Thames Water: Feedback on Open Day

Another open day was held for the residents of Tollgate Gardens last month and we've just been sent the feedback on what residents told the team who are working on this project.

Around 25 residents took part in the day, early in July, and provided feedback on what - if anything - they would change about the estate if they had the chance.

Here are a few conclusions from the questionnaire:

• Almost all residents that took part thought that their flats were too small;
• Most residents think that the estate needs modernising;
• Many have problems with security on the estate and do not feel safe, and;
• Residents were understandably concerned about potential changes to the estate and the impact it might have, on a temporary basis, to their lives.

As local Councillors, we have pressed the team at CityWest who are running this project to get involved with local residents as much as they can and to seek as much feedback as possible. Open Days like this are a great way to find out more about what local residents are thinking - so thanks to all who attended. As has been promised before - the proposed development of Tollgate will only happen if residents want it to, so it is important to hear first hand what all residents think now.

If you are a resident of Tollgate, do make sure you get involved at the next opportunity to provide your feedback.

Jan

Tollgate Gardens: Residents Meeting

Just a short note to say that we'll be holding a meeting on Tollgate Gardens on Monday to discuss the current status of the proposed regeneration.

Architects have been working on potential plans for Tollgate since they were selected a number of months ago. At the same time, there has been a number of consultations with local residents about if/what they would like to see change on their estate. Whilst it is fair to say that there has been a healthy debate on the issues, we are really glad to see people getting involved in the process and having their say.

Cllr Philippa Roe, the Councillor in charge of Housing for the City of Westminster will also be in attendance, as will local residents who have been involved in the process so far.

Alastair

Tollgate Update

A short update on the work underway at Tollgate to improve the Estate for all residents:

Since the architect (JM Architects) was appointed several months ago, they have been working with a steering group made up of residents to develop plans for the Estate. Monthly meetings are being held of the steering group to discuss progress and to ensure that residents can see what is happening and how the plans are being developed.

Over the last few weeks, the Council has also undertaken a survey of all residents to obtain their thoughts on the Estate and their housing needs. This information will be fed back into the plans being developed.

The current timeline is that proposals for improving the Estate will come forward in the Autumn, allowing for residents and JM to spend a good amount of time working them up.

Prior to that, in May, residents will have the opportunity to sign up to a 'resident's charter' which provides them with a number of cast iron guarantees during the regeneration process.

We'll let you know more shortly.

Jan

Tollgate Gardens: Meet the Architects

CityWest Homes have been in touch to say that they have organised a meeting for local Tollgate residents with the architects chosen to work with them over the next fews on the potential redevelopment.

JM Architects have been appointed (from a committee made up of residents and CityWest) to identify potential opportunities to improve Tollgate. They will work closely with local residents to draw up potential plans and see what can be done.

If you are a resident of Tollgate and want to find out more, please do go along. The meeting will be held on Saturday 6th February between 1pm and 3pm at Tollgate Hall.

Jan

Thames Water: Progress

We wrote last month on Thames's rocky ride at the latest Area Forum in Maida Vale, where they were repeatedly questioned by residents and local Councillors on a number of aspects of their local policy.

Since then, we are very pleased to be able to report further progress.

I represented all three of us at a meeting in early December held at City Hall where Thames were questioned once again by Councillors and the public regarding their policies. I emphasised the effect that some of their policies were having on the local area - the regular breaking of the mains pipe on Kilburn High Road and the flooding in Shirland Road and Kilburn Park Road. It was a useful meeting and Thames seemed willing to listen.

Since then further meetings have been held between the Council and the local residents group leading on this issue, Maida Flood Action. On the flooding issue, we are very pleased that Thames have now accepted the case that more work needs to be done and are no working through the data collected by the Group to work out next steps. Slowly, but steadily, we are getting there!

Jan

Thames Meeting: This Tuesday

One thing we didn't write about a couple of weeks ago was the inquisition of Thames Water at the Maida Vale Area Forum, particularly over the flooding earlier this year.

