Lanark Road: Water Pressure update

An update on the water pressure issue in Lanark Road which we wrote about last month ....

We're pleased to say that CityWest Homes have made some progress on this issue. On 30th October they replaced the main pipe between Atholl House and Maida Vale, which they hope will improve the supply to residents in that block. Pressure logs have also been installed to check and, if the results prove that supply has improved, works will then be carried out elsewhere in the street.

We'll let you know when we find out.

Alastair

Lanark Road: water pressure

Over the last few months a number of residents have contacted us regarding the low water pressure in a number of CityWest blocks on Lanark Road. Residents have told us how, intermittently, the water coming from their taps has been insufficient - particularly at peak times of demand, such as in the morning, when lots of people are wanting showers at once.

We've been working closely with both CityWest Homes and Thames Water over the last few months to find out what the problem is - including, during August, having a water pressure monitor installed on one of the properties affected to see what the readings told us.

We are very pleased to hear that an agreement has now been come to between CityWest and Thames regarding taking this issue forward - and letters have gone out to residents to this end. CityWest has agreed to take the issue forward over the next few months and work up ways to reduce the impact on local residents. We'll keep pushing for a resolution.

Lee

Tesco Express: Result

Monday was the decision day for Tesco's application to vary some of the conditions to its 2008 alcohol licence (previous story here).

We are very pleased to report that the two judges hearing the appeal threw out Tesco's request. That means they will still have to have staff on the forecourt at certain times and will also not be allowed to offer cut price drink offers in the store.

Jan

Tesco Express

Last year, you may remember the campaign to stop Tesco Express on the corner of Sutherland Avenue and Maida Vale from obtaining a licence to sell alcohol. Despite Westminster Council refusing them a licence, it was eventually granted upon appeal by a court with a number of conditions attached (see here).

At the end of last year, Tesco applied once again for a variation to that licence, which watered down the conditions that were placed on it by the licensing court. This was rejected by Westminster Council's Licensing Committee back in January, who also noted (thanks to local residents) that Tesco appeared to be ignoring the conditions anyway.

Any sensible organisation would have gone away and started to adhere to the terms of the original licence that it had been issued. Not Tesco. Instead, it has now appealed against the Council's decision not to vary the licence. Consequently, an appeal is scheduled to be heard on 7 September at the City of London Magistrates' Court.

If you are a local resident and want to make representations, please do get in touch (maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com). We will certainly be doing so.

Jan, Lee and Alastair

Atholl and Braemar Houses: Major Works

CityWest have been in touch to say that the next meeting to discuss the major works for Atholl and Braemar Houses will be held on Wednesday 8th July at 6pm at 8a Braemar House.

If you live in Atholl or Braemar and would like to influence the direction of the proposed major works, please do go along. Last time, most residents decided that they wanted CityWest to concentrate on water ingress rather than replacing the windows and doors. As a result, CityWest have now agreed to move the replacement works for doors/windows back by five years - showing that CityWest do listen to what residents want!

Alastair

New Chief Executive of CityWest visit

Last Monday, we were pleased to welcome Mark Hoyland, the new Chief Executive of CityWest Homes, to Maida Vale.

We invited Mark because we wanted to show him all of the estates within Maida Vale and talk through all the current issues faced by local residents and the Estate Office. We spent a couple of hours showing Mark around Tollgate, Carlton Vale, Thurso, Torridon, the Scottish Towers, Oak Tree House and some of the street-based properties around the ward.

Mark was particularly complimentary about all of our estates - saying that they were some of the best looking and well run within Westminster - a testament to the TMOs and others who administer them so well. We spent a good deal of time talking through issues around customer service, maintenance, leaseholder charges and general responsiveness - all of which local residents have discussed with us and which we, as local Councillors, have noted over the last few months. Our primary message - serve residents first!

Mark has agreed to take our comments and issues back to CityWest HQ and to come back to us with responses on a number of issues.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

Atholl & Braemar: Major Works

Back in February (see here), we reported on the proposed major works to Atholl and Braemar Houses - needed, according to CityWest, to upgrade windows and doors in the properties.

All residents of both blocks should shortly be receiving an update newsletter giving further details on the proposed works. A steering group is to be set up - which all residents are welcome to join. The first meeting will be on Thursday 7th May in the ABC Coop Office (8 Braemar).

Cost estimates have been put together so that residents can see the work options available to them. These will be discussed at the meeting on the 7th - do go along if you would like to contribute!

