living on the Hyde Park Estate, the Croma mobile security supervisor contact number is 07880 680257. The mobile team provides 2 patrols each evening between the hours of 19.00pm – 07.00am. This is paid for via the service charges at blocks managed by the Church Commissioners, who also pay for the patrol at Portsea Mews and around Connaught Village.
Please note, you can only use this number to report incidents within the boundary of the Hyde Park Estate as Croma are paid to operate within that area only.
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Southwick Street
We asked the Parking Team to take action against commercial vehicles parking on the pavement.
We also asked the Police to investigate a flat in Southwick Street which residents say is being used a brothel.
Star Street/Sale Place
We asked the City Inspectors to install CCTV cameras at the junction of Star Street and Sale Place to identify and deter those responsible for furniture dumping at this location.
Spring Street
We asked the City Inspectors and the police to investigate who dumped rubbish in the middle of the road in Spring Street, causing a danger to all.
Sussex Gardens
Following reports from a resident about a noisy drain cover on Sussex Gardens, the Highways Team say, “We have walked Sussex Gardens and the only covers that are making a noise are the Thames Water Sahara pits outside 174-176. They were last repaired in March 22. They’re still in warranty so I have asked them to rectify the rocking frames/covers.”
We also asked the City Inspectors to investigate noise issues at a hotel on Sussex Gardens.
Edgware Road area
Cambridge Court
We are helping Cambridge Court residents who have been issued with s21 ‘no fault’ eviction notices from the new owners of the block.
We asked the Environmental Health Team to visit Cambridge Court after reports from residents that fire doors were wedged open, contrary to the fire regulations. The Team says, “An officer attended the building and discussed the issue with the porter who advised that builders had propped the doors open whilst bringing in materials. He is monitoring this on CCTV and will ensure they are closed after the material movements have finished. He will also speak with the builders to inform them of their responsibility to ensure the doors are not left propped open. All doors were closed when the officer left.”
We also asked the Short-Term Lettings Enforcement Team to investigate reports of apartments on the new top floor extension at Cambridge Court being used for Airbnb-type lettings. We sent a photograph supplied by a resident showing 6 key boxes outside the 6th floor entrance door.
Sleeping under the Water Gardens canopy
We asked the Council’s Chief Executive to assemble a group of Council Officers to work with the Police, Church Commissioners and others to tackle the continued nightly ‘bedding down’ under the Water Gardens canopy on Edgware Road.
Edgware Road pavements
The pavement along entire length of the Watergardens block has been deep cleaned, including the area at Burwood Place and at the corner of Sussex Gardens. The plan is deep clean all the pavements on a regular basis and to remove all the unsightly staining.
Edgware Road
We asked the City Inspectors to take action to stop a business which is repairing and parking cycles on the pavement on Edgware Road and which blocks the pavement for pedestrians.
Grosvenor Court Mansions
We again reported dumped rubbish on the pavement outside Grosvenor Court Mansions and asked Veolia, the Council’s Waste contractors to investigate. Veolia say, “We visited Grosvenor Court Mansions and spoke with the porter. We have agreed to provide large wheelie bins so their general waste will be containerised and the bins will be located inside the mansion block.”
The rubbish is now being presented on the pavement in bins at the correct collection times. We will be keeping a close eye on this to ensure that new arrangements are effective.
Connaught Court
We visited Connaught Court with the Noise Officers after a noise complaint received from residents and, later, we had a walk around Edgware Road with the Officers to discuss various issues that need to be addressed by the Council
Voug, 45-49 Edgware Road
We called on the Council to take action against Voug for infringements of the licensing regulations. We agree with residents that the current operation of this business is totally unacceptable and is causing huge distress to the local community on a daily and nightly basis. The Licensing Team say,
“We are investigating the premises for a number of separate issues many of which were originally identified or raised by residents. These are all ongoing investigations with timelines in place for their resolution or further enforcement action. Please continue to report any concerns you may have to the Council through the usual routes as this may help support existing investigations or new lines of enquiry. We will continue to proactively monitor this premises whilst it remains under investigation.”
Edgware Road Red Route
Following our enquiries, TfL has increased their traffic police on Edgware Road and Connaught Street and are issuing parking tickets to drivers parked on the Red Route.
The Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Hyde Park Mansions
We again reported illegal short term Airbnb lettings in Blocks 5 and 8 Hyde Park Mansions where residents continue to be plagued by anti-social behaviour from short-term visitors. Residents say, “They made loads of noise late – it seems guests particularly like to move furniture around and run around at all hours well into the evening. Already this morning they were again making noise from around 5am.”
We also reported regular late night weekend parties at a flat in Block 3 to the Council’s noise Team. Residents say, “Singing karaoke with big sound box until 5am. I did not sleep the whole night.”
Oxford and Cambridge Mansions
We asked the Environmental Health Team to inspect a flat in Block 6 where a tenant is living in a flat where the ceiling has partially collapsed.
We asked the Short Term Lets Team to investigate reports of a flat in Block 2 advertising on booking.com that it can accommodate up to 16 guests.
Marylebone Road underpass
We have asked TfL to improve the lighting and security at the Marylebone Road pedestrian underpass from Cabbell Street.
Old Marylebone Road/Edgware Road
We asked TfL to fix the pedestrian crossing lights on the Old Marylebone Road crossing, adjacent to Edgware Road.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Montgomery House
We asked Peabody to undertake repairs to a flat in Montgomery House to fix problems with mould and water leaks.
5 Harbet Road
We contacted with Octavia Housing a number of management and maintenance issues raised by residents.
Sheldon Square
We contacted Network Housing about residents’ concerns regarding the maintenance costs of air conditioning units in the Sheldon Square social housing flats.
We contacted the City Inspectors about the evening noise from patrons congregating outside one of the bars.
North Wharf Road
We asked the Parking Team to increase their patrols outside Marylebone Boys School on North Wharf Road to stop drivers parking in the coach bay.
Eastbourne Terrace/Bishop’s Bridge
The Council has requested TfL to support a proposal to improve pedestrian access and amenity for pedestrians on Bishop’s Bridge Road by the relocation of the Bus Stop for two National Express services to the largely deserted Bus Stand space on Eastbourne Terrace.