July 2015 E-Newsletter

Contents
Time for an end to letting out unfit homes: My Private Members Bill
From climate change to the hunting ban: (Some of) the issues you have been writing to me about this month
Making a bad situation worse - Government plans will force Westminster to flog off hundreds of much-needed
homes
Parents angered by Church Street Nursery closure
More local residents demand safer-streets
Interested in info about your area? heres the latest health profiles for Westminster
Faster Broadband - lets keep the pressure up
Local round up:
Permission for a betting shop refused at the Prince of Wales!
Carlton Tavern to be rebuilt
Elmfield Way
Dibdin House
Grand Union Canal
Jubilee/Moberley sport centre still up in the air
Big changes taking place in Queensway
Crime and Anti-Social behaviour in Queens Park
Business call for return of CCTV cameras in Church Street
Leaseholder issues
The former Star pub, St Johns Wood
Crackdown against begging and ASB in Lancaster Gate and Bayswater
Just for fun:
London Print Studios host photo exhibition
A House in Bayswater- iplayer run this early Ken Russell film, and heres the link

Time for an end to the letting of unfit homes: My Private Members Bill

I was lucky enough to be drawn 9th in the ballot for a Private Members Bill this month. Such Bills are the only
opportunity most MPs have to change the law - although there are also a number of restrictions on what can be
done via this route.
My Bill will update the law to protect tenants in unfit rented accommodation, such as the near 1 million people in
private rented homes that are affected by damp. Heres an article explaining what my Bill would do.

From climate change to the ban on hunting with dogs: what you have been
writing to me about this month
Heres (links below) what I am saying in response to some of the wider policy issues about which Ive had a
number (and sometimes hundreds!) of e-mails. Theres plenty of others
Tax Credits
Hunting with dogs
Climate Change
Bees

Making a bad situation worse - Government plans will force Westminster

to flog off hundreds of much needed homes
The shortage of genuinely affordable housing in London is causing problems for businesses and employers
generally, as well as contributing to homelessness and huge financial pressures for buyers and renters alike.
The new Governments plans involve paying for the extension of Right to Buy to Housing Associations by forcing councils to sell their more valuable homes when they become vacant.
This will mean Westminster Council having to sell hundreds of flats each year on the open market rather than
let them to people waiting for a transfer or who are stuck in expensive Temporary Accommodation.
Its expected that the effect will be to shift money away from London housing to pay for replacing sold Housing
Association properties in other parts of the country.
We already know that the Government have not been replacing properties sold under Right to Buy.
I am keen to promote affordable home ownership (as well as giving renters a better deal) but I am strongly
against slashing the supply of homes for social rent and taking money away from high pressure areas like Westminster to pay for Right to Buy on other areas.
Heres the speech I made in Parliament.

Parents angry at nursery closure in Church Street

The Church Street Nursery, which has been offering childcare to working parents for many years, will soon
close down after the Shepherds Bush Housing Association has given notice that it will cease to subsidise the
Church Street Nursery from 17 July 2015. The Nursery has a mix of 42 full- and part-time children registered. It
occupies the ground floor of a council-owned shop at 10 Church Street.
The drop-in lunch club for elderly residents occupies the Ground Floor of the shop and has also been given notice by SBHA that it will cease to subsidise them.
The closure of both the nursery and drop-in centre will have a serious impact on the provision of services for
families, children and the elderly in the Church Street area, and on the Councils Future plans for the area.
Church Street Labour Councillor Barbara Grahame said:
Church Street Nursery has an Outstanding OFSTED rating and it would be very disappointing if parents were
obliged to accept less satisfactory placements elsewhere. The Council should try harder to enable it to continue.
The Council have suggested that its 42 parents could be helped to find alternative places at other nurseries or
childminders. However it is very unlikely that it would be possible to find good quality flexible placements for this
number of children nearby.
It has always seemed unfair that Church Street Nursery, a charity, should ever have been expected to pay a
high rent to the Council for a converted shop basement.

