Grenfell Tower Fire
We have been saddened and appalled by the tragic fire in Grenfell Tower in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Even before the fire was fully extinguished, Leader of Westminster Council Cllr Nickie Aiken and Cllr Rachael Robathan, Cabinet Member for Housing, were working with colleagues in Kensington and Chelsea Council to identify and provide practical support. This included Westminster staff working in the respite centres, offering accommodation for those who had lost their homes and access to our housing options service to help with rehousing.
Cllr Christabel Flight has commented: “We are incredibly proud of our Ward colleague, Nickie, who has led from the front, by getting our Officers over to Grenfell Tower from day one where they continue giving major assistance.”
Whilst the investigation is likely to take some time to find out what happened, we have taken immediate action. We have carried out a full review of all Fire Risk Assessments in our social housing. Teams have been to all estates across Westminster ensuring signage is clearly displayed and emergency service access is clear, with priority given to high rise blocks.
Warwick Ward Councillors have been delivering guidance on fire safety to properties with more than 8 floors, managed by CityWest Homes, and speaking to residents to provide them with reassurance. Further information on fire safety can be found on the CityWest Homes website here.
Further advice and information is available on the London Fire Brigade website, specifically for people who live in flats and maisonettes here.
Nine Elms Bridge - Again!
Warwick Ward residents were shocked to receive flyers inviting residents to an exhibition of plans for the Nine Elms Bridge. This is a new consultation being organised by Wandsworth Borough Council to “give local people and stakeholders another chance to explore and feedback on the project, as well as setting out the various different bridge landing point options on the southern and northern banks of the river”.
Your Warwick Ward Councillors leapt into action, joining their Tachbrook ward colleagues and residents in sending a clear message to Wandsworth that we don't want their proposed bridge. It will take away our precious Pimlico Gardens, one of the few public green spaces we have. It will also bring thousands of commuters and others into quiet residential streets such as St George's Square. We aren't anti bridges or anti opening-up the two sides of the Thames but it has to be properly thought out and what the majority of residents from both sides want.
It is important that you let your views be known, even if you have done so in the past, email your views to the consultation here. You can also sign our petition online, here.
We cannot afford to let-up on our opposition to this scheme.
Concerned about speeding in St. George's Drive?
Residents have been contacting us with their concerns over vehicles and coaches speeding along St George’s Drive. We feel the same way and have begun a local campaign to get some action to deal with it.
You can join us by signing our online petition here or, if you prefer, you can write to us with your experiences at ‘St George’s Traffic Campaign, 90 Ebury Street, London SW1W 9QD’ using the following text:
"I/We, the undersigned, are concerned about speeding traffic in St George’s Drive in Pimlico. We back the campaign led by our local Westminster City Councillors Nickie Aiken, Christabel Flight and Jacqui Wilkinson to tackle speeding traffic in our community".
Q Car Park - Licensing Application
Warwick Ward councillors were thrilled to achieve a major victory in seeing off a nightmare licensing application. Tenants of a storage unit in Q Car Park in Winchester Street applied to have a Deliveroo-type operation to provide alcohol between 2pm and 5am every day.
Having seen the application, Cllr Nickie Aiken worked with residents living above and opposite the car park to arrange objections to the application. Cllr Aiken also lobbied Q Park and the council's corporate property department to object. Both did and informed the applicant that he would be in breach of his tenancy agreement if he proceeded. The tenant finally saw sense and withdrew the application. Local residents were very relieved. One commented "Many thanks for your input from all on Abbots Manor well done!"
Warwick Ward councillors will continue to keep abreast of licensing and planning applications across the ward and contact residents when there are issues to be concerned about.
Your ward councillors looking out for Warwick
Your local councillors have been meeting a number of developers interested in undertaking work across Warwick Ward. Namely, we have been liaising with affected residents and meeting representatives of 121-153 Buckingham Palace Road, Wilton Road and 11 Belgrave Road. More details to come but we will ensure that our lovely neighbourhood is not blighted by over-development.
Cllr Flight 'saves' summer outing for Glastonbury House residents
Residents in Glastonbury House have not been able to enjoy their usual summer outing for two years due to a contractual dispute with the coach company that had been booked to provide the service. Cllr Flight stepped in to save the day and ensure that new arrangements could be made with a different company. Thus on 13th July, 38 residents from Glastonbury House had a wonderful trip to Southend.
General Election: Mark Field MP re-elected
We are very pleased to report that our MP Mark Field was re-elected at the General Election. Mark sent us this note:
“Thank you to all the constituents of the Cities of London and Westminster for re-electing me as your representative to parliament. It has been a privilege to serve as your member of parliament over the last 16 years and I am delighted and honoured to have again be chosen to represent you for a fifth time.”
There has been more good news for Mark. Theresa May has appointed him in her new Government as Foreign Office Minister for Asia and the Pacific.
If you have an issue or concern that Mark can help with, then do get in touch with him: :
Write to: Rt Hon Mark Field MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, email, or call 020 7219 8155.
New Planters in Abbots Manor
Abbots Manor residents have been telling us how much they enjoy having planters which they can use to grow their own flowers and vegetables. The beds that were installed outside Glastonbury House some years ago were beginning to look a bit worse for wear. Residents were keen to see them mended and possibly get new ones provided. Warwick Ward Councillors were very happy to lend their support to this endeavour. It was a pleasant surprise to see that CityWest Homes have now provided new planters with flowers to brighten up the area.
Family Activity Summer Festival at Westminster Boating Base
Your Councillors have been happy to support the activities provided at the Westminster Boating Base for Warwick Ward and other Pimlico Residents. We are pleased to see that between Sunday 6th and Tuesday 8th August, they will be holding their Family Activity Summer Festival both on the River Thames and in the nearby park.
We are advised that those intending to participate in the watersports or just spectate will need to register in advance on-line and that there are also parental consent forms. For further information plase click here.
