HYDE PARK WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – Late May 2024
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 very busy month right across the ward.
In May James Small-Edwards was elected as Greater London Assembly member for West Central https://fitzrovianews.com/2024/05/05/labour-wins-west-central-london-assembly-seat-and-mayoral-vote-for-first-time/
We are working with the Church Commissioners, West End Quay and Freshwater to tackle the growing scourge of illegal short-term Airbnb lettings in many parts of the Ward. Together we have produced signs, in English and Arabic, making it clear to visitors to these blocks that short-term letting is prohibited. The ‘Evening Standard’ also featured the action being taken by the Council https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/airbnb-london-holiday-lets-landlords-westminster-michael-gove-b1157623.html
We attended the Little Venice Canal Cavalcade on 6th May and enjoyed the huge array of canal boats and water activities.
The Council has launched consultation on developing a Sustainable Transport Strategy for Westminster. Whatever you interest in transport, please let us have your ideas and thoughts at https://fairerenvironment.commonplace.is so we can work together towards a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.
With the General Election set for Thursday 4th July you might find it convenient to vote by post. Find out more at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
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 advice surgery will be on Thursday 4th June, 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
Connaught Square
We asked the City Inspectors to remove an abandoned bicycle and attached wooden box that has been left on the north side of Connaught Square for months. Residents say, “It has now become a dumping area for bags of rubbish and debris, is falling apart and also takes up an entire bicycle parking spot.”
We also told Lime to remove an abandoned e-bike from Connaught Square and to fine the rider.
Cambridge Square
We asked the Homeless Persons Team to assist a person sleeping in the doorway of a house in Cambridge Square.
Oxford Square
Following enquiries about the installation of high speed broadband in Oxford Square, the Council’s Technical Team say, “In order to proceed, G.Network need permission from the Church Commissioners to run cables in the underground car park. If approval is granted, they will be able to proceed.”
We also asked the Church Commissioners to secure a vacant house in Oxford Square which has been broken into.
Connaught Street
We asked the City Inspectors to take enforcement action against Bursa for placing tables and chairs on the pavement outside 1 Connaught Street, despite their licence application being refused. The City Inspectors say, “a warning letter, providing them with 7 days to comply has been sent. A reminder letter has also been sent to the Director of the company, together with a hand delivered letter. If the use of tables and chairs does not cease, we will escalate to enforcement and legal action.”
The results of the survey of users of HyPER’s ‘pop-up parklet’ on Connaught Street is here https://hyper.uk/hypers-pop-up-parklet/
Hyde Park Crescent
We asked the City Inspectors to remove an abandoned bicycle that has been abandoned and tied to a bike stand on Hyde Park Crescent, near the junction with Southwick Place.
Bathurst Street
We have asked the police to increase their patrols in Bathurst Street following the recent break-in at Arman’s Kitchen.
Albion Street
We asked the Highways Team to inspect the roadway and pavements in Albion Street and fix the uneven parts.
Southwick Street
We asked the City Inspectors to remove an abandoned bicycle that has been abandoned and tied to a street sign on Southwick Street opposite the Monkey Puzzle pub.
Norfolk Crescent
We asked the Highways Team to fix a pothole in Norfolk Crescent.
We also raised concerns with the Licensing Team and Police about the rubbish left in Norfolk Crescent in the early hours of the morning by customers of the late-night cafes in Edgware Road. The Police say they will monitor this location.
We asked the Police and City Inspectors to investigate a van parked in Norfolk Crescent which appears to be where someone is sleeping at night and begging during the day. He hangs his washing on the railings!
Porchester Place
We asked the City Inspectors to again investigate a restaurant in Porchester Place which, according to residents, has “unlawfully been filling the air around my house with untreated kitchen exhaust for months, my house now smells strongly of grilled chicken.”
We also asked the City Inspectors to arrange for a paint spill to be cleared from the road and pavement in Porchester Place.
