Proposed changes to 46 and 187 buses

A little bit out of our area but no doubt interesting for those using local buses ...

TfL have been in touch with details of their proposals to amend the routes used by bus numbers 46 and 187 within Maida Vale and Little Venice.

The main change is around no longer turning from Clifton Road into Randolph Avenue before joining Sutherland Avenue (and then going on to Maida Vale). Instead, buses would now join Maida Vale straight from Clifton Road, missing out the bus stop on Randolph. The same would apply in the other directino.

If you have any comments or concerns about this proposed change, please write to STEngagement@tfl.gov.uk by 1 April 2011.

Lee

More on tube ...

Here's a news story on the recent unveiling of the plaque at the tube ...

Click here to find out more.

Jan

Maida Vale Station Gets a Plaque

Next Monday, we're pleased to report that a heritage plaque will be unveiled at Maida Vale tube station celebrating the history and character of our local station.

In both her capacity as ward member and Deputy Lord Mayor, Jan will be unveiling the plaque with representatives of London Underground and others.

Check it out when you go in!

Jan

Maida Vale Tube: Proposal to reduce ticket office opening hours

We've heard on the grapevine that London Underground may reduce the opening hours of the ticket office at Maida Vale station.

We beleive the proposal is to move to opening hours of:

Monday - Friday 7.30am - 10.30am
Saturday 11am - 1.30pm
Sunday 2.30pm - 4pm

This would contrast with the current situation where the ticket offices are open most of the day.

Clearly, there is a balance to be struck here - most people now prefer to use the machines to re-load, meaning less work for the offices themselves. That said, it is important that any reductions do not materially affect the ability of people to travel.

What do you think? We would be genuinely interested to know how local residents feel about this proposal. E-mail maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com to give us your views.

Lee

Visit from Lord Mayor

Last Saturday we were very pleased - along with many local residents - to welcome the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Duncan Sandys, to Paddington Rec.

The Lord Mayor was here to re-open the much improved bowling green, to name the gate on Randolph Avenue and to name the refurbished pavilion. The green now has a fantastic new hut available to use, which has been extensively improved by the Council over the Spring.

Our Lord Mayor is part of the Churchill family and the gate was named after his great-great grandfather, Lord Randolph Churchill who was instrumental in securing the land for Paddington Rec at the end of the 19th century.

Thanks to all local residents who came out for a really enjoyable afternoon.

Alastair, Lee and Jan

Bowling Green re-opening soon

Not long now until the Bowling Green re-opens - and many local residents have commented to us on the works that are underway on the Pavilion. David has posted pictures on his blog here.

The green will be opened for its fantastic second season on 1st May, with an opening by the Lord Mayor on Saturday 15th May. All residents are welcome to attend and further details with follow.

In the meantime, the group of local residents set up to protect and improve the Green are meeting this week to discuss the upcoming season (Thursday 8th April at 8pm). If you would like to attend, please e-mail info@maidavalebowls.org.uk.

Jan

Starbucks, Randolph Avenue: litter bins

Just a quick note to say pleased that Starbucks have now taken us up on our suggestion to install a couple of litter bins near their premises on Randolph Avenue. We asked for this some time ago as part of their application to maintain tables outside. Although it's taken a little bit of time to come through, it is very welcome!

Alastair

Randolph Avenue: White Paint

A number of residents have contacted us recently about the spillage of some white paint near the top of Randolph Avenue. The paint, spilt by unknown person or persons has stained the pavement and residents think it unsightly and quite rightly want it removed.

We've reported it to the cleaning people at the council and it will hopefully be removed shortly. The added complicated is, given that it is dry, it becomes much more difficult to get rid of. We should see movement soon!

Jan

Visit to the Yoga Centre

Last Saturday, all three of us had the privilege of being able to visit (and take part in a class) at one of the many small businesses in our area, the Iyengar Yoga Institute on Randolph Avenue.

The Institute is well known throughout the area for its yoga classes which it puts on throughout the week for local residents in Maida Vale, St. John's Wood, Kilburn and beyond.

