SEBRA NEWS W2 BOOMERANGING BACK?

ISSUE No 94 AUTUMN 2018

32 YEARS AFTER A BATTLE WAS WON IT MAY HAVE TO BE FOUGHT AGAIN READ ABOUT WHY ROYAL OAK MIGHT BE THE DESTINATION FOR A NEW COACH TERMINAL INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION In this Issue From the

4 GRAFITTI AND EVEN 16 THE BUSINESS INTRODUCTION MORE GRAFITTI OF BUSES FROM THE CHAIRMAN 3 Chairman SAFETY VALVE Chairman: John Zamit Don't forget: PORCHESTER BATH WOES 8 Email: [email protected] This year’s BOOMERANGING BACK? 9 Phone: 020 7727 6104 SEBRA AGM RESIGNATION OF ROBERT DAVIS 10 Mobile: 074 3825 8201 Mon 26 Nov PADDINGTON DESERVES A BREAK 12 Address: 2 Claremont Court Porchester Hall PRAISE FOR PLANNING 14 Queensway, London W2 5HX 6:15pm for 7pm AROUND BAYSWATER PARTNERSHIP FOR WESTMINSTER 19 elcome to yet another we know to be organised begging on and also collectively makes delegated TALL TALES FROM NOTTING HILL 21 bumper edition of our our streets. Groups of (primarily) Eastern decisions on less important applications, WAS IT WORTH THE UPHEAVAL? 28 magazine! They all seem Europeans asking all and sundry for that nevertheless directly affect the HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE 34 to be bumper editions money is not something we should have lives of our residents. I believe that the SAVE BRITAINS HERITAGE 36 Wthese days, but we're keen to promote to tolerate day upon day. current system functions pretty well and SUNDAY ART IN BAYSWATER 46 local associations and to report on needs little change. OXFORD STREET UPDATE 49 improving our neighbourhood and However, I welcome the proposal to let NO ONE SHOULD HAVE NO ONE 50 there's a lot to cover right now. affected residents and amenity societies ST STEPHEN'S IS OUTRAGE AT MEDICAL SEBRA SUMMER PARTY 2018 58 speak to the Councillors on the Planning 26 BACK HOME 42 CENTRE CLOSURE So it's a big "thank you" to all of our PORCHESTER CENTRE NEWS 62 contributors and also to our advertisers, Committee when a large or contentious application is being considered. Care is COMMUNITY FAYRE REPORT 66 there would be no SEBRA NEWS W2 needed though in determining exactly without them. Thanks to Steve Olive as THE ROYAL PARKS how the system will work. well for putting the magazine together. HYDE PARK AFTER HEATWAVE 81 He has a new job at a golf club so there I will be pushing for more time to SUSTAINABILITY ON THE AGENDA 83 have been many late nights during be built into the process of change, allowing for explanatory discussions to FRIENDS OF HP&KG NEWS 84 October to reach our print deadline. SERPENTINE GALLERIES 88 take place. MATILDA THE SEBRA MASCOT POLITICAL COMMENTARY THE 2018 SEBRA AGM There's a new photo of me at the top Our AGM takes place on Monday 26 KAREN BUCK MP 90 of the page with Matilda. She's getting November at the Porchester Hall. POLICE BECOMING 'IRRELEVANT' 92 on in years now but she's a faithful and Begging gangs continue to operate on We're looking forward to another loving friend. Turn to page 124 you will Queensway and beyond. evening of lively debate and our "top CITY HALL NEWS see she has the last word in this issue. It sounds harsh but there's little point table" panel will certainly be expecting a MAYOR SADIQ AND WATCHDOGS 94 in spending upwards of £10 million whole host of questions on a wide range WCC NEWS 98 I HAD A DREAM! improving Queensway if the scourge of subjects from our members. 10 YEARS REPRESENTING WARD 102 Well it began as a dream and turned of "professional" begging is allowed to Following the meeting you can expect SILVER SUNDAY AND MORE 107 into a nightmare! The dream was our usual prize raffle after which we will THE FLAVOURS FESTIVE FUN AT continue. 43 80 PREPARING FOR TOMORROW 108 the Public Realm improvements on be serving drinks and canapés to SEBRA OF CYPRUS KENSINGTON PALACE Queensway finally commencing. At PLANNING CHANGES WITH members and our guests. PLANNING, LEGAL & LICENSING last year's AGM, Council Leader Nickie UNDUE HASTE The AGM is our second biggest event Aiken announced with a fanfare that PROPERTY MARKET UPDATE 110 On page 98 you'll find an article by the of the year and represents a great work would start in January 2018. Well PLANNING BAYSWATER 112 Leader of Westminster City Council opportunity for our members to engage it didn't. There's still no cabinet report GDPR AND YOU 114 Nickie Aiken in which she explains with elected representatives and other published and although we've been LICENSING BAYSWATER 118 changes to the planning system now officials. Please attend if you can. promised that work will start in January being propsed. HIGHWAYS & TRAFFIC 2019, I'll believe it when I see it! Best wishes and happy reading. To my mind these changes are being HIGHWAYS REPORT 120 BEGGING IN BAYSWATER rushed through with undue haste. TRAFFIC BAYSWATER 121 I certainly don't agree with the decision I have every sympathy for those who are to delete the Director of Planning role, LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA genuinely down on their luck. Having a decision made with no consultation no income and no roof over your head YOUR LETTERS 122 with residents' associations or local is something I wish nobody ever had Councillors. The planning department JOIN SEBRA 123 to experience. However, those kind of at Westminster City Council advises ABOUT SEBRA 125 problems are a world away from what Councillors on the Planning Committee SEBRALAND 126

