Thames in Ashworth

The Thames skips and fences have appeared in Ashworth Road in the last few days. According to the schedule they are a week early (which, of course, means we'll be watching to make sure they are out a week earlier too!)

The schedule says Thames are due to be in Ashworth for 4 weeks; the parking suspension signs say only 3 (until 24th July).

If you are a resident of Ashworth Road, don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any comments on these works.

Lee

PS Thames also look to be going back into Grantully for a week on 12th July.

(Official) graffiti to be removed

More Thames Water. Oh gosh, I hear you say.

One of the more irritating aspects of Thames's work in Maida Vale has been their tendency to leave little pieces of artwork - usually drawn in bright blue pen - in each street after they leave.

As local councillors, we think that (in the most part) Thames have usually caused more than enough bother to leave a lasting impression, without needing to permanently autograph the road at the same time. And we've spent several months - sending e-mails and getting council officers to put pressure on Thames - asking them to come back and clean-up properly after themselves.

Finally today we received notice from Thames that they will come back and clean up after themselves in the worst affected street - Castellain Road. Thames kindly scrawled in massive letters there after a water leak several months ago.

It's not the biggest thing in the world - but it does matter. And we're glad that we've been able to get Thames to see sense on this one.

Lee

Thames Water Apology: Coming to a letterbox near you (Finally)

After a few more prods from us, Thames Water have finally pulled their finger out and begun to distribute an apology for the unacceptable problems they have caused recently.

Here is the text of the letter, 3,500 of which are currently being distributed:

"Dear Customer,

Thames Water would like to thank you for your patience and understanding during our essential works to replace Victorian water mains in Maida Vale. We understand your concerns and would like to apologise for the inevitable inconvenience and disruption this type of works causes.

To address specific concerns raised by residents, we have been consulting Westminster City Council, Transport for London and, more recently, the Maida Vale ward councillors. As a result, Thames Water will continue to support a full time member of staff on Westminster City Council’s parking team, dealing with parking suspensions.

In addition, our future correspondence will include information of concern to residents, such as changes to the working schedule, work interruptions or suspension of parking bays.

If you would like to contact us to discuss any aspects of our VMR programme, please call our project office Customer Service Team on 0845 603 4002 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday (or email to twlot6customercare@laingorourke.com).

Your ward councillors have provided their details so that, if you wish, you may contact them. We are in regular contact with them. They are:
Alastair Moss (amoss@westminster.gov.uk), Jan Prendergast (jprendergast@westminster.gov.uk) and Lee Rowley (lrowley@westminster.gov.uk).

Yours sincerely,

Paul Hammond"

Please let us know if you are still having problems with Thames. Unexpectedly their works in Delaware Road seem to have passed off without incident - yes, we were surprised too!

Lee

Thames Apology Letter

Thames Water have e-mailed through to say that they will be distributing their apology letter for their recent behaviour this week.

We've spent the last couple of months working with Thames to improve the way they work in Maida Vale, and we are pleased to report that some improvement has been made. One of the things we insisted, however, in our meetings with Thames was that they apologised to residents in roads such as Shirland Road and Wymering for the massive inconvenience and difficulty that they caused.

Lee

Thames Works Update

Thames continue to progress down Delaware Road, and are now beginning to free up more spaces at the top of the road (close to Elgin Avenue). Currently most of the spaces from the BBC down to Sutherland Avenue are suspended. The signs state that this stage of the work should be completed by 31 May. We'll see.

Thames are also entering Castellain Road today (temporarily for the moment) as part of their works on Sutherland Avenue.

Lee

The incredible disappearing hole

Another Thames triumph:

We don't know why this hole appeared, nor why it remained for over a month, nor why it suddenly disappeared a week ago ... but I suppose we should be grateful that it's gone. It would be nice though, if Thames had told us what the problem was (and why it was left untouched for weeks on end). It was only after we got in touch with Thames several weeks ago and told them to fill it in that they acted (and they weren't terribly quick to do that).

Apparently Thames are coming back to us with an answer. We'll believe that when we see it ...

Lee

Delaware Road: Thames update

The waterworks in Delaware Road seem to be progressing at a steady pace and, to date, we have not had the same general level of ineptitude from Thames experienced on the other side of Elgin Avenue over the last few months.