25 Porchester Place
In liaison with the Church Commissioners, the Short-Term Lets Team is conducting doorstep interviews to gain the necessary evidence to demonstrate that the 90-night limit has been exceeded and is regularly serving Planning Contravention Notices. Officers are also tackling some of the side effects of short-term letting like noise nuisance, unauthorised presentation of waste and general anti-social behaviour. The team has also been working closely with the Council Tax team to gather additional evidence to support with the planning enforcement investigations.
Radnor Place
Following our enquiries, the telecoms box on the corner of Radnor Place and Sussex Gardens has now been painted black and is much less obtrusive than before.
Oxford Street
We alerted the City Inspectors to illegal trading on Oxford Street which was quickly removed.
On a brighter note, the ‘Evening Standard’ recently reported on the many new retailers coming to Oxford Street https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/oxford-street-investment-transformation-london-shopping-b1157365.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=image
C43 cycleway
The Highways Team has published the ‘You Said, We Did’ report following the consultation on the C43 proposals last year https://c43cycleway.commonplace.is/
Paddington Area Cycle Movement Strategy
Proposals to make the temporary cycles lanes installed by the council in 2020 are to be made permanent. The cycle lanes are on Stanhope Place, Brook Street, Spring Street and London Street. The lanes link to existing cycle routes C3 at Bayswater Road, C27 at Sussex Gardens and the proposed future Westbourne Terrace Cycle Movement Strategy cycle lane. You can read more at https://cyclemovementstrategypaddington.commonplace.is
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.
The Star Street area, between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street
Praed Street
We continue to report problems with noisy manhole covers in Praed Street and asked the Highways Team to ensure that the utilities responsible fix them urgently.
Pavement widening is now underway by the Council in front of the Paddington Station Hilton on Praed Street. The new pavement will line up with the Paddington Square public realm frontage and will improve safety for pedestrians, as well as deterring the unauthorised taxi queuing along Praed Street.
St Michael’s Street
We are helping residents in St Michel’s Street resolve issues with their landlord, Notting Hill Genesis.
Star Street
We asked the Highways Team to fix a broken valve cover on the pavement in Star Street.
Bouverie Place
We asked the City Inspectors to arrange the clean-up of spilt paint by the recycling bins in Bouverie Place. We also asked that the owner of the property on the corner of Star Street be asked to make the area outside safe.
We also asked the City Inspectors to arrange for a spray-painted parking sign to be cleaned.
Paddington Square
It was good to see that four large mature trees have been planted at the entrance to Paddington Square and Paddington Station.
Southwick Mews
We asked the Police and City Inspectors to investigate this issue and increase patrols in the area, “We need a solution for Southwick Mews (entrance in Southwick Street). Every night people come/stay here who are injecting drugs, smoking, drinking, eating and leaving rubbish.”
Edgware Road area
Park West
We urged Freshwater to speed up the lift repairs in Park West. The Estate Manager told us, “Unfortunately, when the engineers attended, they could not carry out the repairs without the parts which they did not have and have had to order. Block 2 has a counter balancing issue that also requires parts, this has been the holdup with the lifts being reinstated back into service.”
Park West Place
We asked the Police and City Inspectors to investigate reports from residents about intimidating anti-social behaviour in Park West Place. Also, an unauthorised sign was removed from wall of Park West.
We also asked the City Inspectors to remove an Airbnb key box chained to a bike stand in Park West Place.
Feya, Edgware Road
We asked the City Inspectors to ensure that tables and chairs outside Feya do not encroach beyond the permitted pavement area so that pedestrians can past safely.
Begging
We have alerted the Police and the City Inspectors to a group who have recently arrived in the UK from Jordan, claiming claim to be from Palestine and begging around Edgware Road. Residents who have observed them say that if passers-by refuse to give them money, they become intimidating and use discriminatory language.
Edgware Road/Sussex Gardens junction improvements.
