Helping Local Charities
Every year, each Westminster City Council ward is given a budget of over £40,000 to spend on projects in their local area. Your three St James’s Councillors consider applications from various organisations in our ward and are delighted that they are able to contribute to some fantastic charities that do such commendable work in our various neighbourhoods.
Some examples of recent projects are:
- Pimlico Toy Library, which provides services for disadvantaged children;
- Saint Andrew's Youth Club, the oldest youth club in the country which is currently celebrating its 150th Anniversary, that has helped so many young people in its long history;
- CIAC (Chinese Information and Advice Centre) based in Chinatown which gives invaluable help to the local community;
- Funded refreshments for the Senior Citizen Forum;
- A Sensory Room for the St. Vincent’s Family Project at Methodist Central Hall;
- The South West Community Choir;
- A Skills Workshop for SouthWest Fest community festival;
- A contribution to the Cardinal Hume Centre for its Family Service Project.
Councillor Louise Hyams explains: “We try to spread the funds from our ward budget
amongst the worthy organisations that do so much good work in various ways throughout our large and diverse ward. Many people work in a voluntary capacity to improve the quality of life for those who live in St James's Ward and we are happy to be able to support their efforts.”
Christmas Trees in St James’s Ward
Please join us in Strutton Ground, near the junction with Victoria Street, on Monday 28th November at 4.30pm when St. James’s councillor and former Lord Mayor, Councillor Louise Hyams, will switch on the Christmas Tree and lights funded from the St. James's Ward Budget. We will be entertained by St. Matthew's Primary School Choir. It Is hoped that local businesses will provide drinks and light refreshments.
St. James’s Councillor Cameron Thomson says: “Local people may also want to join us at the lovely annual ceremony in Trafalgar Square on Thursday 1st December at 5pm when the magnificent Christmas Tree, sent as a gift from the people of Oslo, is switched on by the Lord Mayor.”
Monitoring Night Tube Services
In August the 24hour Night Tube service on Friday and Saturday nights started on the Victoria and Central Line. This meant that two Underground stations on the edges of St James's ward were impacted: Victoria and Green Park. In October, services started on the Jubilee Line which added Westminster station to the network and mid-November sees Embankment and Charing Cross and Leicester Square added as the western section of the Northern Line comes on stream. Lastly Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus will be added to the network in mid-December when the Piccadilly Line between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5 comes into service.
St James's Councillor Tim Mitchell says: "the Night Tube service will help visitors and, more importantly workers, get home safely at night but we are concerned that the new service will mean that local residents suffer from increased late night noise and disturbance. The Council is closely monitoring data on pedestrian flows, noise complaints, abandoned waste, graffiti, traffic violations and crime data to see what the actual impact is on residents. If you experience a noise issue then please report it to the Council's 24-hour Noise Team on 020 7641 2000."