2 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 3 SAFETY VALVE SAFETY VALVE

LNER Class A3 Locomotive No. 60103 “Flying Scotsman”. Pictured 10 September 2017 after leaving Crowcombe Heathfield.

Safety Valve

There's a lot about buses in this edition's Safety Valve section and as is all too common there are street-level A photograph from early September. A patchwork of grey complaints about rubbish and begging. We also feature a couple of pieces offering food for thought, the paint currently now covers some of the graffiti. (See below). first relating to the condition of Porchester Turkish Baths and the second expanding on our cover story, with SEBRA President John Walton putting pen to paper. As you might expect there is also an article discussing the resignation of Councillor Robert Davis. We begin though with four pages outlining the shocking extent In August 2017 SEBRA NEWS W2 of graffiti in Bayswater, with articles from Nicky Hessenberg and firstly, Richard Perkins. covered this and the other awful bridges in the City of Westminster. THE APPALLING STATE OF LORD HILL'S BRIDGE Richard Perkins ... gaps in the Northumberland Place, W2 bridge filled with hat is wrong with this country that totally discarded, stinking obvious things wrong in the public space cannot be properly attended to, supposedly litter. because responsibility is divided between Wdifferent bodies with no overall authority to force action? This bridge, like the others covered in the article, is in Westminster and the Council should shoulder its responsibilities. As an immediate measure it must deal ... an atrocious and It beggars belief that this issue has been For if Network Rail pays so little promptly with the removal of the litter depressing introduction allowed to fester month after month, attention to the looks of its bridges it and systematically and persistently year after year. It speaks volumes of the brings into question their whole attitude remove the artless graffiti. to Bayswater... ineffectiveness of our council and casts to maintenance and repair and the Furthermore, Westminster must either a shadow of ineptitude, if not downright ultimate safety of their bridges. serve effective legal notice on Network callous disregard of safety issues on the Bridges are painted not just for aesthetic Rail to fulfil its responsibilities and part of Network Rail. reasons but to preserve iron structures properly maintain and repaint every Oh for a local mayor who in France in every small village and from rust. few years or assume responsibility suburb walks around talking to neighbours and sorts those Sprawling graffiti and widespread rust adorn the length for painting the parts visible from the things out in a trice. and breadth of Lord Hill's Bridge. public space itself and bill Network rail Is there anything more depressing in any journey in the entire ... something you appropriately. world than walking out of Royal Oak Underground on to Lord This is something you might expect in the poorest part of some Hill's Bridge? Third World City, but not in one of the richest boroughs in one might expect in Editor's Note: of the richest cities in the world. But that is what you see and Our thanks must go to SEBRA What an atrocious and depressing introduction to Bayswater the poorest parts member Ian Hessenberg for his expert and possibly Westminster! To be confronted with a filthy, paint smell; a disgusting, stinking vile looking mess. of a third world photography in this article, and also flaking, rotten looking structure covered with graffiti, with the How can our councillors and officers hold up their heads when that on pages 6 & 7. gaps in the bridge filled with discarded, stinking litter. such an appalling state of affairs persists year after year? city.