Following public consultation last year, TfL say they will be going ahead with the Edgware Road/Sussex Gardens junction improvements which include:
- A simpler junction with direct and safer crossings – Pedestrians will have straight across and wider crossing spaces replacing the two stage crossing. There will be a dedicated time for pedestrians to cross on a green walk signal at the same time, whilst all traffic is stopped at the traffic lights.
- Pedestrian countdowns at the traffic lights to improve safety and accessibility.
- Safer positioning on the road, safer turns and head starts for cyclists to make it easier for them to navigate the junction
- Reallocating road space to pedestrian footways on the Edgware Road where traffic turns left into Sussex Gardens. This would give pedestrians more space and would feature a new rain garden. Traffic turning left would do so at the junction of Edgware Road and Sussex Gardens.
- Reallocating road space to pedestrian footways where traffic turns left from Old Marylebone Road into Edgware Road. This would give pedestrians more space and would feature large planters like those in Burwood Place. Traffic turning left would do so at the junction of Old Marylebone Road into Edgware Road.
- Planting four new ‘rain gardens’ along Edgware Road between Sussex Gardens and Kendal Street to make the area greener and more attractive.
The consultation report is available on the TfL website. TfL will be completing the works by 2025.
Joe Strummer Subway
TfL has started work on transforming the old Joe Strummer subway into a massive 260sqm Sustainable Drainage Scheme – preventing local flooding, reducing water pollution/runoff with 12 new trees, 300 shrubs and over 10,000 bulbs. This will be one of the biggest sustainable urban drainage schemes in London.
Chapel Street, Cabbell Street and Transept Street area
Marylebone Road
We arranged for the abandoned rough sleepers’ tents and rubbish to be removed from the central reservation on Marylebone Road to be cleared and the area jet washed.
Oxford and Cambridge Mansions
We asked the Planning Enforcement Team to investigate short-term lettings at Oxford and Cambridge Mansions being advertised on booking.com and on hotels.app.
38-47a Chapel Street
We asked the Housing Team to fix the intercom at the entrance to 38-47a Chapel Street.
Old Marylebone Road
We told Lime to remove an abandoned e-bike on Old Marylebone Road and to fine the rider.
Paddington Basin/Sheldon Square area
Dahlia House
We are continuing to support residents in Dahlia House whose lives are being made a misery by the large number of illegal short-term Airbnb-type lettings in the block. Floors 2-10 of the building are all let on short-term lets. Residents say, “It is particularly frustrating to see both the freeholder and local agents continue to engage in these illegal activities with apparent impunity, seemingly oblivious to the laws that should prevent such practices. At the same time, our management agency, despite being funded through our service charges, neglects our concerns and inquiries, focusing instead on facilitating these short-term rentals.”
The Council’s Legal and Planning Enforcement Teams are investigating.
Travis Perkins site
We are continuing to support residents’ objections to Travis Perkins/Unite Students proposal for the redevelopment of Baltic Wharf. One resident told us, “Most of the light to my flat and those in the block will be wiped out along with the skyline. The block opposite will be 18 storeys high and has a roof terrace which will encourage noise and anti-social parties late at night.”
West End Quay
To deal with the problem of ‘medical lets’ at West End Quay, we continue to lobby the Government on the proposed new “permitted development” changes, as well as on the proposed new national Registration Scheme. We are also engaging with embassies via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which appear to be unintentionally aiding and abetting short-term let activity, when residents from their countries seek medical treatment in London.
Montgomery House
We continue to urge Peabody to arrange for repairs to the flats in Montgomery House where residents are suffering from long-standing water penetration.
5 Harbet Road
We again called on Octavia Housing to undertake long-overdue repairs to the ground floor lobby at 5 Harbet Road. As one resident says, “I pay my rent and service charge on time every month plus my mortgage, the least you can do is maintain the building and update your residents.”
Harrow Road subway
We asked the police to do regular patrols around the Harrow Road subway at Paddington Green after receiving this message from a resident, “Late afternoon early evening the drug dealers turn up and there’s a group of addicts openly smoking crack in the subway and on the stairs and people have to step around them or avoid using the subway altogether.”