Karen Buck February E-Newsletter

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Record numbers oppose the transparency of Lobbying Bill... Closure of the Jubilee sports centre, and re-development of the Moberly and Jubilee sites North Westminster Foodbank launches Give us time to cross the road! Westminster alone spends 111 million on emergency housing as Londons housing crisis deepens Home care may be the answer to rising Accident and Emergency demand - but it faces cuts too Local round up and, something just for fun...

Record numbers oppose the Transparency of Lobbying Bill...

I received a record 821 letters and e-mails from Westminster constituents on the Lobbying Bill , which shows how much this issue touched a nerve. Although originally portrayed as a series of measures to improve the transparency of the lobbying industry, it ended up leaving commercial lobbying almost untouched, while limiting the capacity of voluntary organisations and charities to campaign on issues that concern them. This remains a very bad bill - rushed, badly drafted and probably unworkable. It wont improve the transparency of the lobbying industry nor prevent a repetition of recent lobbying scandals yet it will gag charities. It. The breadth of opposition to what is being proposed has been almost unprecedented, encompassing everyone from the Taxpayers' Alliance and Oxfam to the Women's Institute and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, all concerned by the new requirements being heaped upon them in the run-up to elections. Many voluntary organisations and charities fear that the new legislation will elections will stifle their ability to raise the issues that they exist to promote - from the environment and wildlife conservation to health and housing. That is why I voted against this Bill in the Commons, and why I am so disappointed that despite the strong feelings in the Lords and the country the Government has chosen to proceed with it. I supported amendments to the Bill during its passage through the House of Commons that would have introduced a universal register of all professional lobbyists with a code of conduct backed by sanctions and which would have prevented the Government's proposed changes to third-party campaigning rules and spending limits. Thank you to everyone who contacted me on this issue- it really is appreciated. Of course there will be times when I cant agree with the campaign issues raised with me, but I still welcome the dialogue and am delighted to know that so many people hold passionate opinions about our democracy and society.

Closure of the Jubilee sports centre, and re-development of the Moberly and Jubilee sites

5000 people signed the petition protesting against Westminster Councils proposal to close the Jubilee Sports Centre in Queens Park, and replace it with a new facility on the Moberly site, just over the border in Brent. No-one doubts that the new sports centre will be a high quality facility, but concerns remain about: The location of the Moberly, which is less convenient for almost all Westminster residents The impact on central Queens Park of the removal of the Jubilee Centre The loss of open-air sports areas, like the football pitch and basketball court

The lack of any new affordable housing on either the Moberly or Jubilee developments, despite the soaring value of new residential properties in Central London. I have put in my concerns to the Planning Committees of both Brent and Westminster Council to make these points, and which you can read by clicking on the links.

North Westminster Foodbank launched

The Trussell Trust-Foodbank Projects North Paddington Foodbank, launched formally just before Christmas, will be opening on Wednesday 12th February 2014 at WECH Community Centre, Athens Gardens, London W9 3RS. There will be weekly sessions on Wednesdays from 9.30-12.30. The scheme will operate on a referral system - please contact me for more information. www. labourwestminster.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/north-paddington-food-bank-to-start-and-asks-for-donations/ Sadly, the demand for assistance is rising, with specialist foodbank charity the Trussell Trust finding that problems with social security benefit payments (delays and sanctions) being the main reasons for this. There is an urgent need to improve the delivery of the system so people are not left nearly destitute- but in the meantime, it is right that we should give a helping hand to those in food and fuel poverty, so if there is anything you can do to assist, please either let me know, or contact gina@wech.org.uk 0207266 3347 at WECH.

Give us time to cross

Lots of people have written to me in support of the campaign to give pedestrians more time to cross the road. I joined the national charity Living Streets to highlight this issue and support the campaign, which has highlighted that c urrent Department for Transport guidance assumes that people walk at 1.2m/s. As they say This figure has not been updated since the 1950s when traffic and levels of car ownership were much lower than they are toda y. Research published by University College London in 2012 showed that on today's busy roads, three quarters of older people struggle to cross the road in time. Parents pushing prams and those with young children, older and disabled people are all disadvantaged by signalised crossings because of the disproportionate priority given to motorised vehicles. Reducing the assumed walking speed to 0.8m/s would give vulnerable people three seconds more to cross the road safely. The ability to cross the road safely is something we should all be able to take for granted. It is essential for everyday journeys on foot to access shops and services, meet friends, and to stay healthy and independent. Despite most journeys involving walking and over 77% of all trips under a mile being made mainly on foot, there is a major lack of priority given to walking by the Department for Transport, and inadequate crossing times are a symptom of this.

