Brent Council planning massive changes to Kilburn Park Road

On Thursday night we attended a hastily convened meeting, at our request, with planning and housing officers from Brent Council at Westminster City Hall on Victoria Street.

A little while ago, as local Councillors, we had got wind of new plans being promoted by Brent to regenerate South Kilburn. This is a long-standing project which Brent have been naturally keen to do for many years, with a number of false starts and unsuccessful attempts.

Another plan has now emerged and Brent Council seem to have decided that it must be all pushed through exceptionally quickly. Irrespective of the merits of the plans, this is most alarming and shows a lack of respect for those residents on our side of the border who have not yet been publicly consulted about the plans. This message was conveyed in no uncertain terms at the meeting on Thursday to Brent.

Details of the plans are still being worked through, but we can see that they have the potential to have a huge effect on local residents in Maida Vale, particularly in Kilburn Park Road and Carlton Vale.
The headlines of the first stage of the plans are:

• to block off the roundabout at the top of Kilburn Park Road: and instead create a four-way junction controlled by traffic lights;
• to build 135 flats on the roundabout site: which will mean the loss of the open space, the grass and the 40 trees;
• to narrow parts of Kilburn Park Road and Carlton Vale: which will bring existing traffic a little bit closer to the houses currently in Kilburn Park Road and may reduce traffic capacity on the part of Carlton Vale which is just outside Westminster.

This is all part of a plan to remove the large high-rise tower blocks, in stages and over a number of years, which are such an eyesore at the moment.

We asked a lot of questions for Brent and went through their plans in as much detail as we could in two hours. We have further questions and need to get more answers from Brent about just how affected local residents, particularly in Kilburn Park Road will be.

The most single disappointing thing was that Brent Council, throughout this process, have not sought to engage with local residents in Maida Vale on plans which could hugely change our area. After quite a lot of questioning, it also seems like there is about 3 - 4 weeks left now for Brent to do some consultation with Maida Vale residents before the planning application has to go in. This is absolutely unacceptable.

The officers from Brent asked our views about how to consult with local residents. Bearing in mind the limited time that is now left, we have asked Brent to get in touch with local residents as soon as they can and also to set up a meeting so that they can present their views to all interested residents. Affected residents should receive further information from Brent shortly.

In the meantime, we will today be distributing a letter to all potentially affected residents alerting them to these plans and asking for their initial feedback on it. If you are a resident in the area, please do let us know what you think. Clearly the aspiration to improve South Kilburn is a laudable one, but is the loss of the roundabout, the green space and the potential effect on traffic a price worth paying for this? We need your views, as residents, as soon as possible.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

Maida Vale Fun Day

On Saturday, we were very pleased to attend the 3rd annual Maida Vale fun day, held on 40 Tree Green, next to Thurso House.

The day, which is organised and run by the Maida Vale Estate Office (with fantastic support from local residents) was another great success, not least for all the local children who came along and were able to enjoy the attractions. The steel band were also top-notch.

Jan, as Deputy Lord Mayor, was on hand to open the event. It was also attended by Joanne, our parliamentary candidate, her husband and dog!

Thanks to everyone who helped to organise and we hoped everyone had as much fun as we did.

Alastair

£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

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

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

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

Putting nameplates down for a refresh

It's the little things which often make the difference.

We noticed that the nameplates on Randolph Gardens have bene looking a bit worn of late so, although not urgent, we've asked the Council to have a look into whether they need replacing. An inspection was undertaken a few weeks ago and officers have agreed that they probably need a change at some point. We've agreed to enter them into a programme of works so we know that, in the next cyclical maintenance programme, they'll receive attention.

Jan

Forty Tree Green: Lighting Problems

A number of local residents on Randolph Gardens have reported issues with the lights on Forty Tree Green in recent months - with the lights remaining on throughout the day, despite having an automatic "off" switch when it is light.

We've been in touch with the Estate Office once again and have been assured that the fault has now been identified (an over-growing tree branch which is obscuring the monitoring photo cell). An order has been raised for the work to be done by CityWest.

Jan

What is this?

Another mysterious set of barriers appears in Maida Vale ...

For the past month or so, these abandoned works have taken root on the corner of Randolph Avenue and Carlton Vale. We've called in the Streetworks team to clear as quickly as possible.

Lee

Grimebusters: 19 February

In the last couple of weeks we have reported:

• Shirland Road: graffiti on the wall in front of Oak Tree House and on the phone and post boxes close to the Elgin Avenue junction
• Lauderdale Road: graffiti on the side of the wall of the old "Star Racing" premises
• Carlton Vale: graffiti on the wall of two houses close to Lanark Road and on the telephone box at the Randolph Avenue junction
• Randolph Gardens: graffiti on the telephone box at the junction with Kilburn Park Road
• Lanark Road: graffiti on the wall in front of the off-road car park opposite Dundee House
• Elgin Avenue: graffiti on the telephone box close to the junction with Biddulph Road

If you spot any graffiti or dumped rubbish please let us know and we will get it sorted.

Lee

Carlton Vale: Crossing Approved!

