Fire Safety: Safe in Your Homes
We are all shocked and saddened by the appalling tragedy at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington.
We understand this is a worrying time for residents in high rise blocks, such as Hide Tower on Regency Street, but hope that you will be reassured that Westminster Council is doing all it can to ensure that all the Council owned properties, of whatever height and size are safe.
All of Westminster’s 41 tower blocks of 10 storeys or above have been subjected to rigorous fire checks since the tragedy to ensure that precautionary fire safety measures were in place. Similar checks of all blocks of seven storeys and above have also been carried out. Further checks are being carried out by the London Fire Brigade who are also reviewing all fire risk assessments for blocks to ensure that they meet the standard. All of our homes have had a positive assessment from the Fire Brigade. The Council has committed to implementing any recommendations that are made as a result of the Grenfell public inquiry or changes to national fire safety advice. "As your local Ward Councillors, we will ensure that this is done and that you are kept fully informed during the process”, explains Conservative Councillor Steve Summers. Westminster Conservatives have also committed to fitting sprinklers in all high-rise blocks across the whole of Westminster.
We have been speaking to residents but we want to remind you that you can get in touch with us at any time if you would like to discuss this or you have any queries. We are here to stand up for you as residents and ensure that you know what is being done to ensure that you are safe in your block. Just let us know, using the contact details above, if you have any concerns at all.
Clean Air - #DontBeIdle
“Many of you have told us that air quality is a top issue for you, as it is for us. Westminster has the worst air pollution in the country and our Conservative Council is tackling it”, said Councillor David Harvey. Measures launched or being developed include green building clubs to retrofit polluting buildings, more greening – trees and plants suck up C02 and pollutants. We already have wide success persuading businesses to club together to share freight vehicles cutting the number of deliveries by up to 40% in some areas.
Road transport contributes to more than half of the deadliest emissions. We are working to eliminate engine idling from areas of high pollution. This includes for instance, outside schools at the end of the school day, such as the Cathedral Choir School in Ambrosden Avenue. Taxi ranks near Victoria are a particular concern, together with coaches on Millbank, in Horseferry Road and Atterbury Street. An idling car produces up to 150 balloons of exhaust a minute.
Our Air Quality Marshals have so far asked nearly 10,000 drivers to turn off their engines – and almost all do. There is now a power to fine those that refuse £80, although we prefer to educate. Over the next few months we shall be taking this campaign to local streets and schools as well as to the freight and transport industries. By making this small change all drivers can all make a big difference.
Sign our pledge not to idle here. Let us know if you would like to work with our marshals by emailing us. Westminster was the first London Council to act on air quality and is leading the campaign for clean air in London.
Opposing cuts to school funding and free school meals
Last year, Westminster’s Children’s Services were rated top in the country.
Vincent Square Ward has three excellent schools, rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted: Vincent de Paul, Burdett Coutts and Millbank. Your Conservative Councillors want to ensure that children continue receiving the best possible start in life and are fully equipped for adulthood with the opportunity provided by a top-class education. We oppose the proposed changes to the National Funding Formula for schools or cuts in free school meals.
Conservative Councillor Danny Chalkley, said “Keeping Westminster’s youngest residents safe and ensuring that they receive an excellent education are top priorities for your councillors and we oppose any cuts in school funding, likely to lead to children receiving a poorer education. He added “We also oppose the removal of free school meals for children from less well-off families. For many children, this is the only decent meal they receive each day”.
What’s your view? Email your Conservative councillors and let us know.
Good News! Less traffic and safer streets coming to Vincent Square
Rat running by lorries and speeding are both a blight on the quality of life for residents of Vincent Square Ward and dangerous particularly for children. Your Conservative councillors are determined to tackle this problem and improve road safety. We have been pressing for changes on our roads and have been successful. The Council is currently in the process of introducing two 20 mph zones around Millbank and Vincent de Paul schools on a trial basis. Plus, heavy goods vehicles will be banned on Ashley Place, Morpeth Terrace and Carlisle Place meaning less traffic.
“Road safety, especially for children around schools, is paramount. We want accident rates in Vincent Square Ward to be reduced to zero”, said Conservative councillor, Danny Chalkley. He added “I am delighted that our campaign to introduce a weight ban and trial lower speed limits has been successful”.
Ward budget - does your good cause need some help?
If you are running a Vincent Square focused voluntary project, your councillors may be able to help you secure funding from Westminster City Council. Recent grants have included South West Fest, In Deep – for its work to support isolated residents, Neighbourhood Watch, Meet your Neighbour Projects, Support for local residents with mental health problems and hanging baskets across the ward.
If you are involved with a local community project and would like our help in winning funding, let us know by emailing us.
News in Brief
A few of the other things your Conservative Councillors Danny Chalkley, David Harvey and Steve Summers get involved in everyday:
- Getting behind enforcement action against misbehaving local supermarkets
- Ward walks sorting out damaged pavements, lighting and other on street problems, for instance sorting out paving on Page Street and Vincent Street
- Working with our Community Inspector to warn and fine fly-tippers
- Getting overenthusiastic trees trimmed back
- Meeting with the Thames Water super sewer construction team to check on local impacts
- Supporting residents’ needing help with rent issues
- Meeting with the Mayor’s cycle champion to continue our campaign for more safety measures at the crossing by the White Swan pub
- Working with locally owned businesses on Horseferry Road to protect them from developers
- Supported the Millbank Estate 20th Anniversary by securing £1,000 of funding and joined residents to unveil the plaque and thank all who have and do make this community successful
- Campaigning to stop the 9 Elms Development Corporation landing an unnecessary million pound bridge in Pimlico Gardens and on top of the loved Westminster Boating Base
