Castellain Mansions - New Recycling Facilities

Over the last six months, we've been talking to Council officers and the local management company of Castellain Mansions to improve recycling facilities for residents.

And now, after a spot of alterations to the bin areas, Castellain Mansion residents have the use of two large bins solely for recycling, which will be collected every Monday by the Council. Council officers will also issue all residents in Castellain with reusable recycling bags.

If you live in Maida Vale and would like to help to reduce our impact on the environment, please get in touch. It's the little improvements which make all the difference.

Lee

TfL Update

Not that we aren't used it, but a short a note to say that we still haven't received an explanation as to the continuing scaffolding/cabins remaining at the tube. Perhaps we are being a bit impatient - after all, it has only been almost two weeks since we first asked for one.

We've escalated the issue to management. We'll let you know when TfL finally have the courtesy to let us know what is happening.

Lee

Kilburn Park Road re-surfacing completed

Success! Local residents of Kilburn Park Road have warmly welcomed the final stage of resurfacing of the road, which was completed a week or so ago.

One of the promises we made to Kilburn Park Road residents during the election in 2006 was that we would sort out the surface of the road, worn down by the large numbers of buses coming down the road and a lack of interest from Brent Council (who were responsible for half of the road's maintenance).

Last Summer we were successful in finally convincing Brent to resurface their half of the road (completed in August). We followed up this year by agreeing with Westminster's Transport Department to resurface our part of Kilburn PArk Road - whihc was completed in two sections in the last few weeks.

The new surface should now significantly reduce the noise and vibrations from the buses and allow a much smoother journery for local residents and their visitors.

Lee

Tube: Almost there

Last weekend, after months and months of pressure and general haranguing from all of us, TfL finally managed to remove most of the scaffolding and detritus which has blighted Elgin Parade for the best part of 18 months. Hurrah!

After such a long campaign to get TfL to face up to their responsibilities we are delighted (well almost). TfL being TfL (the massive, bloated, flawed bureaucracy that it became under Livingstone) can't - as ever - simply be straightforward and honest in its dealings with us. They hid, disappeared and generally obfuscated for the best part of a fortnight as we tried to pin them down on a date to remove the scaffolding (beyond a vague promise at the beginning of July) - including trying to blame Council officers and the ubiquitous "health and safety" rules as to why they couldn't take it down immediately. We even managed to get Thames Water to be helpful (I know, we couldn't quite believe it either) to expedite the process. When we put all of TfL's excuses under the microscope the real reason emerged: they couldn't find a crane until last Sunday.

And we are still very disappointed that some scaffolding remains - despite assurances that it wouldn't. We've folllowed up with TfL and await their answer.

Still, we are most of the way there. The Parade is back to normal and local businesses can trade freely for the first time in many months. And local residents can see a tube station which is starting to get back to normal after so many delays and broken promises.

Lee

Alastair's Surgery This Saturday

Alastair will be holding his surgery this Saturday, 5 July, between 10am and 11am in the Cafe of Paddington Rec.

Please come along if you would like to discuss any issues or problems.

Alastair