We've just heard from the Transportation Department that the crossing on Carlton Vale has been approved and will be installed shortly.

This is great news! We have worked with local residents for years to convince the Council that a crossing was needed and we're very glad that one will shortly be provided.

Jan

Grimebusters: 21 January

In the last couple of weeks we have reported:

• Elgin Avenue: graffiti on the parking meters opposite to Wymering Road
• Lauderdale Road: graffiti and flyposting on the parking meters near to the Spanish & Portuguese synagogue
• Lanark Road: an abandoned car in the car park opposite Dundee House and the dumping of a fridge and other items close by
• Randolph Gardens: rubbish dumped closed to Torridon House

If you spot any graffiti or dumping, please do let us know and we will get it sorted.

Grimebusters: Making Maida Vale a cleaner and nicer place!

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

Carlton Vale: Pedestrian Crossing

One of the issues I have been working on almost since I first became a Councillor thirteen years ago has been improving safety around Carlton Vale.

Our part of Carlton Vale can be a particularly busy stretch of road, acting as a short-cut through from Kilburn/Queen's Park/Brent to Edgware Road and then onwards to the Finchley Road and St. John's Wood. The road does not, however, have an adequate crossing at any point between Dibdin House and the junction with Kilburn Park Road - a real problem for the large number of elderly residents and young families living nearby and the school children walking to St. Augustines.

We've been working closely with local residents from Carlton Vale, Thurso House and Torridon House for a number of years to lobby the Council's Transportation Department to install a crossing. And, hopefully, we are finally close to being successful!

The council is currently consulting on plans to provide a zebra crossing over Carlton Vale at the Carlton Vale-Randolph Avenue crossing. If you would like to see the plans or comment, please do get in touch and we can arrange for them to be sent. The consultation period ends on 11 January.

Jan

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

CityWest Proposals

Several months ago we reported how CityWest Homes were preparing to do further works to some villages in Maida Vale (see here). CityWest have now come back with their first proposal.

The aim of the work is to bring all properties up to the CityWest Technical Standard, with properties in Carlton Vale, Elgin Avenue, Randolph Avenue and Randolph Gardens being in the first wave of works.

We've asked for specific information on what is proposed for each individual street and property. We'll let you know when we receive further information.

Lee

(Photo of Torridon House courtesy of CityWest Homes)

Westminster Tenants' Day - Monday 26 March

Next Monday, the Westminster City Partnership/Housing Network will host the Westminster Tenants' Day. This event is open to all Westminster tenants - whether CityWest, Paddington Churches, Pathmeads or any other housing associations - to come along and ask questions and seek advice about housing (or any other subjects!)

Tenants can drop in at anytime between 1pm and 8pm, and will be held at the Porchester Hall, 45 Porchester Road, Bayswater.

For further information please contact the Council on 7641 2789.

Lee

(Photo of the Scottish Towers courtesy of CityWest Homes)

CityWest Councillor Meeting

CityWest Homes held another of their update meetings for Councillors last night, to highlight the progress of the last few months.

We received a presentation from MORI showing tenant and lessee satisfaction rates and discussed resident engagement. The good news is that satisfaction rates have risen over the last three years, which is all credit to CityWest and their engagement team led by Lorna Whitehorn. Tenants generally are more satisfied than lessees, and CityWest recognise that they have a way to go in improving their relationship with leaseholders in the city. CityWest are shortly to revamp their communications with village residents, so hopefully we shall see some further improvements over the next few months.

We also had a detailed discussion regarding the repairs system, which a number of Councillors thought was not working as well as it could. CityWest have streamlined the number of contractors they use and are shortly to implement a new system which increases the onus upon contractors to get repairs right first time. All Councillors present agreed that they would like to revisit this at the next meeting to see if any progress had been made.

Finally, we had a long debate regarding major works. CityWest accept that they also have a way to go in convincing residents that they are completing works in an appropriate manner, and also for the best price possible. CityWest agree that they need to engage with leaseholders more and to engage in more of a dialogue.

Equally as importantly, CityWest announced that they would begin to consult with residents and Councillors regarding the spending programme for the next five years. We are very keen to make sure all affected residents in Maida Vale have the opportunity to further contribute, and we'll let you know once we've received the initial proposals.

Lee

(Photo of Tollgate Gardens courtesy of CityWest Homes)

Graffiti Cleared

In the last couple of weeks, we've noticed that there are a few areas where graffiti has sprung up. We reported all of the problems and the graffiti team have cleared scribbling from:

• a wall opposite the City of Westminster College on Morshead Road, close to the junction with Elgin Avenue
• the telephone box on the junction of Randolph Gardens and Kilburn Park Road
• an electricity box next to the forecourt of Tesco on Lanark Road
• walls at both ends of Elgin Mews North
• the "Ashworth Road" sign on the junction of Ashworth Road and Grantully Road

There are still a few more areas which need attention. We've reported those and we'll let you know when they've been cleared.

If you know of any graffiti in Maida Vale, let us know and we'll get it sorted.

Lee