Thames spent over an hour being questioned over their current approach to a number of issues in Westminster North. There was some pretty heavy questioning from local residents and the local flood action group about what they intended to do about flooding. We also spent some time taking them to task about the repeated failures of pipes under Kilburn High Road in the last eighteen months (as well as correcting them on their assertion that the Victorian Mains Replacement works had gone smoothly in Maida Vale - something a little bit at odds with reality ...)

It is fair to say that many in the audience were not terribly convinced by Thames comments on the flooding issue. We raised the issue of both Kilburn Park Road and Shirland Road residents who had been affected by this - Thames position seemed to boil down to the fact that they can't breath without the permission of the water regulator, Ofwat, and they will need to talk at length with them before anything can be done. This was likely to include many months of evidence gathering.

After the meeting we requested from Thames more detailed information about what they can and cannot do without Ofwat's permission. It should make an interesting read and we'll let you know as soon as we receive it.

In the meantime, Thames are also appearing in front of Westminster Council's Built Environment scrutiny committee this Tuesday (1st December). The meeting starts at 7pm - so if you want to go along and watch the grilling, please do. It will be held in City Hall, Victoria Street.

Lee

Tollgate Gardens: Reminder

Just a quick message to all residents in Tollgate Gardens - don't forget the meetings held this Tuesday and Wednesday to talk about the ideas that three different architects have had for improving the estate.

The meetings will both be held in the Tollgate Hall - drop in between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday (24th) or 5pm - 7.30pm on Wednesday (24th).

Jan

Kilburn Park Road: Meeting with Brent Councillors

Yesterday morning we held a meeting with two senior Brent Councillors to discuss their plans to massively change Kilburn Park Road and build on the current roundabout.

We met close to the roundabout during rush hour to make sure that the Councillors were aware of the high volume of traffic which use it - and particularly the large number of buses (sometimes up to half a dozen a minute) which pass by. We were promised a report from Brent Council officers several weeks ago which apparently proves that the roundabout is not needed given the volume of traffic which uses it (something which we disagree with) - we are yet to receive that report.

We also took them down Kilburn Park Road to show how all local residents will be impacted by the potential changes. In addition, we highlighted many of the comments and concerns that local residents have raised in the last couple of weeks in their correspondence to us.

In addition, we have also raised our real concerns about the failure to involve Kilburn Park Road residents in these discussions at an earlier stage and the very short timeframe they are now giving local residents to comment - which really isn't acceptable.

We are grateful for the Councillors coming to Maida Vale and listening to our concerns. Although we don't expect to change their minds (and we understand that their overall goal is to remove some tower blocks which everyone accepts are pretty bad), it is important to try. We will ensure the views of local residents are paramount in their thinking going forward.

The next step for local residents is to attend the public open meeting at Essendine School on Friday 13th November between 6pm and 8.30pm. This will be you opportunity to question Brent Council officers and to let them know your thoughts on the plans.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

Tollgate Gardens improvement: Meeting

Local residents in Tollgate Gardens should have recently received a letter from CityWest Homes telling them about the next stage of the proposed redevelopment.

Two more meetings are planned over the next few weeks to show residents what might be possible for the future of Tollgate. Three different architects have been asked to study the space available on the Estate and give their views about what could be improved. If you are a local resident and interested in their ideas go and have a look -

• between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday 24th November, or
• between 5pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday 25th November.

Both of the events will take place in the Hall of Tollgate Tower.

At the moment, these are just ideas - and it is for the residents to now give their input. A few weeks ago we brought the Cabinet Member for Housing to Tollgate to answer questions from local residents - and she confirmed that all local residents could have a say in what happens next. Now is the time to do so!

Jan

Kilburn Park Road: Public Meeting

Thanks to all local residents who have got in touch with us over the last 10 days to give their views and thoughts on Brent Council's plans.

We have had a good number of responses and it is clear that you do not support the removal of the roundabout to build 135 flats. You have raised concerns about traffic, parking, bus vibrations, the loss of green space, the loss of trees, the ability for the road to cope with that number of additional flats, the proposed traffic light junction, overlooking and overshadowing, amongst other things. A number of residents who have lived on the road for many years told us about 40 years ago when the road was last a four-way junction - and how they did not want to go back to that.