Personally, having never taken part in a yoga class before, I was a little apprehensive at first - however, it was much fun and it was great to see so many people taking part in the class (and quite early in the morning!)

All three of us would like to thank the Institute for the invitation and for the warm welcome we received.

Lee

Paddington Rec: Meeting

Last week, we attended the quarterly Paddington Rec meeting with Council officers. This meeting, which is held in the Pavilion, is the time when local Councillors, officers and representatives of Nuffield Health (who manage the Rec) come together to discuss issues and developments. It's also our opportunity to feedback everything local residents have told us about the Rec over the previous few months.

There are a number of things to report:

• Cafe Extension: is on track for completion in Summer, as previously reported;
• Wifi in Cafe: Westminster will be installing wifi in the cafe from early in the New Year, following a request from a resident, via Jan;
• Environmental Area: has won an award from the Institute of Groundskeepers - this is great news which is a testament to all the hardwork designing and constructing this area;
• Bowling Pavilion: planning permission has now been obtained for the upgrade of the Bowling Pavilion - work is scheduled to be completed for the re-opening of the Green in Spring;
• Anti-social behaviour: The police were pleased to report that the Rec remains very quiet with no incidents being reported recently - regular patrols, regular visits with the mobile police station and a number of banning orders against known troublemakers all seem to be helping this;
• Leaf Blowers: a number of residents in Randolph Avenue have raised concerns about the practice of using mechanical leaf blowers in the Rec in recent months. We asked the officers to undertake a thorough assessment of their use and whether any alternative provision could be put in place. We are pleased to report that we agreed to stop the use of the blowers during the weekends, which we hope is a helpful compromise for those who are concerned.

If you have any comments on the Rec, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us (maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com). We'll be happy to raise them on your behalf at the next meeting, which will be held in the Spring.

Lee

Award for Tube Station

Congratulations to Maida Vale tube for winning a National Railway Heritage award for its modernisation last year. More details can be found here.

Congratulations to TfL (even if it was late!)

Lee

Maida Vale Station In Bloom

Just a quick note to say a belated congratulations to the staff of Maida Vale tube station for coming 3rd over the Summer in the 'Stations In Bloom' competition.

Thanks also to everyone in Paddington Rec who were able to help the tube station out with some planters for the competition.

Jan

Graffiti Watch

Over the last few weeks we've reported the following graffiti:

• on the phonebox on the corner of Biddulph Road and Elgin Avenue;
• on the postbox near the corner of Essendine Road and Morshead Road;
• on the phonebox on the corner of Sutherland Avenue and Castellain Road;
• on the stairwell of Tollgate House;
• on the phonebox close the entrance of the Rec on Randolph Avenue;
• on the Brent side of Kilburn Park Road;
• in the garden area on the corner of Randolph Avenue and Carlton Vale.

If you spot any graffiti, please do let us know (maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com). Our new street guardians are also keeping a close watch on graffiti and anti-social behaviour - we'll continue to get rid of it as quickly as we can!

Lee

Bowling Green

Last week, we were very glad to attend this year's final Tuesday night open bowls session organised by Maida Vale Bowls club.

It was great to see many of the local residents who have worked so hard to prove that the bowling green has a future - and great to see how their bowling abilities had improved so much over the Summer months. Sadly, the same can't be said for either myself or Jan!

The club are keen to come back again next year and, pending the decision being taken by the Council about the future of the green, are seeking feedback on what could be changed and improved. If you have used the green this year and have any thoughts you want to feed through, do get in touch with them: info@maidavalebowls.org.uk.

Lee and Jan

PS The latest user numbers for the green over the Summer has shown that over 800 people have played bowls there since May - an absolutely fantastic result! The green remains open for another few weeks - so do get another few games in while you have the chance!

Thames: Just checking ...

Following the re-appear of a Thames hole in Randolph Avenue a few weeks ago, we've spent some time trying to confirm that there are no further plans to complete more Victorian mains replacement in our area ....

.... and we are very pleased to confirm it! A few end of project 'snagging' activities are being undertaken (such as Randolph Avenue - and also the one on Maida Vale). After that, they are going to bother other parts of London.

