Maida Vale Safer Neighbourhoods Panel: Reception

On Tuesday we were very glad to be invited to a celebratory reception at the new Westminster Academy, Harrow Road, for the Maida Vale Safer Neighbourhoods panel.

The panel, made up of 10 representatives of Maida Vale ward, is the major link for our local police team into our local area. The police use the panel as a ‘sounding board’ and they are responsible for setting local crime-fighting priorities. The reception on Tuesday was to thank everyone on the Maida Vale team for giving up their time to help stop crime in Maida Vale. Thanks for all of their help and support.

Jan

Maida Vale Police Team: News Update

The Maida Vale Police Team have provided their latest quarterly update of what they have been working on:

Elgin Parade

All members of the group responsible for low-level anti-social behaviour in/around Elgin Parade have now been identified. Four of the group have been made to sign Acceptable Behaviour Contracts with strict conditions (the precursors to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders). Two arrests have been made in relation to incidents that occurred during the Autumn on Elgin Parade and one individual has been taken to court.

The police report that anti-social behaviour decreased significantly since November. ASBOs and other measures will be held in reserve if there is any uptick in problems.

Paddington Rec

Officers are continuing to monitor Paddington Rec and are pleased to report no incidents in the last few months. Known troublemakers remain banned and have not been spotted in recent months and there continues to be attempts to engage other youngsters in diversionary activities (sport or other physical activity).

City of Westminster College

Officers report an incident before Christmas where 7 students from Westminster College were caught smoking cannabis in the doorway of a nearby mansion block. All have been given written warnings by the College, with one youth having been arrested and permanently excluded from the college.

New Team Member

We welcome Sargeant McGregor who joined the team in the late Autumn.

Lee

Sutherland Avenue: Streetworks

A number of residents have been in touch in the last couple of weeks about the streetworks underway in Sutherland Avenue. The work, which is being completed on behalf of EdF, is causing a particular problem because it is blocking the sight lines for drivers and pedestrians at two pedestrian crossings.

We have queried both the length of time being taken to complete the works and the potential safety issue regarding the pedestrian crossings. As a result, officers have got in touch with EdF to review the site - which is laying heavy and difficult-to-manoeuvre Extra High Voltage Cables down Sutherland Avenue - a process which can take a number of months.

On the safety issue, this was raised by officers when EdF first moved into Sutherland Avenue in late 2008, as both the utility and the Council recognised the impact on sight lines for drivers and pedestrians. Unfortunately, the location of the works is fixed - due to where the cables need to be 'threaded' and the barriers have already been pulled back as far as they can be. The Council has considered closing both of the crossings (next to Lauderdale Road and Castellain Road respectively) but recognised that a significant number of walkers would still need to cross the road at those locations. As a result, the crossings remain open and both drivers and pedestrians are being advised to use with care.

Lee

Paddington Rec Bowling Green - Success!

An update on the Bowling Green proposals in the Rec and we are very pleased to report success!

After a lot of discussion and lobbying over the last few months, the proposal to replace the Bowling Green with additional tennis courts has been suspended for one year, as local residents asked for. This is really brilliant news - and a testament to the strong message that residents sent back in the Autumn when we asked for your views.

As we requested, the Council intends to spend the coming Summer season to promote the Bowling Green and to monitor usage. The Bowling Green will now re-open in the Spring, as usual, as part of Paddington Rec's fantastic range of sport and leisure facilities. The Council will also make every effort to market the facility. At the end of the Summer, the Council will then assess the usage of the Green before deciding what to do permanently.

We hope you are as pleased as we are that Westminster Council has listened and acted on local resident's concerns. What is vitally important now is, that starting in the Spring, the Bowling Green is used and enjoyed by local residents - to ensure it becomes a valuable and successful part of the Rec once again. So, if you, your friends and neighbours have ever had the urge to go bowling, make sure that you start doing so in a few months time!

Alastair, Jan and Lee

Lanark Road: Letter Mix-Up

Last week, a number of residents on Lanark Road contacted us having received a letter from the Council about a pavement repair programme that was about to begin.

Many residents were concerned about the breadth of the programme and the suggestion that the road might be closed for weeks on end as the works were undertaken.

We got straight on to the Transportation Department at the Council to find out the story and - thankfully - the letter had been distributed with the wrong text! A repair programme will begin on 20 January, for three months, but the works will be staggered to try to minimise inconvenience to local residents and users of the road. The road is not intended to be closed for weeks on end. Sometimes mix-ups happen! We asked for a follow-up letter to be sent around all properties in Lanark to correct the mistake and that should have been completed yesterday (Friday).

If you are a resident of Lanark Road and have any issues or comments when the works start, please don't hesitate to get in touch (maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com).

Lee

Hamilton Court: New Recycling Facilities

Earlier in the Autumn, I visited Hamilton Court and had the opportunity to speak with the Board of Management.

As local Councillors, one of the things we always try to talk about is recycling - and we put forward a proposal to Hamilton Court to allow recycling facilities to be offered to all 44 flats in the property for the first time. After a few months of discussions between Hamilton Court and the Council's Recycling team we are delighted to report that the new bins have been delivered and are in use. Already, a quarter of Hamilton Court's flats are reported to be using the new service - a brilliant result.

I'm a massive believer in 'action not words' on issues like recycling. Loads of people wax lyrical about the need to do something for our environment but it is the small steps like the ones Hamilton Court have taken that make the difference. Combined this with the increased facilities in Castellain Mansions, Wymering Mansions and Essendine Mansions over the last year or so and Maida Vale is leading the way in increasing recycling throughout Westminster.

Many thanks to the Board of Management and everyone at Hamilton Court for being such great sports.

Lee