We have also arranged a public meeting especially for Maida Vale where local residents will have the opportunity to question Brent Council on their plans. This will be held on Friday 13th November between 6pm and 8.30pm in Essendine School on Essendine Road. It will include a presentation on the plans from Brent, before an open session which will allow any resident to ask about anything.

We understand that Brent are intending to make a planning application to build the flats within weeks. Although everyone will have the chance to comment during that planning process, we really feel this is not good form. It indicates that Brent are not terribly interested in changing their plans following feedback from Kilburn Park Road residents - people who will live just feet away from the new flats if this goes ahead.

Given the short time frame, if you are a local resident and have views, it is important that you attend the meeting on Friday 13th November. We look forward to seeing you there.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

PS Local residents will have received a letter in the last few days which advertises the public meeting on the 13th (an image of the letter is above). A number of residents have asked who this is from - it is a letter from Brent Council, although you can hardly see their logo in the top right of the letter. The letter advertises two meetings. As local Councillors, we recommend that you attend the Friday meeting only. The Tuesday meeting will be information about the plans for the wider South Kilburn regeneration project - which stretches from Maida Vale all the way up to Queen's Park. If you have specific concerns about the roundabout proposal, it is the Friday meeting that you want.

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

Kilburn High Road: open!

Finally, after over a week of repairs, Kilburn High Road re-opened to traffic this afternoon.

Although the water main burst was technically in Camden (and the road diversion was on the other side of the Edgware Road), a number of Maida Vale residents have been in touch to say how inconvenient the road closure has been for them.

I must admit my eyebrows to have been raised last night when I had another look at progress - due to the road being still cordoned off despite all the tarmac having been replaced and the lines having already been re-painted. A quick e-mail was fired off to officers who got in touch with Camden to find out what the problem was (we had heard rumours it would be closed until Friday to allow anti-skid marks to be painted). Thankfully, Camden have been sensible and re-opened it today.

Lee

Water Leak on Kilburn High Road

Local residents near the top of the ward will probably now be aware that a water mains burst yesterday on Kilburn High Road (between Belsize Road and Greville Road), causing the road to be shut and quite a lot of water to leak.

Although the leak occurred just outside of Westminster, there has been some impact on Maida Vale residents - not least with the road closure, but also some likely damage to the public highway and properties on our side of the border. Westminster officers have been working through the situation since yesterday, including putting in place a full diversion for Kilburn High Road traffic. For the moment, we understand that there has been no loss of pressure to properties such as Tollgate - which is good news.

Westminster officers will be inspecting damage today and will seek to sort out any problems as quickly as possible.

This is the second mains burst in this part of the world in the last year, which does seem to suggest that Thames Water needs to look more closely at its pipe network. Westminster will certainly be making the case for this.

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

Tollgate Gardens improvements: Update

In July, we reported on a CityWest having secured some money to suggest improvements to Tollgate Gardens Estate. All Tollgate residents will have received a letter from CityWest giving further information and letting them know about the next steps.

CityWest have now let us know that they will be holding a meeting shortly to discuss the proposal with residents. This will be your chance to ask questions and get involved as the improvement proposals are developed.

The meeting will be held on Thursday 1st October between 6pm and 7.30pm in the Resident's Hall of Tollgate House. If you are a resident of Tollgate Gardens, do come along if you want to find out more.

Jan

PS The CityWest officer who is coordinating the improvements plan, Vince, will also now be based in Tollgate Hall every Thursday afternoon to talk to local residents. Just pop by if you want to talk about anything on this plan going forward.

Tollgate Gardens

Last week residents of Tollgate Gardens would have received a letter from CityWest Homes with details of plans to investigate estate improvements over the next few years.

Here is the text of the letter:

"CityWest Homes is pleased to let you know that Westminster City Council has been successful in obtaining £2 million funding from the London Development Agency to develop outline improvement plans for Tollgate and three other. Estates. The aim of the plans will be to identify proposals on how these areas could be regenerated to improve the housing, community space, and the look and feel of the whole area.