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Thanks also to the THE GRAFFITI GOES ON... Westminster Graffiti team: the morning after Nicky Hessenberg - SEBRA member the Carnival I noticed and resident of Westbourne Park Villas W2 with sinking heart some scribbles on our much There have also been (and presumably protected red brick wall: still are) images which have made as we all know, once the artists famous and of course rich graffiti starts appearing through their artistic efforts – Banksy it reproduces at an and Basquiat to name two of the most well known. No, what I am feeling alarming rate. so affronted by are the meaningless I reported these “squiggles” that decorate walls, or scrawls to the windows, or lampposts or telephone WCC website boxes and so on. And one can (with accompanying keep our finances going, guarantee that the moment one bit of organizations photographs) at about 7pm that they won’t come if they find a rotting graffiti appears, it will be followed by that none of them will take the and graffiti ridden borough, even with countless others either alongside or evening and by 9am the following challenge of smartening the bridges on top of the original. morning our wall was being Notting Hill just down the road. up. What must we do to draw On a recent tube journey from assiduously cleaned by the cheerful attention to this situation? Hammersmith to Royal Oak, it man shown to the lower right. Now struck me that the walls along the that is service! railway lines, the bridges, the tube stations from Ladbroke Grove ow that the end of the most station onwards are making our amazing summer has come progress into London very similar and autumn approaches, on to the New York subway walking around the streets during the 60’s and The bridges Nin our locale I have 70’s. I cannot imagine are the responsibility of what most visitors Network Rail, I believe, and the roads, to London must feel such as Westway, the responsibility as they come from of TfL, but neither appear to take Heathrow into their responsibilities very seriously Paddington Station in this quarter. A year has passed on the Heathrow since SEBRA NEWS W2 published Express as they photographs of the worst excesses look at this mess on these bridges, and apart from decorating every Ranelagh Bridge when the council However, to end on a happier note, offered to do a clean up after a portion of the I would like to give big thanks to the railway line wall, consultation with John Zamit – could So Come on Westminster, TfL and Westminster rubbish teams and street and that have been the catalyst? - there Network Rail – it is time to grasp this sweepers who did such an excellent this of course is echoed seems to be a closed eye policy deteriorating nettle between the three job of cleaning the streets during and whenever one is on a train among all these of you. It will be an expensive job, but been saddened after the Carnival in our area, so that pulling in or out of a London as we are going to rely more and more and depressed about the further station going to any part of one would never have known that on our tourist visitors to proliferation of graffiti which has been the country. anything had taken place over the growing along our street walls and It is so ironic that we have August bank holiday weekend. empty shop windows. notices on the bridges I recognize that graffiti has been the leading either to or from chosen way of passing on information, the A40 in the SEBRA messages and political activism since area, saying "Welcome to Westminster" – the state Roman times, and I feel somewhat of these bridges are tempted to get going myself since unbelievable – squalid, the very recent news that planning rusty with paint permission for the dreaded and peeling, rubbish filled, dreadful looking Newcombe Tower in graffiti anywhere that Notting Hill Gate has been given the a spray can is able to go-ahead by the Mayor of London. be squirted.