A warm and happy wave goodbye!

Lee

Elgin and Randolph: Resurfacing again?

Several residents have been in touch to enquire as to why the Council spent two days last week resurfacing parts of Elgin Avenue and Randolph Avenue which had only been done a couple of months ago.

Having taken up the issue with the Transportation Department, they have been applying new anti-skid surfaces to the approaches of the junctions on both roads. Although it might look like a doubling of work, the Council waits a minimum of a month from when a new surface is originally laid down to allow any excess bitumen to be removed by traffic wear. Once a sufficient time period has elapsed, the anti-skid surface can then be applied.

Alastair

The Thames Hole Patrol: Randolph Avenue

Residents of Randolph Avenue will know that Thames appear to have again taken up semi-permanent occupation of a plot close to the junction with Elgin Avenue. As a result, we took this up with the Council several weeks ago and asked them to find out what was going on.

Apparently, the works are the last parts of the Victorian mains replacement programme that caused us so many problems last year - with the completion elsewhere in our area, some meter works needed to be completed underneath Randolph Avenue.

What is unacceptable, however, is that Thames (and their subcontractors) didn't provide the Council with information about this site when they should have done. Naughty boys and girls. As a result, they have been fined by the Council. Additionally, because they have run far over their intended timescales, the Council is also intending to penalise them for "unduly prolonging their works".

One day Thames will learn that inconveniencing local residents is not acceptable.

Lee

Resurfacing Requests: Randolph Avenue and Carlton Vale

Last week, a resident got in touch with us via our Meebo messaging system (see ---> !) to say that they felt that the road surfaces in part of Elgin Avenue and Carlton Vale needed attention.

Well, we've brought it to the attention of Council officers are are pleased to report the following:

• Carlton Vale junction with Maida Vale: repairs will be carried out on the junction after parts of the road were deemed unsatisfactory. The junction will also be looked as part of the longer-term aim to improve many of our key junctions throughout the City.
• Randolph Avenue (between Elgin Avenue and Carlton Vale): officers have scored the road quality between the two junctions and say that it is not quite at the point yet where re-surfacing is necessary. It's going to be re-scored again shortly and we'll press to have it included in the 2010/2011 resurfacing programme.

To the resident who reported the issues - hope that helps! If you have any similar queries or concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch and we'll see what we can do.

Lee

Meeting with PCHA Randolph Avenue tenants

On Monday night we attended the third regular meeting of PCHA with its tenants in Randolph Avenue at the Maida Centre.

The meeting, as usual for PCHA ones, was very lively and direct, with residents letting PCHA know what they thought in very clear tones. We were glad to see that PCHA were listening and that they have made progress since our last meeting in March - they have cleared the back garden, appear to be keeping a closer grip on cleaning schedules, have installed notice boards and are trying to get to grips with the fire alarm issue. Much still to do but we are pleased to see PCHA try to address their very battered reputation on Randolph Avenue after years of doing practically nothing.

PCHA have agreed to go away and do more work on postal boxes, anti-social behaviour and service charges.

We'll keep campaigning for a better deal for PCHA tenants on Randolph Avenue and look forward to the next tenant's meeting towards the end of the year.

Jan and Lee

£100,000 Your Way: Greening Maida Vale

An update on Maida Vale's Community budget:

One of the priorities identified by local residents a few months ago was a desire to further green Maida Vale and to improve our local environment. We are pleased to report that the first part of the budget has now been allocated and will be supporting this aim.

From the end of July, hanging baskets will be appearing throughout Maida Vale to improve the look and feel of our streets and to improve biodiversity in our area. There will two plantings on a significant number of streets within Maida Vale. We've tried to space them out across the ward so all residents will be able to benefit.

The streets are: Carlton Vale (6 baskets), Elgin Avenue (33), Essendine Road (9), Kilburn Park Road, 27), Lanark Road (17), Randolph Avenue (20), Randolph Gardens (5) and Shirland Road (12).

Alastair, Jan and Lee