More local residents demand Safer Streets

Lots of issues around concerning road safety this month - from cyclists to parents concerned about safe routes
to school to residents campaigning for traffic calming in their streets. I am disappointed by Westminster Councils refusal to consider 20mph zones, despite these becoming increasingly common in other parts of London.
Yet there are many other
Saltram Crescent
Despite the huge efforts of local residents, a solution to the problems of speeding cars in Saltram Crescent has
still not been found. It is obviously crucial that problems in one road are not simply shifted to another. However,
residents have been complaining for years and this cannot be allowed to drag on for much longer.
Sutherland/Elgin/Goldney/Edbrooke
Complaints are also coming in about other local streets. One parent wrote:
Elgin and Sutherland are so unbelievably dangerous. Why are there no pedestrian lights? Sutherland is particularly frightening. There was some road works done on Sutherland recently that made the whole area so much
more dangerous (as they decided to take out all the lights at the same time) I foolishly thought that this was so
they could put pedestrian lights in, but they haven't. Any views on how we can make these roads safer for our
school children? .
Another adds:
The purpose of this email is to plead with you to persuade the Council to implement road safety and road calming measures around Edbrooke Gardens, before a child is hurt or killedWestminster has to revisit the issue of
road safety in the light of the changing demographic. It is , as its always been, a very densely populated area.
Why are there speed bumps in Delaware Road, which is dominated by media studios and not on a road that
features a public space used by children ?.
And a third:
"As you know, Goldney Road has access to St Peters School on its south side and Edbrooke Road Park to its
North; children (and indeed parents) cross the road regularly, and I am terrified for the safety of my young
daughter (and other children)Surely with the school and park, Goldney Road must merit some kind of traffic
calming - either speed bumps or introduction of partial 'one way' system as exists on Oakington Road (by Paddington Academy)?"
If you would like to support calls for setts to reduce speeds and calm traffic, petitions will soon be up on the
Councils e-petition website.
And it is not only pedestrians cyclists need safer streets too.
Cycling is on the up in London, and very welcome that is, but with 23,000 accidents involving cyclists and more
than 80 deaths over five years, we need to do much more to keep cyclists safe.
Do you cycle in the city? Westminstercyclists.org.uk @westminster_LCC
paigning for safer streets for cyclists.

are looking for support in their cam-

Westminster Cycling @Westminster_LCC

We're creating a team to lobby Westminster Council to accept and allow safe cycling. If yr interested in helping
DM this account. Please RT.
Thanks are due to the South East Bayswater residents association and others who are working closely with
TFL on the design of the Cycle superhighway- soon to start construction and passing through Lancaster Gate
at the (current) western end. This should make an important contribution to safe cycling in London - along with
the proposed quiet ways but neither initiative takes away from the need to enhance safety in roads and junctions across the capital.
St Johns Wood
Ive also been contracted about the same problem in Marlborough Place. One local resident wrote:
I am writing to you now concerning the dangerous traffic situation in the road. Marlborough Place is a very busy
cut through between Hamilton Terrace, Abbey Road and Wellington Road. Unlike other similar cut through in
the area, it has no traffic calming features. Consequently it has become a very popular "rat run".
Despite it being a residential road, vehicles regularly drive through at very high speeds both in and out of the
rush hour. It is dangerous for pedestrians crossing the road and for drivers trying to drive in or out of their driveways. Most driveways are relatively narrow and Residents Parking spaces and single yellow lines can come
right up to the edge of the driveway entrances making visibility regarding passing traffic and pedestrians very
limited. The speed of passing vehicles makes coming, going and crossing very dangerous
I have also taken this up with the Westminster transport team

Choked. Poor air quality is damaging our health

We cant consider public health in central London without taking tougher action to improve air quality. Heres my
column on the issue.

