Action on Short-Letting
Mark Field MP, Councillors Acton and Cox, WCC officers and residents' representatives have visited Brandon Lewis, the Housing Minister, to ask for protection against industrial-scale holiday letting in Hyde Park and elsewhere in Westminster. Nobody minds homeowners earning a bit extra through AirBnB and other short letting websites. However, when this activity takes over most of a block or a property on your street on a regular basis, the turnover of people, noise and refuse disposal problems can be overwhelming for neighbours and may invalidate building insurance. The high rent short-letters can drive out long-term owners and tenants, making London's housing shortage worse. Short-letting is often a breach of lease obligations, but this is not something the Council can enforce against.
We are asking for defined locations, where residents are badly affected, to be exempted from the Deregulation Act which gives permission to short-let for ninety days a year, along with other measures to make it easier to enforce against problem short-lets.
Operation Unite
As Councillors have reflected their resident and business concerns over over anti-social behaviour, street vice, and begging, Westminster officers, along with the Safer Neighbourhood Team, and Home Office Enforcement have been active in our ward. There has been a series of arrests and some deportations as a result. A campaign to encourage everyone to give to authorised charities rather than to beggars has been timed to begin before Ramadan, when begging tends to increase in our ward.
Lancaster Gyratory Changes
Hyde Park ward Councillors have been working for some time with concerned local stakeholders and Westminster and Transport for London officers to finalise designs for the East West Cycle Superhighway around Lancaster Gate
The removal of the Gyratory will mean this is no longer an urban roundabout and it will improve the area for residents and all pedestrians. We are particularly pleased that we secured TfL agreement to include a safe crossing to Sussex Square, for easier access to the lovely garden, and a zebra crossing on Stanhope Terrace which will help pedestrians and slow traffic on this busy road. Revision of the original design also means that it is safer for the horses going from Bathurst Mews to Hyde Park.
Although unfortunately trees are to be removed during the works, which have begun on site, a greater number of replacement trees will be planted in the area. Our thanks to all the locals who contributed so much during the discussions.