6 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 7 SAFETY VALVE SAFETY VALVE WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING TO THE COACH TERMINAL AT ROYAL OAK ON THE HORIZON? PORCHESTER TURKISH BATHS? John Walton Ali Russell Secretary, PRACT Porchester Baths User Group ome of us will remember the issue on which PRACT, Paddington Residents’ Active Concern on Transport, was formed in 1986. n the Spring 2018 Edition of SEBRA NEWS W2, the article entitled SIt was the proposal to close Victoria Coach Station and ‘Striving to Protect the Historic move it, still as London’s only Coach Terminal, to the site of the Porchester Turkish Baths’ highlighted British Rail's old Paddington Station Goods Yard. Ithe grave concerns the users have NOW ‘PADDINGTON CENTRAL’ regarding Westminster City Council (WCC) and Everyone Active (EA) turning After a hard fought battle lasting the better part of a year, London’s oldest Turkish Baths into a that threat was overcome and Victoria Coach Station has modern day spa. stayed where it always was. The large Goods Yard site, on the other side of the railway, has been developed for far better In the Summer 2018 edition ofSEBRA mixed commercial and residential uses and is now known as NEWS W2, the new General Manager, ‘Paddington Central’. Simon Plummer, took the opportunity to introduce himself. Simon listed his BOOMERANGING BACK? credentials to demonstrate that he has The boomerang has now come back to hit us, 32 years later, plenty of experience running spas but A user of 15 years describes the baths as being in as this letter from Transport for London (TfL) shows. Victoria "...the dirtiest and most decrepit state that I can remember." that is very different from operating a Coach Station must be closed partially before long, and fully Turkish Bath. Rumours of a closure in November were were actually approved by Westminster closed for a worksite, if Crossrail Line 2 goes ahead. TfL are In the article, the ‘meet-the-manager’ circulating, yet, when Westminster City City Council officers under delegated therefore looking for substitute sites or sites. The only change sessions sounded promising. This, he Council and Everyone Active were called powers, not by a planning committee from 1986 is that, apparently, they are now thinking of having said, would be a chance for the users to out on this, the rumours morphed into as we all had assumed. Meanwhile, the more than one site for a coach terminal, and so are looking at share their comments and feedback with other sites around London. They would need to be operational (via certain staff members) "the Baths Bayswater Conservative Councillor, his team in order to improve the service from the mid-2020s. will close in the new year". Emily Payne, tweeted that she was at the Porchester. According to Simon, the planned interim works had been We, as a users group (who were invited meeting with the Everyone Active team A VERY AWKWARD SITE communicated to the user group and from the start to partake in negotiations), to hear their plans for the "spa"; did TfL now own the pictured land just north of Royal Oak a presentation of this information was have not had a meeting with WCC/EA no-one think to invite the users along? Station, but the site is long and narrow, and access to it is imminent. since March 2018. Christopher, who Throughout this whole process – as difficult. However, it is central and close to the elevated A40 represents the male users, has written to We are now in late October, and numbers have dwindled – we have (Westway). It seems that the coach industry expect a central EA’s Area Manager, stating our concerns we haven’t heard anything further. continually expressed the importance site (or sites), with good connections to public transport, but about the failing boilers, the hygiene/ of advertising the Baths. Even reducing don’t want to pay for these. Public transport connections cleaning standards, and the unjustified the entrance fee would encourage more would be problematic in the case of the Royal Oak site, unless £29 entrance fee. Christopher said: ‘It users. So, it was a surprise to read in the the existing station on the Hammersmith and City Line were is now in the dirtiest and most decrepit Manager’s article that SEBRA readers to be completely reconstructed. state that I can remember in just over were offered a two-for-one access 15 years of being a regular user’. As BETTER AT OLD OAK COMMON during the month of July. I would be a matter of urgency, we are asking In PRACT’s letter to TfL, we had pointed out that the HS2 (High curious to know just how many readers Everyone Active and Westminster City Speed Two) railway, if it goes ahead, will have a station at the took up this offer. Council to send in a specialist cleaning railway hub at Old Oak Common, near Acton and perhaps it team to remedy the immediate situation. If Everyone Active go ahead and close THE DOWNSIDE We believe Everyone Active has failed the baths during the winter months, Major risks if the Royal Oak project does go ahead are:- TfL now own this land north of Royal Oak station. miserably to fulfil its responsibility for it will only demonstrate their utter first, coaches could be allowed to pass through Bayswater on their maintenance of the Baths and they now disregard for their current customers. way to and from the terminal, for instance along the residential need to up their game. The general opinion among users is that Westbourne and Gloucester Terraces; We have recently discovered that the we would prefer the closure to take A rotting timber. Hardly a sign of good secondly, an adverse impact upon Marylebone Road and Edgware renovation plans for the Turkish Baths place next June, July, and August, as hygiene standards. Road, unless coaches could be confined to the A40 only - but the that attracted so much public objection these are months when usage is lower. latter is already congested further out; thirdly, access for cars to the A40 (Westway) over Ranelagh Response from Simon Plummer - General Manager, The Porchester Centre Bridge would be closed, we were told; and, veryone Active and Westminster City Council than happy to help rather than relying upon social media, finally, yet more commercialisation of the area we live in — any continue to look at options for much needed works assumptions or rumours. such terminal would certainly have to be financed by building to the Porchester Spa. We will be holding a spa offices, high above it, for example. user group meeting imminently and will update all Simon Plummer We want to know more. TfL have promised to keep us informed Econcerned on future proposals. will even be the terminus. If so, certainly there will also be a new General Manager if they want to take this forward, and we will hold them to that. The pictures shown are an excellent example why we must station there on the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) - to be built alongside Porchester Centre, Hall and Spa The project would affect a large part of North Westminster. So move on with much needed remedial works in the spa area. the HS2 station. There is plenty of space and a new road linking the 0207 221 6118 we look to our Councillors, as always, to protect our interests; and In future any user wishing to know the current position site to the A40 road must also be built, if only to develop the site. you may wish to let them know what you think of this new threat. can contact the General Manager direct who will be more [email protected] So that location, to become a major transport hub, would be a far better place for a spacious new coach terminal. Watch this space!

