We're listening to you on Notting Hill Carnival
Following this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, we would like to know your views on all the different aspects of carnival. We particularly want to know about the position of the additional toilet facilities on Artesian Road and whether the earlier start time that we called for had an effect.
We also want your views on the Westminster clean up, the property cleansing service and the police cordon, vehicle access and operations on the days and nights of carnival.
Please email us with your views on Carnival and we will ensure they help inform our continued work to enable a fun, safe Carnival to take place that protects residents from the less pleasant effects of the Bank Holiday event.
You are also invited to this year’s post-Notting Hill Carnival residents’ meeting, which will take place at the Tabernacle, North Kensington on Monday 30 October from 7pm.
The event will be chaired by the organisers of the carnival, London Notting Hill Carnival Enterprises Trust Ltd (LNHCET) and is a chance for residents to let the organisers and representatives of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Metropolitan Police, Westminster City Council and other interested parties know what they think of this year’s carnival and what can be done to improve next year's.
Sign our petition to save local policing from the Mayor's cuts
Your Bayswater Councillors need your support to stop the Mayor’s plans to merge our local Westminster Police with Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham. We are urging local people and businesses to support our campaign to call on Mayor Sadiq Khan to re-think his plans. The Mayor is currently piloting this initiative in two other areas of London, which have produced disturbing results. Reports show that response times in these areas for urgent 999 calls have risen to nearly 40 minutes, falling catastrophically short of the 15-minute target which is currently in operation.
Yet the Mayor continues to advocate the mergers across the whole of London. The proof is clear that these plans will weaken our local Police service. We are calling on local people and businesses to support this campaign. Help us send this clear message to the Mayor: We will not accept this forced merger.
Action across Bayswater
Residents told us: “Why doesn’t the 20mph zone close to St Stephens School extend to the road outside St Stephen’s School on Westbourne Park Road?”
We contacted the Cabinet Member for City Highways and have fed the concerns into the consultation for the 20mph trial. We’ve also spoken to the local transport police team to work with the school to run volunteer-led speed-gun activity on Westbourne Park Road outside the school.
Residents told us: “The Kildare Gardens work to tidy up the railings has been complete, but there is still a lot of rubbish left over from the works. Why hasn’t it been cleared up?
We contacted the council’s Head of Service for Waste and Parks and within a few days the leftover boards and rubbish were cleared away.
Residents told us: “It’s great to hear from you all year round. I’ve not heard a thing from Labour for the last seven years. They really don’t care about Bayswater like you do.”
Residents told us: “The Cock and Bottle Pub regularly has its outside lights blaring out early in the morning. It’s unnecessary and creates light pollution, especially as the mornings get darker. Can anything be done to have them switched on later?”
We spoke to the manager of the Cock and Bottle pub on Artesian Road and have had assurances that this will not keep occurring. We are in contact with the council for what steps can be taken if the light pollution outside of their opening hours reoccurs.
Residents told us: “Why are the works on Chepstow Road taking so long?
We raised the issue directly with the council and a week later the works have been finished and Chepstow Road has new tarmac and paving.
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Conservatives propose innovative voluntary Council Tax contribution to build a fairer Westminster
Conservative Councillors have put forward plans for a voluntary council tax contribution from residents living in the most expensive properties in Westminster.
Leader of the Council Nickie Aiken said: “Our voluntary contribution aims to protect Westminster’s front-line services and maintain our low council tax levels for those on the lowest incomes. We believe in low tax, but that those that can afford to give more should be able to do so.”
Westminster will pioneer this scheme, encouraging those at the top to give more to support the wider community. Whilst similar schemes have previously been launched with businesses, Westminster City Council is leading the way by introducing this voluntary Council tax contribution for residents.
From April next year, these plans for a ‘Westminster community contribution’ could see an additional £2.75 million raised through Council Tax, which would make up a significant proportion of the £49 million that the City currently raises each year.
Money raised from the voluntary contribution will be used to protect front-line services, especially youth provision and work to support young people across the city.
Don't Be Idle
Following complaints from residents and worrying reports on air pollution levels in in the city, the Conservative-led Council has taken action to reduce dangerous levels of toxins caused by car pollution. Westminster was the first London borough to develop an air quality strategy.
The #DontBeIdle campaign has been launched to cut out the idling pollution that is so damaging to us all in Westminster. Just one idling car produces enough exhaust emissions each minute to fill 150 balloons, with buses, taxis, vans, cars and delivery vehicles accounting for over half of the most deadly emissions in the air.
The Conservative run Council is taking serious action by introducing fines for idling vehicles, putting pressure on the government to devolve more power to its control to deal these issues, and campaigning for an air-quality regulator to improve standards.
The #DontBeIdle Campaign is gathering steam with more than 2,000 signing the pledge to stop idling. The campaign has also won the backing of some recognisable faces including actor Nigel Havers, athlete Colin Jackson, F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, who have each signed the pledge.
On top of this, in the Marylebone area, the Council is trialing a range of pilot ideas in an experimental Low Emission Neighbourhood. These include diesel parking surcharges for non residents, which have led to a drop of 12% in more polluting diesels parking in the pilot area. In addition, freight is being massively reduced by reorganising with local businesses, a range of new greening is underway and a pilot green club aims to retrofit buildings which produce nearly half of air pollution.
Westminster Conservatives will continue to fight for better air-quality in the city and we call on local residents and businesses to join us by signing up to our #DontBeIdle campaign.
