We win fight to stop car park becoming a rental hub!
Many thanks to all of you who supported our fight to stop Q Parks, the operators of the Warwick Way Car Park, who applied for planning permission to introduce a rent-a-car hub and car washing facility. We shared the concerns of residents living above, opposite and next to the car park and took up their case. Encouraging everyone from across the ward to object and making strong official objections ourselves we sent a clear message to the applicant and council officers.
Commenting on the application, Cllr Nickie Aiken said: “We were really concerned that this application would lead to issues such as noise for residents so began a campaign to stop the application being successful. It was therefore great news to hear that having noted our objections the applicant withdrew.”
Our St. George's Drive speeding campaign secures new action!
Warwick Ward Councillors have become increasingly concerned about speeding cars and motorbikes along St George’s Drive. To confirm that their concerns were shared by residents we organised a petition and found that it was the case.
Cllr Jacqui Wilkinson explained: “Our campaign really resonated with local people. Hearing the message loud and clear from residents we then went to lobby the council to see what measures could be implemented to slow traffic. We are delighted that we have secured speed display signs to be placed on both sides of the road. These not only tell drivers what speed they are doing, they also monitor speeds. The plan is now to monitor speeds for a trial period and if there is evidence that there is a speed problem more permanent measures will be investigated.”
You asked, we delivered.
The residents of Warwick Square Mews have been suffering from drivers’ sat navs directing them into the Mews in order to get to Warwick Way. This has resulted in drivers then having to reverse along the Mews, causing disruption to residents and damage to property. To help stop this and alert drivers before entering the Mews, we have installed a ‘No Through Road’ sign at the entrance.
Residents have raised with us their concerns about fast traffic along Lupus Street. Cllr Jacqui Wilkinson, in her previous role as Deputy Cabinet Member for City Management, was therefore pleased to propose that Lupus Street should be included in the trial of 20 mph speed limits across the City, given that there are 4 schools along or in close proximity. This trial, which has just begun, will last for 18 months.
The trial will enable the City Council to consult with the 38 local schools based in the subject areas, as well as residents and businesses, on the effectiveness of the policy before it is rolled out across the rest of Westminster. Cllr Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for City Highways said: "The trial supports Westminster’s aim of improving the public realm for all road users and we hope that more people will be encouraged to walk and cycle. By placing schools at the centre of the trial, we are ensuring a safer environment for our youngest residents. We are encouraged by the high level of support received for the trial from residents."
We have received complaints about the street environment on Wilton Road, between Victoria Station and Gillingham Street and between Gillingham Street and Warwick Way on the south side. The complaints have related to increased begging and rough sleeping, broken paving stones, general cleanliness and the area needing attention.
We agree and have arranged for a range of initiatives to be carried out. Warwick Ward Councillor Jacqui Wilkinson: “I have arranged for concerted action with the various Westminster City Council teams and the Met Police coming together to instil a zero-tolerance strategy. I have asked for assessment of the area and a multi-agency action plan to address the issues raised and have highlighted the need for police resource to support delivery of the plan.”
The actions being taken included:
• A full highways assessment has been carried out with particular focus on the stretch of Wilton Road between Gillingham Street and Warwick Way. Some minor highways defects of cracks in the pavement have been picked up and reported to our Highways inspectorate for repair.
• We arranged for Veolia to carry out a ‘hard mechanical sweep’ of the pavements on 13th September and flagged this area for particular attention for the regular daily road sweep.
• We arranged for a deep clean to be carried out on 21st September to deal with staining on the pavements emanating from some of the food premises along this stretch of Wilton Road. Warwick’s City Inspector has visited each of these premises to inform the managers/owners of their responsibilities for proper food and waste oil presentation and disposal as well as the penalties for non-compliance.
• We arranged for Gillingham Road to be flush cleaned, particularly by the gates leading to the rear of Queen Mother’s Sports Centre.
• Warwick’s Problem-Solving Coordinator asked the owners of Stockley to carry out a clear of the perimeter and secured the raised flowerbed by Hudson’s Place. We have asked for another disinfectant and clean of the perimeter of the building to be carried out before demolition starts at the end of October.
• We have arranged for specific joint operations with the Police, our City Inspector and Neighbourhood Problem Solving Coordinator to be carried out in September to address street population issues in this area.
• Last but not least, we are pleased to have secured funding from the Council for Christmas lights for Wilton Road as well as hanging baskets for the Spring.
Ridiculous night time street works stopped by local councillors
Many local residents will have seen (and heard!) the night-time works that Conways had begun to undertake on a Monday evening towards the end of September. Warwick Ward Councillors were very concerned to hear that these were to continue every evening that week. Speaking to Council officials to outline how ridiculous it was to carry out these major resurfacing works in a predominantly residential area. They accepted our argument to swop to weekend day works. They may be inconvenient but not as disruptive as night works.
Buckingham Palace Road/Eccleston Street/Eccleston Bridge
Transport for London (TfL) will be upgrading the traffic lights at the junction of Buckingham Palace Road/Eccleston Street/Eccleston Bridge from 2nd October until 15th December 2017. The works will take place five nights per week from 21:00 until 5:00 the following day, Mondays to Fridays. TfL has agreed with Westminster City Council that the noisiest of the works will be completed by midnight each night. During this time, TfL will need to close some lanes to traffic in both directions on Buckingham Palace Road and towards Knightsbridge on both Eccleston Street and Eccleston Bridge. Footways may be narrower than usual but there will be access to residential and business properties at all times. For further information, visit the TfL website for news or follow @TfLTrafficNews on Twitter for live travel updates.
Update from Warwick's City Inspector
In addition to the activities happening in and around Wilton Road, Warwick’s City Inspector has been busy with a range of activities to keep our streets safe and clean. These include:
• Enforcement for general household waste this month has been based around Warwick Square and Cambridge Street bins. These residents are receiving warnings and, if they offend again, will get fines.
• Fines have also been issued to residents that dump larger quantities of waste, which is an issue outside Russell House.
• We have received complaints about some recycling collections being missed on Vauxhall Bridge Road and Cambridge Street. Collections are now being monitored to ensure that all missed collections are logged as contract complaints.
• A new item being dumped on our streets are ‘O Bikes’. These are ‘dockless’ yellow pay-as-you go bikes, which have begun littering our streets. These have been removed from Warwick Square, Wilton Road, Alderney Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road and Gillingham Row.
Sir Simon Milton Technical College
We have been watching with interest the development of the Sir Simon Milton Technical College at Ebury Bridge. On 11th September, the first phase of the building was handed over to the UTC Trust and the staff body took up occupation and moved in. On Wednesday 13th, Cllrs Flight and Wilkinson paid a visit and had a discussion with the new head Karen Barker. It was the first day that there were students on site and, at that point, 120 young people interested in careers in maths, science or engineering had registered.
Cllr Flight commented: “Although there are still outstanding building works, the building was sufficiently and safely complete to open for business. The facilities are truly amazing and a wonderful opportunity for our young people. The students are required to wear suits and/or business attire and they all looked very smart. I was particularly pleased to see how many girls had registered.”