8 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 9 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER A PARTNERSHIP FOR WESTMINSTER ver the next six to twelve The other major area you can expect to months, you are going to see movement on from us is affordable see considerable change in housing. OWestminster. One of the big surprises in the Prime In May this year I was elected with my Minister’s party conference speech was own mandate, and the heart of what I the announcement that local authorities want to do was set out in my Leader’s are now able to borrow more against the breakfast address. Hopefully no surprises housing revenue account – or the income there - it was the manifesto that I ran on, we receive from housing tenants. Councillor Nickie Aiken Leader, Westminster City Council pledging to put residents at the heart of In theory, this is the equivalent of being what we do. given ability to take out a much bigger – those in council band H – to contribute mortgage. In practice it means we will be I sum it up in one word – partnership. a little more alongside their usual tax. And the partnership I have in mind is able to build many more homes on top of As the law stands, putting up council tax a renewed one between the council, the 1,850 we are already on track to build in one band affects everyone. You can’t residents and businesses. – possibly several thousand more. do it for the very rich without imposing Looking after the people in our existing At lot of that is around listening. new costs on those just about managing properties is something people expect us Let me head off the cynics – this is not strained domestic budgets. Around Bayswater to do well. And the reality is, we haven’t some vacuous ‘mission statement’ but is a done it well enough in some cases. The occupier of a house worth millions new approach underpinned by action. Let in Westminster is charged just £832.54 We took our arms-length housing me give you a couple of solid examples. for the Westminster City portion of their company, CityWest, back into council We never cease to be amazed at the range of topics that people write about for "Around Bayswater" council tax. So how could this bracket Take planning. My view is that what is control because it wasn’t doing a and over the next 60+ pages you'll read about Newcombe House, a medical centre "travesty", art on the pay a little extra without impacting on termed “place shaping” now lies at the good enough job looking after 21,000 Bayswater Road and reports on a couple of local restaurants which we think you'll enjoy visiting. There's everyone else? heart of planning. That means the overall properties in its care. That number an excellent article from Henrietta Billings on the SAVE campaign in relation to the Paddington Cube assessment of whether a development is includes 12,000 social housing tenants. The significant point is that the good for an area, and what it does for the suggestion that wealthy residents might and SEBRA committee member Ward Alsafi makes the case for a 20MPH speed limit in SEBRALand. I was frankly appalled by the quality of life for local people. like to pay more came not from Whitehall You'll find a lot about churches to, which takes us to our first article about a very good cause. casework reports I saw from CityWest policy wonks or politicians, but from The voice of local people is going which showed a lack of service and our wealthiest residents themselves. to become clearer and louder in our accountability. This prompted me In informal conversations, they told us, planning system as a result of a big to ask Westminster City Council’s their ward councillors, that they would HELP ST MARY MAGDELENE IN THE ‘BIG GIVE’ CHRISTMAS review we have just undertaken. For the Chief Executive to commission an be prepared to contribute more if a first time, local people will be able to independent review of CityWest, which CHALLENGE AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE DOUBLED! mechanism for donations existed. speak directly at meetings, rather than made bleak reading. The only conclusion donations open through a councillor. possible was that CityWest needed to These optimistic soundings were born for the ‘Big Give’ I would draw a parallel with the come back in-house. out by a big consultation exercise Christmas Challenge. subsequently carried out by Westminster council’s Licensing Committee (which I If you don’t know already, the council’s City Council. We asked our wealthiest Your donations will be chaired until I became Leader), where housing portfolio holder, Councillor Band H property owners if they would doubled by match- residents are supported to make their Andrew Smith, is a CityWest lessee. His support a voluntary contribution, and funding up to our concerns known. I know we have to deputy, Murad Gassanly, is a CityWest more than 400 signalled their support. So £40,000 target. give residents more of a say, as this will tenant. This is important because these far, we have collected nearly £400,000 (See more at www. only serve to give the authority a more are people who have ‘skin in the game’; in contributions and pledges – a great thebiggive.org.uk/ rounded understanding of the impact of they don’t come at this from some distant achievement for an initiative that cynics an application. academic perspective. christmas-challenge). said would never work. One recent high profile example of the When it comes to making Westminster Since last mentioned Our Band H residents themselves chose council listening closely to local people a great place to live, I would like to think in the magazine, the priorities for where that money was when we took the proposed full scale we all have ‘skin in the game’. The whole the restoration goes – rough sleeping, services for young pedestrianisation of Oxford Street off point of the #MyWestminster initiative works have been people and helping tackling isolation the table as an option following public I launched on becoming leader was to short-listed for the annual Requiem Mass for All Souls’ Day across the generations. consultations. We have since brought celebrate the different communities that prestigious King of Prussia Church on 2 November, this year reviving the forward a fresh vision for the whole make up the City. Other local authorities have been Architecture Award, first given in rarely-heard Requiem by Alfred Bruneau watching our scheme with close district that we are consulting upon until That’s why I was particularly pleased which caused a sensation when it was interest. It is an axiom of modern local 1857. The painted ceilings in the nave 16 December and we would encourage at the good reception our community first performed in 1896. It will now be Government that councils have to come and chancel now look magnificent, SEBRA readers to get involved and have contribution scheme has received. You’ll up with new ways of raising revenue, By Margot Bright the undercroft has gone from sooty well into next spring, though, before your say. You can find all the details on a remember that this is the voluntary but I genuinely believe the voluntary Leading member of the St Mary to splendid, and the figure of Christ a grand opening of both G E Street’s dedicated website at www.osd.london request to our most affluent homeowners contribution is ground-breaking. All Magdelene’s team. in the badly-damaged Calvary has masterpiece church and Dow Jones’s the more so as the idea came from the been regilded and gleams brightly at ingenious new building. ground up. s a long-standing supporter of approaching visitors. the project to restore St Mary The project is extremely grateful to the I will come back in the next edition Magdalene - the gorgeous Progress has been slow, however, SEBRA members who have given both to update SEBRA members on these Grade 1 listed church by the especially with the new building which financial support – not least through last initiatives. But I hope in the meantime canalA whose ‘streaky bacon’ spire you is behind schedule with inevitable year’s ‘Big Give’ Christmas Challenge-- you will agree that these do reflect our can see from Porchester Road - may I consequences for the fundraising and their time on the committee or as determination that Westminster is a kindly ask you to put 27 November at programme. volunteers. This year the target is twice place which looks after its residents and noon in your diary? That’s when online The church was able to re-open for the as much though! provides opportunities whatever your background. In short, a City for All.