Broadband speeds - We need to keep the pressure up

There is huge frustration locally over poor internet speeds, yet BT say they need to know there is demand!
Many residents have already backed the campaign for better broadband in Westminster. For those who havent.
Please do register your interest:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/broadband
Meanwhile, my councillor colleagues are calling on Westminster Council and CityWest Homes to sort out major
delays in the Community Fibre project that is supposed to help give residents access to superfast broadband
and help those without internet access get online.
In a 2013 press release then Cabinet Member for Housing Jonathan Glanz claimed that Westminster and CityWest Homes were looking at rolling out the service to the Councils full stock of 22,000 homes early next
year (2014). It would have given all residents access to a basic tv package, limited access to official websites
and offered 'paid for' packages of a wide range of UK and international satellite channels that could help to curb
the proliferation of satellite dishes across CityWest properties. However as of June 2015 only four blocks in the
Grosvenor area are receiving the service.
After residents' complaints and cross party pressure Westminster has made much of its efforts to encourage
people to register an interest in high-speed broadband with BT Openreach but it has kept quiet on the delays to
its own efforts to tackle the digital divide.
At the schemes launch Westminster stated that over a quarter of CityWest tenants did not have internet access
at home, while in 2015 Westminsters Citizens Advice Bureau stated that over 60% of its cases came from people without internet access. It is time to get this sorted.

Interested in info about your area?- heres the latest health profiles for
Westminster
Heres the Child Health profile.
And heres the General Health profile.

Local round up
Prince of Wales/Maida Hill market
Good news - the Councils licensing committee rejected the application from Betfred for another betting shop
application in the former Prince of Wales pub - this is a great tribute to a genuine community campaign. Many
local people were concerned about the impact of a betting shop on this significant local site - and it would have
been the 8th in a small area. Along with many others, I have put in a letter of objection. It is , of course, likely
that Betfred will appeal so we must be ready to continue our campaign through the planning appeal process.
Carlton pub
It is also good that Westminster Council is taking a tough line on the developers who tore down the Carlton pub
in. I am backing calls for a hearing in public, not behind closed doors.
Elmfield Way

Road safety and parking complaints continue to flood in from residents living on and around Elmfield Way. The
good news is that the Council have agreed to adopt this private road and will start providing normal street services as soon as a land transfer is completed. The bad news is that this means the current private contractors
have already checked-out of their responsibilities on the road and in the short-term the situation appears to be
getting worse. I am raising complaints with the current private owner and pushing the Council to get the takeover moving as quickly as possible.
Dibdin House

Residents of Dibdin House, Maida Vale, celebrate with Karen Buck. Picture: Polly Hancock
Residents at Dibdin House are celebrating two big successes this summer. After a spirited local campaign, the
estates landlord has dropped plans to turn the communal hall into a luxury flat and has instead agreed to allow
residents access to their hall again for community events. This is fabulous news and I am pleased Grainger
have recognised the value of the incredible community at Dibdin House.
Grainger have also responded quickly to my complaint about rent setting for Assured Tenants at Dibdin
House. They acknowledged that errors had been made in implementing their rents policy and modest refunds
and rent reductions have been given to all affected tenants. Not only does this apply to Dibdin House, but private renters at former Church Commission Estates in Lambeth, Southwark and Hackney have also had rebates.
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/home/victory_in_campaign_to_use_maida_vale_community_hall_1_4028146

Grand Union Canal

A number of residents from Hormead Road have complained to me about the behaviour of some of the boaters
living on the Grand Union Canal. I am speaking to the Canal and River Trust, as well as Westminster City
Council and Police, to see what more can be done to tackle complaints of anti-social behaviour, littering and
noise. Houseboaters are a long standing and welcome part of the Paddington community, but it is a shame that
a minority are causing such problems for their neighbours.
Jubilee/Moberly Sports Centre latest

