Fighting Anti-social Behaviour: New Integrated Street Unit
We all think of the plight of the homeless at Christmas. Rough sleepers and beggars are drawn to central London and so to the Vincent Square area.
Less than 5% of our street population have a local connection. Nevertheless, Westminster, with its charity partners makes a bigger commitment to help than the rest of London put together”, says one of your Vincent Square Conservative Councillor, Danny Chalkley. However, we are all too aware of the anti- social impacts, drug dealing and antisocial behaviour, associated with begging.
There has been an influx of dealing locally, driven by out of area dealers. To fight back, Westminster Council Leader, Cllr Nickie Aiken has brought together police, charities and the Council to create the new Integrated Street Unit which, modelled on the praised Westminster Integrated Gangs Unit, will tackle begging, drug-taking, street fouling and anti-social behaviour”, says Vincent Square Matters editor, Selina Short. Put simply, several agencies will work as one with more focus, better organisation and more effective spending. It will also make a powerful bid to the Mayor for extra funds.
Use StreetLink (www.streetlink.org.uk) to help end rough sleeping in Westminster by sharing details of people sleeping rough with the local services that can support them.
Stop the Labour Mayor’s police chaos
Conservative London Assembly member Tony Devenish handed the petition signed by thousands of local residents to the Labour Mayor’s office, expressing your opposition to the Mayor’s plans for changes that would draw police out of Westminster and which when piloted, have increased police response times significantly. Will the Mayor listen?
Do you want your rubbish collected this week? Not under London Labour.
Conservative Westminster Council offers you at least two rubbish collections a week, more in the busiest areas. In contrast, if you live in one of London’s Labour boroughs, you will be lucky if your rubbish is collected once a fortnight. “In Westminster, we prioritise clean streets and rubbish collection because you have told us that it matters. And, if you do see fly tipping or uncollected rubbish, you can report it at www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it” says Vincent Square Conservative Councillor, David Harvey.
Councillors’ Call for Peabody to Smarten up the Ponsonbys – Peabody agree to invest £2 million
Conservative Councillors Danny Chalkley and David Harvey have been calling for the Peabody Estate to maintain their properties on Ponsonby Place and Ponsonby Terrace.
In recent years, many of the properties have fallen into sad state of disrepair and residents have told us on the doorstep.
The Ponsonbys are conservation area, mid-19th century houses, which Peabody purchased from the Crown Estate, following a successful campaign led by residents and supported by Westminster’s Conservative Councillors to keep them as social housing.
Councillors’ and residents’ persistent calls for upkeep and redecoration have finally been heard; Peabody recently wrote to Cllr Danny Chalkley, stating that maintenance will take place from April 2018 onwards.
Cllr Danny Chalkley says, “We are pleased that our pressure has resulted in this commitment from Peabody, the promised investment of £2million is very welcome.
Queen Mother Sports Centre Access
The main lift at the Queen Mother Sports Centre, giving access to poolside, has been earmarked for accelerated replacement, after an intervention from local Conservative Councillors. “Replacing the lift was in the plan for the Queen Mother this coming year”, said Councillor David Harvey, “but when we were approached by Queen Mother users with disabilities, worried about using the current lift and the difficulties they might have getting to poolside without it, we were in touch with the Westminster Sports Management Team and our management partners Everyone Active.
As a result, the main lift will be replaced early in 2018, well ahead of plan.” Vincent Square Matters editor Selina Short said “The swimming pool at the Queen Mother is essential to our community, especially for those whose disabilities mean they can best take serious exercise in water, so we were keen to get this sorted and as is so often the case with the Westminster Council, you only have to ask.”
Here to Help: News in Brief
Examples of more work done by your Conservative Vincent Square Ward Councillors Danny Chalkley, David Harvey and Steve Summers every day:
- We have been helping to bring pressure on Peabody housing to speed up local day-to-day repairs, particularly to reflect the needs of older residents.
- Many of you signed our petition to stop TfL’s plans for changes to Lambeth Bridge that would drive much more traffic into the quiet streets around Vincent Square. TfL have been taken aback by the local opposition, your Cllrs have asked TfL to offer residents a public meeting.
- Residents are concerned by plans to build a new hotel at 268 Vauxhall Bridge Road, Conservative Councillors are working with residents to defend local amenity.
- After residents reported an illegally parked trader trying to sell near St Vincent De Paul School, we prompted Council officers, who dealt with the parking issue and then with the trader who was unlicensed.
- To tackle drug dealing in Coburg Close, we have encouraged ongoing intervention by officers.
- You asked for a clamp down on commercial rubbish on Horseferry Road. and a Waste Transfer Audit is being conducted to ensure that all waste is disposed of properly.
- The business window ledges in Ashley Place have been replaced to stop them being used as sleeping places. Night time patrols encourage sleepers to come inside.
- We were able to secure funds from the Council to help improve security for residents at Anchor Court retirement home. We have also helped the community choir and the Westminster Bangladeshi Association Badminton Course.
And finally, Happy Christmas to everyone.
Selina Short
Editor Vincent Square Matters