18 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 19 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER subterranean work, strengthened and ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH’S CONGREGATION IS BACK HOME AGAIN repaired columns and filled in the two WITH A CELEBRATORY MAGAZINE EN ROUTE TO PUBLICATION chancel arches. As the main sanctuary was filled with floor to ceiling scaffolding, the congregation meanwhile met in a side aisle shielded off from the main church by plastic sheeting. “We are delighted with the work that has been done,” said a spokesperson for the PCC, which obtained the necessary grants and authorised and monitored the progress of the restructuring. “However, there is work yet to be done outside the remit of this Lottery grant. For instance, when the long derelict old organ was removed it opened up a large side chapel space which now needs to be renovated The rest of the needed funds were provided by generous donations from members of the church and the surrounding community. “St Stephen’s is something of a By Mary Moore Mason one-off, said architect Colin Kerr. Member of the St. Stephen's “Originally designed by the Francis Church Parish Church Council brothers in the 1860s it was much altered at the chancel end in several fter nine months of phases of later work which introduced extensive structural additional weaknesses to the structure. renovation of its 162-year- Unravelling what we thought was going old Grade II listed building, on was the main challenge.” theA congregation of St. Stephen's Church Westbourne Park is back worshipping in its sanctuary. Visitors are always warmly welcomed The church was awarded a Listed Places To honour the completed work and the to the church during Sunday services of Worship Grant from the Heritage heritage of both the church and the at 11am. Lottery Fund to cover 57 percent of surrounding community St. Stephen's the cost of the project and was also Parish Church Council is producing The PCC is preparing a display about supported by a grant from the Diocese 4,000 copies of a full-colour, 40-page both the church and community heritage of London. magazine which will be distributed not which will be installed in its front To solve these structural problems only to those who donated money entryway next year. Once this is done Kerr and a team of experts, including for the church's renovation but also there will be an open visitors' day for the Universal Stone foreman John Townsend to homes and businesses throughout community. and senior conservation engineer Matteo the community. Copies will also be The massive renovation began Francini, supervised the installation of available at the church from mid- in January, 2018 after extensive steel tie-bars near the sanctuary ceiling November onwards. consultation about the church's and two massive steel beams across structural problems with numerous Stonemasonry repairs taking place. the central arches, undertook extensive groups including Historic England which placed St. Stephen’s at the highest category on its ‘at risk register’ for listed buildings.