Lee

Maida Vale Community Compact Meetings

CityWest Homes have been in touch to say they will be holding two sessions for local residents on the 'Community Compact' which is being drawn up for Maida Vale for the next year.

The compact is a set of aims which CityWest will promise to try to deliver over the coming year, and is drawn up directly from the thoughts and views of local residents. If you want to change our community for the better - do go along and give your ideas.

The sessions are:

• Mon 16th Mar between 7pm and 8pm
• Thurs 19th Mar between 1200 and 3pm

Both will be held in the Maida Centre. You can drop in at any point during the times.

Alastair

Major Works in Torridon House and the Scottish Towers

CityWest Homes have been in touch to say that they are about to distribute a couple of newsletters in Torridon, Atholl and Braemar Houses giving details on the major works programmed for these blocks during 2009.

The communal walkways and flat balconies of Torridon will be asphalted because a number of residents have reported water leaks into their properties. A steering group for local residents is currently being set up, with the first meeting to be held shortly. If you are interested in joining the Group, contact Lissa in the office.

For Atholl and Braemar, the kitchen windows of flats are to be upgraded from single to double glazing, the windows in communal areas are to be replaced, flat front doors will be renewed along with additional general repairs, including the roof. A steering group is also being set-up, with the first meeting having been scheduled for the Maida Centre on Monday 2nd March at 6.30pm. Contact Sue in the office if you would like to join or just turn up.

We'll keep you informed.

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

Working for our social housing

Last Monday, all three of us took the new Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Philippa Roe, around Maida Vale to introduce her to all of our social housing properties and to discuss key issues that we believe need attention.

The tour began outside the Maida Centre, Lanark Road and took in the Scottish Towers, Carlton Vale, Randolph Gardens, Tollgate Gardens, Kilburn Park Road and Shirland Road. We concentrated particularly on a number of areas:

• Large Scottish Towers: the need to provide more support for the Scottish Towers TMO and for Glasgow House;
• Tollgate Gardens: the need to improve the look and feel of Tollgate for the benefit of all residents;
• Oak Tree House/Beechcroft House: the need to improve security and lighting in both of these properties, and;
• showing Philippa the success stories - like ABC Co-op, Torridon House and Carlton Vale RMO - which serve local residents so well.

During our visit we also picked up a number of issues which we have asked to be dealt with

• graffiti in and dumping outside Beechcroft House;
• lighting on Oak Tree House;
• lighting on Lanark Road, and;
• graffiti and weeds in Tollgate Gardens.

Jan, Alastair and Lee

Atholl and Braemar: Water problems

A number of local residents have contacted us today to report water supply problems in Atholl and Braemar Houses.

We have been briefed by the local Estate Office that there have been problems over the last 24 hours but that the intermittent water supply should have finished by mid-afternoon today (Thursday). Any resident who is still experiencing problems should call Montserrat Fas in the Estate Office (7 245 2223).

The problem has been caused by a reduction in pressure from technical difficulties associated with the Victorian Mains Replacement Programme in Elgin Parade. Thames have now re-routed the water supply to Atholl and Braemar via Maida Vale/Edgware Road, which has restored the pressure.

We have asked for a full explanation from Thames Water and will be expecting that they provide a full explanation to all residents affected (along with an apology). We'll keep you informed.

Lee

Photo of Braemar House courtesy of CityWest Homes

Tescos: Licensing Appeal

Back in November, we joined a number of Maida Vale residents in objecting to proposals from Tescos to sell alcohol from their Lanark Road convenience store.

At the time, we felt it an inappopriate location to sell alcohol which could encourage street drinking and further increase traffic in the area. We also agreed with local residents that Maida Vale/Little Venice was sufficiently well served with licensed premises not to need another one.

After several months of deliberations, the court decision was delivered last well and Tescos has been permitted to sell alcohol during normal hours from the store. Although this is a disappointment, we are glad that, in her decision, the judge expressed sympathy with local residents about the potential problems this might cause. She also imposed a number of conditions on sale, which we all must make sure Tescos adhere to. They include:

• no increase in the number of deliveries to the store;
• the presence of a member of staff in the car park between 2.30pm and 5pm to supervise traffic and ensure the safety of local school children;
• the installation of a CCTV camera;
• no special offers or alcoholic promotions, and;
• no sale of 'super strength' alcohol.

The judge also specifically stated that any increase in street drinking in the local area would be grounds for a review of the licence.