Thames seem to be making progress down the road, and signs are now up ready to suspend the remainder of the parking moving towards Sunderland Avenue. The good news, though, is that some of the parking spaces near the Elgin Avenue junction have started to come back on line.

Please do let us know if you are having problems in Delaware with Thames and we will be very happy to take them up.

Lee

Water Supply in Elgin Avenue / Shirland Road

Thames have now provided more information regarding the supply problems in some roads in Maida Vale yesterday:

"Following routine maintenance and cleaning of a water main in SutherlandAvenue, W9, last night, higher than normal levels of chlorine were detected in the local supply. The cause was established as two unsealed valves within the pipe system. Once identified, the valves were sealed and the pipes were flushed to remove any residual traces."

Although we have been advised by public health bodies that the levels during this event posed no significant risk to public health, we recognise that they were beyond acceptable limits for our customers. Customers who reported a strong taste or smell of chlorine were advised as a precautionary measure not to use the water for drinking, cooking or washingand alternative supplies were delivered to the affected areas.

Sampling and flushing of the network continued until 4am, when customers were notified that the water was safe to drink and use. Thames Water notified all relevant authorities, including the Health Protection Agency, Westminster City Council and the Drinking Water Inspectorate."

If any resident still has a problem with their water supply, please call Thames Water on 0845 9200 800.

And please do let us know if we can be of help in any way on this matter.

Jan

(All roads that may have been affected by this problem: Elgin Ave, Lanhill Rd, Walterton Rd, Chippenham Rd, Oakington Rd, Shirland Rd, Surrendale Pl, Sutherland Av, Chippenham Rd, Marylands Rd, Saltram Cres, Second Ave, Great Western Rd, Warlock Rd, Fermoy Rd, Portnall Rd, Grand Union Cl, Fernhead Rd, Bravington Rd, Edbrooke Rd, Sevington St, Harrow Rd, Walterton Rd, Goldney Rd, Fordingley Rd, Woodfield Rd, Hormea Rd, Grittleton Rd, Denholme Rd).

Meeting Thames Water (part two in a series)

Last Thursday, for the second time, we summoned Thames Water to City Hall for another meeting on the replacement programme which is underway in Maida Vale.

We had a productive meeting and we're glad that there has been some progress by both Thames and Westminster Parking Services towards resolving some of the problems we have highlighted. In particular, Thames have begun to tighten up on their operations and Parking Services have temporarily relaxed their enforcement rules in affected roads (which has been a huge help).

We re-iterated, however, that there were still significant areas where improvement was needed:

• that Thames must not operate in areas where they do not have the correct permission (they're getting better, but still seem to be trying their luck in places)
  that there was too much variation in the quality and effect of the works between roads in Maida Vale (no more Essendine, Wymering or Morshead Roads please)
• that works were still taking too long (and residents were being inconvenienced as a result)

We have asked Thames/Parking Services/Council Officers to take action on a number of other issues:

• that Thames provide a short report of their activities-to-date in every road in Maida Vale where they have operated, with information on the reasons for late starting/delays/late ending etc.
• that a revised schedule of future operations is provided
• that Parking Services provide information on the effects of the changes to the parking enforcement rules
• that a discussion takes place on how suspension signs can be removed quickly once work is finished (we pointed out the obvious answer to this one)
• that more consultation is undertaken before future locations are chosen for the storage containers (such as the large white ones on Wymering and Widley)
• that an explanation is provided for the burst water main on Sunday 8th April on the Elgin Avenue-Randolph Avenue junction

Overall, as Councillors, we believe that Thames are slowly getting better - and they have displayed a commendable willingness to listen in recent weeks. The next test is how they work on new roads like Delaware, Castellain and Lauderdale (and whether they finish speedily in the roads they are already on). As we've already noted, Thames moved into Delaware on Monday and we're watching closely. We'll have no hesitation in hauling them straight back into City Hall if standards do not carry on improving.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

PS Please let us know how you feel the Thames water works are going. We'd be delighted to help in any way we can.

Delaware: Hurdle One Jumped

So far, so good in Delaware Road from Thames Water.

On the first day of the parking suspension, work actually seems to have begun. Areas are cordoned off, skips have been set down and excavation work has commenced.

