Warrington Crescent and Sutherland Avenue to get new tree pits
Your local Conservative councillors have supported the last ward budget project of the year, with the remaining funds to be spent on filling in the tree pits (at the base of trees) in Warrington Crescent and Sutherland Avenue. The existing materials are prone to wear and look unsightly. The new product has been tested and is both permeable and flexible. This will ensure a uniform appearance and allow the tree roots to grow without causing cracks in the surface. The new material will be used on 70 large and 10 small tree pits in Sutherland Avenue and 24 large and 10 small tree pits in Warrington Crescent. It is likely that the work will be done in February. Trees in Little Venice are something that make the area more attractive and also help to reduce air pollution. An area along Edgware Road was recently treated with a better way of filling in the tree pits and residents have told us how much they think it has improved the appearance of the road (see picture).
Councillor Melvyn Caplan commented: “Residents are often telling me that the one of the reasons they enjoy living in Little Venice is because of how clean and green it is. The new tree pits have been a welcome addition to the Edgware Road area and I’m pleased that we’ll be able to roll them out on Warrington Crescent and Sutherland Avenue in the next few weeks.”
Homeless people get some local help
City of Westminster College on Paddington Green was turned into a temporary shelter for homeless people over the Christmas period, as part of a London-wide scheme run by the Crisis charity that sees several FE colleges in London used in this way. For around a week, the Paddington Green campus was home to over 100 people, many of whom normally rely on hostels elsewhere in Westminster, which close over the festive period.
This much-needed scheme enables hostel staff to enjoy a break over Christmas, while ensuring the continued safety of their homeless clients and local residents. Volunteers helped to ensure the wellbeing of clients and safety of local residents during the weeklong use of the college as a shelter, which offered health checks, IT training and entertainment to those staying onsite. Local ward councillor, Ian Adams, who is this year’s Lord Mayor of Westminster, paid a visit to the shelter on Christmas Day to meet with volunteers and clients.
Help us stop Sadiq Khan's plans to cut transport for disabled Londoners
Sadiq Khan's proposals to reduce the funding for the Disabled Taxi Card Scheme dramatically, will severely affect the disabled and their carers, who find using public transport impossible.
Local community activist Lorraine Dean knows this all too well. “I am the single parent of disabled twins, one of whom is severely autistic. Many of those with autism suffer with very challenging behaviours. My son would often lash out and try to hit members of the public. It was far safer to attend hospital appointments by cab and, as a result, my son was much calmer at his appointments. This was only affordable to us as a family by the excellent taxi card scheme.”
Lorraine and the rest of the Little Venice Conservative Action Team are calling on Sadiq Khan to reconsider this devastating decision that will impact badly on the lives of the most vulnerable Londoners including those living in our area. Support us and sign the Conservative Party's petition by clicking the button below.
Westminster City Council funds advice helplines for EU citizens
A new advice service and helpline is being launched by Westminster City Council to help EU nationals living in Westminster who are worried about their status in the run up to Brexit. Westminster City Council is working with Citizens Advice Westminster and the Migrants Resource Centre to help ensure that the 30,000 EU nationals living in the borough get the best advice.
The helpline will operate on Tuesday and Thursdays (11:00-14:00) specifically for EU queries, and a further phone appointment can be arranged for complex issues. Help with translation can also be organised. This is part of a package of measures launched by Conservative-run Westminster Council to support EU nationals as the UK moves towards Brexit.
Local community activist Matthew Green said, “We need to support the hundreds of EU citizens who call Little Venice their home. I am pleased that the council is investing in this service, which will help support our friends and neighbours who were born in other EU countries to access accurate, factual advice on their rights and entitlements as the EU negotiations continue.”
EU citizens living in Little Venice and across Westminster can call the helpline telephone number on 020 7706 6019.
Councillors' Street Surgery: Saturday 13th January
As part of their Street Surgeries Programme, your local Westminster City Councillors – Ian Adams, Barbara Arzymanow and Melvyn Caplan – will be holding their next Street Surgery on Saturday 13 January.
When: Saturday 13th January 2018 between 10.30am and 12.00pm
Where: Corner of Castellain Road and Formosa Street
Your local councillors will be delighted to meet you and to hear about your views of Little Venice and any concerns you may have. Your local councillors can help you with issues such as planning, housing, pavements, roads and the local environment as well as litter, rubbish collection and recycling.
If you would prefer to arrange a chat on the day or at another more convenient time, please contact your councillors by e-mailing us.
You asked, we delivered
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A request was made to install an additional rubbish bin along Edgware Road to stop rubbish being dumped along a stretch of road near the parade of shops next to Maida Avenue. A new bin will be installed in the coming weeks/
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A new boiler had been installed in a resident’s flat in John Aird Court in November, however not all the radiators were heating up properly. Cllr Caplan arranged for a visit by the engineers and everything is now working properly and the resident is delighted.
- Two of the lampposts on Churchyard Walk next to St Mary’s Church and City of Westminster College were not working. Both lampposts are now fully functional.
- Four parking Bays at the end of Porteus Road were suspended for works by Vodafone to lay piping under the nearby pavement. This was completed some time ago but to date there is still rubble taking up two parking spaces. The case was taken up by Little Venice Conservative councillors and the site has now been cleared and the parking bays are back in use.
- A resident of the Hall Estate reported some green bags being dumped, which, in true 'broken window' style saw people adding more bags of household waste to the piles. We arranged for the rubbish to be removed the same day.
Residents can talk to their Little Venice ward Conservative councillors by emailing [email protected] who will take up these cases or they can use the Report It! Function on the council’s website: www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it.
Feedback from last newsletter
Thank you so much. It really seems that you are the person interested in supporting this estate.
Thank you for all your help.
Best wishes and my thanks for your work over so many years as my local councillor.
The rubble and barriers were cleared away by the time I got home. Thank you for your kind help.
