New Chinese Gate opened
The St James's ward councillors recently joined HRH Duke of York and other dignitaries for the official opening of the new Chinese Gate in Wardour Street. The gate was recently erected on the boundary of Chinatown after a lengthy fundraising campaign by local businesses. The brand new fourth gate is the largest Chinese gate in the country and is built in traditional Ching Dynasty style. The City Council supported the gate by the pedestrianisation of local streets after noon to create a safer environment for tourists and shoppers.
Councillor Louise Hyams says: "The new Chinese Gate signposts the location of Chinatown to the thousands of tourists who look along Wardour Street on their way from Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square or when they walk along Shaftesbury Avenue. It is a great symbol of the vitality of the Chinese community in Westminster and the strength of the strong relationship between the British and Chinese peoples."
Zero emission cars now available in St James's
St James's ward hosts many car club bays for a range of vehicles for car club members. St James's Councillor Tim Mitchell and Councillor Heather Acton, the Council's Cabinet Member for Sustainability & Parking, earlier in the summer unveiled two of the 40 VW Golf GTE plug-in hybrid electric cars recently introduced to the fleet. By using these zero-emission vehicles, club members will help to reduce air pollution and reduce traffic congestion by sharing cars with other members.
Councillor Tim Mitchell says that "these zero emission vehicles will help Improve our local air quality and support a sustainable transport system for Westminster which are key parts of the Council's Greener City Action Plan".
For further details of the scheme, which is available to residents and businesses, click here
Tackling traffic congestion
Your St James's ward councillors recently supported local residents in their campaign for double yellow lines at the junction of Palace Street with the side of Buckingham Palace. Whilst building works adjacent to the road had not narrowed the width of the carriageway, congestion was regularly caused by parked vehicles especially coaches for tourists visiting Buckingham Palace for Changing of the Guard.
Tourist coaches parking in the Buckingham Gate area have caused congestion problems for many years. Drivers have often avoided fines by keeping their engines running and driving off when enforcement officers have approached.
St James's Councillor Cameron Thomson says that "a new coach parking facility on the Mall, adjacent to Marlborough House, will help alleviate the problem but we will be pressing for more enforcement powers to tackle this problem which frequently blocks the streets as well as adds to air pollution".