Lee

Satellite TV Works

CityWest Homes have sent us the text of a letter which will be going out in the next few weeks and months to all tenants and leaseholders in Maida Vale. The letter gives introductory information about the switchover to digital TV, in readiness for the switching off of the current analogue signal in four years time.

The new system will allow residents to choose to purchase either Sky or Freeview, and will also offer access to Astra 2 and Hotbird satellites.

A programme of installation is being worked up in conjunction with the Estate Office to ensure that all tenants and leaseholders in Maida Vale have access to digital television before the 2012 switch-off.

At a CityWest area committee meeting a few months ago I asked for assurances that the new digital tv structures would ensure that unsightly satellite dishes could be progressively removed from Maida Vale estates. The Estate Office continues to try to enforce in blocks (such as Torridon House) where communal satellite facilities already exist.

If you'd like further information on the switch-over, or to discuss what these works mean for you, please don't hesitate to get in touch (maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com)

Lee

Tesco's Update

The Tesco alcohol licence decision was heard by the Licensing Court on Tuesday, with a number of local residents appearing to offer their insight.

Judgement has been deferred for further consideration and should be made public within the next two weeks.

We'll let you know when we hear. Fingers crossed!

Lee

Tesco's Licence Application

Earlier today we added our comments to the growing body of letters and e-mails opposing Tesco's application for an alcohol licence at its Express store on the corner of Maida Vale and Sutherland Avenue.

Tesco's lost its first application earlier this year when a licence committee at Westminster Council (chaired by our next door neighbour, Cllr Margaret Doyle) refused to grant the licence. They have now appealed to the courts and the hearing will be held tomorrow.

We are particularly concerned about the potential for an increase in anti-social behaviour and disturbance for local residents in Lanark Road, Lanark Mews, Atholl, Braemar and Dundee Houses and Hamilton Court.

Fingers crossed for Tuesday!

Lee

Atholl and Braemar Street Surgery

Two Saturdays ago we continued our regular street surgeries by calling on residents in Atholl and Braemar Houses.

We spoke to a good number of residents, almost all of whom were very happy with the Council and the services provided. They also spoke very highly of the support provided by the ABC TMO, run by Sue Hill, who keep Atholl and Braemar in the great condition that they always are.

There were a couple of issues with repairs and maintenance which we've agreed to take away and help with (hello Stadium Housing). It was also really distressing to hear (something sadly that we hear often) of the intense difficulties that some residents find themselves in as a result of the government's inpetitude over tax credits. If you have any issues regarding tax credits or the benefits system, please do get in touch - we would be delighted to help in any way we can.

Lee, Alastair and Jan

PS Forgot camera - so photo is from a few months ago!

CityWest Leaseholder Fair 2007

CityWest Homes will be holding their second 'leaseholder fair' on Monday 24 September at the Porchester Hall in Bayswater.

The event, which will run between 1 and 8pm, will include information and advice for all CityWest lessees in Maida Vale. This will include (according to the flyer) advice on service charges, repairs and ways to pay. Stalls present will provide information on (amongst other things) Service charges and billing, Key lessee scheme, Online payments, Future plans for your estate, Community Safety, Energy Advice, Home Improvement Grants, Recycling, the Noise Team and Age Concern.

If you are intending to go along, you can phone 7 245 2106 for more information.

Alastair

Maida Vale Estate Fun Day

Yesterday afternoon, Alastair, Jan and I attended the Maida Vale Estate Fun Day held at 40 Tree Green.

The event, which was organised by the Maida Vale Estate Office, was supported by all the Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs) throughout the area. We met many local residents who were enjoying the bouncy castles, football, fire engine, police and many other stalls that was present.

It was great to see so many local residents and we hope they enjoyed the day as much as we did!

Thanks to Monserrat & Pat from the Estate Office and Kay, Ivy, Anne, Rose and everyone else from the TMOs who put so much work into making sure the day was a success.

Lee

Let there be light!

Last year we were contacted by residents and ABC Co-op asking for the trees close by to the cut back. The kitchen of one particular resident that we visited in Braemar House was incredibly dark, caused by quickly growing trees and branches obscuring light for the majority of the day.

A couple of weeks ago, following requests from ourselves, we managed to have the trees outside Atholl, Braemar and Dundee cut back. Residents have already said how much of a difference it has made already.

If you have a similar kind of issue in Maida Vale, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Alastair