The next challenge is to minimise the inconvenience to local residents and to work in the correct areas (where parking suspensions have been applied for). We are watching ...

Lee

Thames into Delaware

Residents of Delaware Road will be thrilled to know that they will be the next recipients of Thames Water's maintenance works. The suspension signs begin today.

Note to Thames: we're watching and we expect lessons to have been learnt from elsewhere in the ward ...

Lee

PS Please let us know if you are having any problems with Thames Water and we'd be delighted to help.

Meeting with Thames Water Chief Executive

Last week, the leader of the Council, Sir Simon Milton, and the Cabinet Member for Street Environment, Alan Bradley, held a meeting with Thames Water's new chief executive, David Owens.

At the request of all three of us, Simon and Alan raised the problems currently being experienced in Maida Vale and highlighted how Thames's working practices needed to be improved. Mr. Owens agreed to take those issues back to Thames and to work towards finding a resolution.

Our next Thames Water meeting is tomorrow (Thursday). Please do let us know if you have any further comments you'd like us to raise.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

Yellow Pavements

One of the associated problems with the Thames Water works is the mess they are making of the pavements. Most pavements on affected roads have been dug up at intervals to allow access to the pipes supplying individual blocks. As a result, numerous roads have taken on a patchwork look, with yellow boards covering open works at regular intervals.

The length of time that it is taking for Thames to complete works is meaning that these covers - temporary at best - are beginning to move and some are a potential hazard. We've reported this to the Council and have forced several of the boards to be removed and the holes to be filled on Morshead Road. We'll continue to press Thames to tidy up quicker on the roads that they are working on.

Please do let us know if you see any yellow boards which need attention.

Jan

More Thames Bad Behaviour

Thames Water continue to irritate and frustrate. Despite having pointed out a dozen or so examples of transgressions a month ago, a further survey of Morshead and Essendine Roads in the last week has identified a further five issues:

• works underway on Essendine Road without a parking suspension notice in place
• four separate instances of transgressions/no application for parking suspensions in Morshead Road

This really isn't good enough. We discussed this in our last meeting and would be told that they would improve. This clearly hasn't happened on two of the roads where residents have suffered the most.

Our next meeting with Thames is a week today (Thursday 12 April) and we intend to keep up the pressure until Thames learn that they cannot inconvenience Maida Vale residents in this way.

If you have any comments or issues you'd like us to raise, please do let us know (maidavale@maidavaleconservatives.com).

Alastair, Jan and Lee

PS Thanks to our colleague Cllr Evans for his assistance on the Thames problem recently.

The Thames Problem: New Meeting Date

We've set up another meeting with Thames Water, Laing O'Rourke and Westminster Parking Services on Thursday 12 April to again discuss the replacement programme in Maida Vale.

We have seen three real results to date from our meeting. Two of these have been from Westminster Parking Services. In the last month or so there have been warm words from Thames, but not enough action. There remains major issues on most roads which they have worked on and, as a result, we still consider their approach unacceptable and unsustainable. We'll be telling them just that.

Please do get in touch if you have any comments you'd like us to consider and pass on. Please also do get in touch if we can assist if you have been inconvenienced or received a parking ticket you feel is unfair.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

The Thames Problem: Result #3

On Monday, at the request of all three of us, Westminster Council's Parking Board met to discuss the current parking issues in Maida Vale.

We're very grateful to the Cabinet Member for Parking for recognising that the current enforcement situation is not sustainable and needs changing. Following our lobbying, he has agreed to change two key elements of Westminster's parking policy, on a temporary basis, whilst the Thames works are underway.

From now on, unless there are compelling reasons/the suspension sign specifically says so, suspension signs will only be enforced during controlled hours. Combined with Westminster Parking's commitment to altering its suspension signs to clarify whether weekends are included or excluded, we hope this will help local residents to park more easily. Additionally, Parking Services will now only move vehicles in suspended bays if there is a direct request by Thames or its contractors.

We feel that these changes - which will be reviewed next month - are a start to reducing the problem in Maida Vale. However, no changes are perfect and we know that some residents may still have issues with parking going forward. As a result, we still think it very wise to exercise caution when parking and, if possible (much easier said that done, of course), avoid suspended areas when parking. And we would, of course, be delighted to hear from any resident given a parking ticket which they feel is unfair.