Londons housing crisis deepens

As long as I am in public life, I suspect housing, will continue to dominate my mailbag. Every week brings new stories of hardship, homelessness, insecurity, high housing costs, over-crowding, and young people desperate for a chance to start their lives with somewhere to live. Yet we continue to build luxury homes, many of which are being sold overseas as investments, whilst not building truly affordable homes, either in Westminster or elsewhere in London. Here is the piece I wrote for the Wood and Vale this week.

In Parliament

Home care may be the answer to rising Accident and Emergency demand - but it faces cuts too. I led a debate on the NHS in London in January and used this to talk about how rising demand on our Accident and Emergency units is directly linked to pressures on local authority home care for elderly and disabled people. Only by having reliable, quality home-based care can we prevent people going into hospital unnecessarily, and get them out of hospital as soon as possible when they have been in. Bringing our health and social care services together makes good clinical sense as well as being value for money. Yet Westminster Council will shortly start another round of cuts of up to 100 million, with more cuts in social care to come. You can watch and read what I said in Parliament here.

Local round up
You can read the articles I have written for the South East Bayswater Residents Association (SEBRA) newsletter here. And my piece for the St Johns Wood newsletter here. I am absolutely delighted that the campaign that sprang up in defence of two well-loved local pubs- the Star and the Clifton (both in St Johns Wood) seems to have been successful. I wrote in support of pubs as one of the centres of community life in a fast changing city. You can read my piece here. Harrow Road We were all very disappointed when the Kerb food market organisers decided they couldnt continue on Maida Hill place on Satu rdays- we really enjoyed the liveliness they brought to the area. But your local councillors continue to work with the remaining traders to keep the market going and the area safe and busy. And, in addition, you can also try out the Sunday market at Lauderdale Road W9, between 11- 4. Hallfield Estate, Bayswater Residents on the Hallfield Estate have every reason for feeling massively let down, as six years after discussions started on major works, including much needed window replacements, the contract with builders Mullalys was cancelled. Residents in some blocks had to endure s caffolding and covers being in place for a year, leaving them literally (and metaphorically) in the dark. I am now encouraging them to come forward to CityWest Homes to seek compensation for the costs and nuisance they had to endure. Future of the Warwick Thankfully, the proposed vote on the regeneration of parts of the Warwick estate and Harrow Road has now been delayed, as clearly the Council was not yet prepared and could not answer important questions about the new development, and what it would mean for the people who live there. It is for residents to decide how to go forward, which they will do later this year, but everyone must have a very clear understanding of what is to be built, and how many affordable homes will be on offer for local people. Wharncliffe Gardens I was pleased to be able to meet the Residents Association and hear their concerns about proposed major works- especially since the last round, some 8 years ago, was dogged with problems for leaseholders and tenants alike. Maida Vale I am continuing to press Grainger, the owners of former Church Commission block Dibdin House, to tackle issues of damp affecting some of their properties, to look at a transfer scheme to help residents move, and to open us the now-closed community space. Just because the estate is now privately owned doesnt mean it cant be managed for all the residents living there. Elmfield Way/Carlton Gate Westminster Council has consulted on a new development replacing existing provision for people with disabilities, and including some NHS land which was temporarily set aside for a play area. I am very anxious to Keep that going, because local residents have reported a real improvement in safety and a reduction in anti-social behaviour since it was built in 2009. My staff and I are also continuing to press to get t he road adopted. And just for fun (because we all enjoy learning something new about where we live, and because I love maps): Here is a link to a project that has overlaid modern maps with Victorian ones, so you can see just how much has changed. www.mappinglondon.co.uk/2013/victorian-london-in-incredible-detail/ And to: A Tube-style map of some of London's canals and lesser rivers: www.soundsurvey.org.uk/index.php/survey/waterways/ Thanks for reading.

Karen Buck MP Website: www.karenbuck.org.uk Twitter: KarenPBuckMP Facebook: KarenBuckMP Promoted by Robert Atkinson on behalf of Karen Buck MP at 4G Shirland Mews, Maida Hill, London, W9 3DY. The information used to supply