Keen to save the Jubilee Centre? Please sign the petition here.
My Labour council colleagues have called for a full-scale independent financial inquiry into the costs of Westminster City Councils proposed new 23 million sports centre to replace the popular Jubilee Sports Centre on
the site of the Moberly Sports Centre in Brent, after it has been discovered that the cost of a similar off-theshelf sports centre marketed by Willmott Dixon subsidiary company, Sunesis is just 5.1 million.
Willmott Dixon is Westminster Councils chosen partner on this project, which also includes over 150 houses
and flats on the Moberly and Jubilee sites, all but 12 of which are for private sale to finance the cost of the new
leisure centre.
Labour councillors say that the costs of the proposed new Leisure centre, which is about 50% larger than the
Sunesis off-the-shelf option, should be considerably less than the 23 million claimed by Westminster Council,
even taking in to account the additional facilities and inflation.
According to Save the Jubilee campaigners, Willmott Dixon and partner Scape formed Sunesis Leisure in
2012. As reported in Construction Enquirer, Willmott Dixon has teamed-up with procurement body Scape to
launch a new range of off-the-shelf designs for leisure centres and swimming pools.
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2012/06/26/willmott-dixon-launches-prefab-swimming-pools/
According to the Sunesis website, the company offers various swimming pool packages, including The Sunsesis Leisure 6 Lane + Dry (www.sunesisbuild.co.uk) at a cost of 5,120,000. Sunesis say that they require a
minimum site area of 6,500m2 in which they will build:
25 m six lane swimming pool
10m x 8m learner pool
Sports hall 34.5m x 20m (690 sq m)
65 station fitness suite
Mezzanine floor above fitness suite providing 160m2 dance studio
Changing village
Toilets
Staff office and reception
Plant room
Foyer with vending and viewing zones
The Save the Jubilee campaign points out that the Sunesis offer is the same package proposed by Westminster Council, plus a number of additional facilities a boxing hall, health spa, exercise studios, cafe, movable
floor in the learner pool which at 9,293 sq m is about 50% larger in area. (See the GLA report for a full description of the Westminster proposal http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/
moberley_sports_centre_report.pdf)
We are calling for an independent inquiry into the finances of the proposed new leisure centre now that the
Sunesis information has been discovered by the Save the Jubilee campaign. On the face of it, it looks as if the
costs of a new leisure centre should be considerably less than the 23 million free leisure centre claimed by
Westminster Council. We want an independent inquiry to establish whether the Councils claims that it cannot
afford to include any new social housing in the development are true and whether local residents are being misled by the Council on the finances of this project.
Big changes taking place in Bayswater
I am told that the exhibition for the proposed development of Whiteleys went well and over 200 people attended.
This plan is for retail to be limited to the ground floor with flats (and possibly a hotel) above. This is, of course,
just part of a much wider proposed development in and around Queensway, and we await the details which
have yet to be put forward as a formal planning application. Not only will these be significant changes to the area, they will, of course, also be expected to make a wider contribution to the area by way of the Community Infrastructure Levy and affordable housing. This needs to involve some tough negotiating by Westminster. We
want the area to support a healthy local economy and to be an attractive environment, but we need to make
sure it is a balanced community as too - too much of inner London is hollowing out and long-standing communities are undermined where a proper balance is not found.
Queens Park
On top of there being several serious incidents in the local area in the past few weeks, residents have been
raising concerns about anti-social behaviour in the Caird St/Third Avenue/Marne Street area, sometimes involving very large groups of people gathering and noise and use of mopeds into the early hours. Our local police
resources are much reduced, but ward councillors and I are working with the police, council and CityWest
homes to get a grip on the situation. Please do let me know if you are seeing or experiencing problems and/or
have opinions on the action that needs to be taken.
Business call for return of CCTV cameras in Church Street
After a big changes taking place in Bayswater there have been a number of recent complaints about rough
sleeping and anti-social behaviour. Church Street residents and businesses are calling for CCTV to be returned
to the Church Street Market area.
The Church Street Antiques Dealers Group have written to Councillors to express their concerns about the removal of the cameras on Church Street which were originally located there partly as a result of crime including
violent street muggings of customers of antique dealers' shops. Leon Young of the Antique Dealers Group says:
The placement of the cameras at the junctions of Ashbridge Street, Gateforth Street and Lisson Grove gave
coverage of the street encompassing over 20 galleries and Alfies was considered one of the safest antiques
locations to visit. It is a concern for the antiques dealers on Church Street that the cameras have been withdrawn. Their removal is against the interests of safety and security for both members of our group, the customers who visit and their goodwill. The removal of the cameras has had the following effects:
An Increase in begging, particularly on Saturdays
Criminal damage. A window was smashed in a commercial premises on the junction of Gateforth Street and
Church Street.
A marked increase in the frequency of groups of boisterous youngsters congregating who have been seen to
drop food litter on the street, can be foul-mouthed and are intimidating to some.
The net effect is at the least to offer visitors to the location a poor impression . At worst, if they feel it is unsafe,
unwelcoming or unattractive, we lose their custom. The loss of the cameras works against the ethos, investment, goodwill and revenues that our group creates.
My Church Street councillor colleagues have backed this call, and demanded that Westminster show that they
are taking notice of these concerns.
Leaseholder issues
I continue to be contacted by concerned residents from across the constituency regarding CityWest Homes major works programmes. Many complain of the delayed scheduling of major works (sometimes by several years!),
the delayed completion of works, the poor quality and standard to which works have been completed and poor
value for money. Unfortunately these complaints are not isolated one-offs and appear to be on the rise. I will
continue to raise these serious concerns with CityWest Homes and Westminster Council and push for serious
improvements in this area.
For those of you who are concerned about major works and own your own home and would like some free impartial advice, the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) are on hand to advise on all areas of leasehold law.
You can find their contact details on their website: www.lease-advice.org.
I will also be holding a third leasehold event in the near future where local residents will be able to come and
speak face-to-face with advisors from LEASE and discuss any concerns they have relating to major works or
any other areas relating to being a residential leaseholder. Watch this space for further details.
The former Star pub, St Johns Wood
Whilst the Carlton pub rightly received national media attention after its unauthorised overnight demolition, St
Johns Wood residents remain deeply unhappy about the closure of the Star pub immediately before its Asset
of Community Vale status came into effect. The premises began to be used immediately after as an estate
agents, but Westminsters planning team investigated this use and told me:
The Planning Enforcement Team have considered all of the evidence available in this case and are of the opinion that a material change of use requiring planning permission has taken place. As no planning permission exists, the current use is unauthorised and in breach of planning control.
Warning letters have been sent today to the freeholder and the tenant advising them of this, and they have been
requested to cease using the site other than as a public house within 28 days. Formal enforcement action will
be considered if the site continues to be used other than as a public house after this timescale.
The Planning Enforcement Team cannot ensure that the site is opened as a public house; however, the only
lawful use of the site is as a public house.
The freeholder has claimed that the current use does not require planning permission and there will be a right of
appeal against any enforcement notice served.
Now a planning application has been submitted to the Council:
Planning Planning Application Documents
Help with this page(opens in a new window)
15/05273/CLEUD | Application seeking confirmation that use of this building for Class A2 purposes (estate
agency) commenced before 6 April 2015 and is a lawful use (Amended Description) | 38 St John's Wood Terrace London NW8 6LS
You may want to express your views (wither via me or directly to the Council).
http://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?
activeTab=documents&keyVal=NPUA1URPI4400