This is an excellent and exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of homes and neighbourhoods on estates such as yours,provide additional homes and improve the living environment for you the residents.

The funding will allow us to work with the City Council to carry out full consultation with residents. By talking to you, we will find out what you would like to see in your area, and how you feel housing and community space could be improved. We will also answer any queries you may have about this project..

We will be setting up local steering groups and consultation forums to discuss plans for renewal on your estate. . Ward councillors will also be invited to join the steering groups. We want you to be involved from the very beginning and to feel that you can have a real influence in the outcome.

Councillor Philippa Roe, Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Housing will be contacting key residents on your estate to seek their views on how best to get the local residents involved. She will let them know about the success in securing this funding and the Council’s initial thoughts on how residents could benefit.

CityWest Homes are holding a Great Communities Day on 1st August 2009 in Lisson Green Estate, Rossmore Rd NW8 and intend to have a stall there where you can come and speak to us on how you would like to be involved.

If you would like any more information please contact Loraine Ophelia on 020 7245 2308 or lophelia@cwh.org.uk."

We're very pleased that the Council has been able to secure this money and is looking at how improve Tollgate for the benefit of residents living there. As local Councillors, we'll be taking a full part in the discussion over the next few months - if you are a Tollgate resident, do get involved too!

We'll keep you informed.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

Quality Hotel Licence Application

Back in April we wrote about a licencing application which had been submitted by the Quality Hotel on Kilburn High Road to allow 24-hour drinking on the premises.

Our last post detailed the date, time and place of the licencing hearing - originally set for 23rd April. For reasons which we can't quite fathom (not least because Brent don't have the most intuitive website in the world), the decision on the original application does not seem to have ever been made. Instead, it seems to have been delayed for several months.

We've now been informed that the objections (one of which was from us) to the licence will be determined next Thursday, 25th June. The venue is the Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley (starting at 10am). Anyone is able to attend.

We'll let you know the outcome.

Jan

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

St. Augustine's Update

Back in February, we reported that St. Augustine's school had also been successfully in winning planning permission to re-develop and expand (see here).

Over the last couple of months, we have also been in discussions with Council officers to ensure that the plans for the school do not significantly affect local residents. And, after lots of discussion, we are pleased that it looks as though Maida Vale residents should not be overly affected by the changes.

As some local residents will already have seen, the hoardings have already begun to be put in place to build the new sports hall for St. Augustine's - on the site of the old, bombed church across Oxford Road (and technically across the border on land owned by Brent Council). The plan is that the sports hall will be built and available for the school to use by the end of the year.

Preparatory works on the main school site will get underway in the Summer, with works properly beginning in late Autumn/Winter. An 'infill' block will be created between the two existing buildings, along with full refurbishment of the existing accommodation. This is likely to last until the end of 2011, done in stages and whilst pupils remain on site.

We are pleased to report that the building contractors are planning for lorries to service both sites from Rudolph Road and not Oxford Road in the main, which should reduce the works impact on local residents. This will only change in 2011 when small lorries will be used as part of the refurbishment works and will use a small ramp to be built on Oxford Road (we have been assured the ramp will be too small for large lorries to use and that they will still access via Rudolph Road).

All site and compound areas will be situated near Rudolph Road, away from most local residents in Oxford Road and Tollgate Gardens.

The only time that works are expected to come anywhere near Tollgate is for a few weeks in 2011 when the playground and sports court at the back of St. Augustine's will be resurfaced. Otherwise, the main body of works will remain at the other side of the site, reducing its impact on local residents.

If you are a local resident and have any questions, comments or issues regarding the building works, don't hesitate to get in touch. We are here to help!

Jan

Quality Hotel: Date for Licensing Hearing

Brent Council have now set a date for the licencing committee where the Quality Hotel application will be heard.

The meeting will be held next Thursday (23rd April) in Committee Room 3, 2nd Floor, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, beginning 10am. Quality Hotel is item 1 on the agenda.

Any member of the public is entitled to attend.

Jan