Alastair, Jan and Lee

The Thames Problem: Result #2

Several weeks ago we summoned Thames Water, Laing O'Rourke and Westminster Parking Services to a meeting in City Hall to discuss the unacceptable situation in Maida Vale. We were (and still are) deeply concerned that Thames are inconveniencing residents unnecessarily.

One of the most important things we wanted from the meeting was to get people talking. As a result, following two immediate follow-up meetings, Thames and Parking Services have now confirmed that they will be holding fortnightly meetings to review issues in Maida Vale.

Lee

Full Council Meeting

Last night was another meeting of the full Westminster Council.

During question time, Alastair pressed the Cabinet Member for Street Environment once again on the Thames Water problems in Maida Vale. Cllr Bradley highlighted how had discussed the matter a number of times with Thames management in recent weeks and would continue to do so (including during his upcoming meeting with the new Chief Executive of Thames Water).

Later in the evening, I made a speech on how we intend to re-examine Westminster's recycling strategy in the coming months. I asked all Councillors to get in touch with any residents who would like to get involved and to let us know. Please do get in touch if you have any comments on our current recycling policies (lee@maidavaleconservatives.com) - we want to throw this wide open, so that when we do put the strategy together it draws upon as many ideas as possible.

Lee

The Thames problem: Result #1

Several weeks ago we summoned Thames Water, Laing O'Rourke and Westminster Parking Services to a meeting at City Hall to discuss the unacceptable state of the the pipe improvement works currently underway in Maida Vale (see here for earlier stories). The results of that meeting are now starting to come through.

One of the most irritating aspects of parking suspensions is the lack of clarity regarding when residents can and cannot park, particularly at the weekends. As a result, all parking suspension notices printed since the beginning of this month should now clearly indicate whether or not they relate to weekends.

As importantly - although don't hold us to this - any suspension which is in force at the weekend should mean that work actually does take place. We have worked closely with Thames in recent weeks to ensure they are only taking parking spaces offline when absolutely necessary and we have received assurances that they will only request 24-hour 7-day suspensions when they do intend to work. Please let us know if Thames aren't holding to their side of the agreement on this.

It's not enough, but it is a start. Let's hope there is more good news to come.

Lee

Another Wednesday Water Column

Last week we called in Thames Water and their contractors (along with the Council's own parking team) to City Hall for a summit to discuss the recent problems in Maida Vale.

We outlined in the strongest terms that the current situation in Maida Vale was unacceptable and that immediate attention was needed. In particular:

• that the recent works in Maida Vale have unnecessarily inconvenienced residents to a significant - and unacceptable - degree
• that the patience and flexibility of local residents have been exhausted by continuing incompetence and ineffective communications
• that we found the attitude towards ignoring parking suspensions and not finishing works on time utterly incredible
• that Thames had to get its act together before it moved onto other roads in the ward

We spent almost two hours going through the problems - mostly on a specific, case-by-case basis - regarding Thames's work and the parking suspensions which have accompanied them. After the meeting, we supplied Thames with a 2,500 word dossier detailing all of the instances which we (or local residents) have identified in recent weeks where problems have occurred. These include:

• the continuous extension of parking suspension (Essendine Road)
• contractors returning to roads which they have previously completed (Morshead Road/Essendine Road/Elgin Mews South)
• contractors ignoring the conditions of parking suspensions (Lanark Road, Randolph Avenue)
• works not displaying a parking suspension (or where the parking suspension notice was obscured by Thames works) (Randolph Avenue, Shirland Road, Grantully Road)
• general overruning of works in Maida Vale (all roads Thames have been on so far)
• the unacceptable state of works on pavements (Grantully Road, Randolph Avenue, Morshead Road)
• weekend working and the approach to residents parking on suspended roads at weekends (Grantully Road)
• inadequate communications to residents (every road Thames have been on so far)
• taking up more road space than appears to be necessary (Lanark Road, Morshead Road)

We have provided Thames with a list of over a dozen actions which they (or Westminster’s Parking team) have agreed to look at. We’ll let you know the results of those as they come through.

Thanks to all residents who provided their comments before the meeting, and which were passed on to Thames.

Alastair, Jan and Lee