Crackdown against begging and ASB in Lancaster Gate and Bayswater

Local police have said:
These coming weeks will see the Lancaster Gate and Bayswater SNT and cluster policing team targeting beggars and Anti Social Behaviour in Queensway, Westbourne Grove, Royal Oak and the immediate surrounding
streets.
Therefore we will be working with Westminster Council and will be utilising new Anti Social Behaviour Legislation.
This means that we will be able to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) in the near future. In order for
this to be implemented, we do need impact statements from local residents and businesses. Some individuals
have come forward, but we do need more. Please do get in touch with either PC Mary OConnor or myself and
we can arrange this.
CPNs will be used to require individuals to stop begging in the area. If the CPN is breached, they will be either
arrested or summonsed to court and could be liable to a huge fine or custodial sentence.

Just for fun:

A House in Bayswater
This early Ken Russell film tells the story of the occupants of a soon-to-be demolished house in (obviously)
Bayswater:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rzvq2

London Print studios host an exhibition of photos celebrating Speakers Corner

London Print Studio are hosting an exhibition of photographs from my book Speakers' Corner: Debate, Democracy and Disturbing the Peace, which documents in photos and words almost four decades of the place, regarded worldwide, as a symbol of free speech and freedom of assembly. More details here.
The exhibition runs from 26th June - 25th July 2015.
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE
Nearest tube: Westbourne Park

Thank you for reading and I welcome your comments

Karen Buck MP
Website: www.karenbuck.org.uk
Twitter: KarenPBuckMP
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