A mural waits to be restored.

for the use of the congregation and the community, and the quite beautiful mural in the other side chapel needs to be restored.” Meanwhile St Stephen’s will be launching a search for a new vicar to replace the progressive, productive and popular Rev Jeremy Allcock, who left St. Stephen's in September after 13 years, to become the rector of St. Martin in the Bull Ring in his Extensive excavation was required. Structural experts discuss the condition of St Stephen's This space to the side of the chapel still requires renovation. hometown of Birmingham.

26 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 27 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER WESTBOURNE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH DUE TO RETURN ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND HOME IN JANUARY 2019 PRIMARY SCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS 160TH Paddington Children's Library. Also on its top floors will be 33 one-, two- and three-bedroom Dolphin Living flats which are part of the ANNIVERSARY WITH A BISHOP'S VISIT Westminster intermediate or 'affordable' housing programme. estbourne Park's St. During the daily collective worship, which is led by school staff, the “We plan to increase and widen our service to families across Stephen's Church children, the vicar and other staff of the community by having larger accessible space to deliver more of England Primary St. Stephen's Church, all children are early year play groups, after school children's clubs and youth School will celebrate Wits 160th anniversary on 6 November encouraged to join in and reflect on projects,” said Geoff Biggs, director of the Westbourne Park their own faith. “Parents are eager Family Centre. at a special service led by the Bishop of London, The Rt Revd Sarah to join in class celebrations and the Added Pastor Sewell: “All church and community areas will be Nativity play at Christmas,” adds Mullally. Bishop Sarah will join the fully accessible for those who are physically challenged, and with Atkinson, an ordained Church of children, staff, parents and guests both under-floor heating and air conditioning we hope all will England priest. from the local community and St. find it a comfortable environment.” In addition, the entrance area Stephen’s Church for this celebration. Behind its handsome but somewhat will be bright, furnished with comfortable chairs and open for austere stone façade the school is Located at 91-99 Westbourne Park anyone to visit and have a cup of coffee. And, the new building blessed by large, bright, welcoming Mary Moore Mason will be available for hire by businesses and residents and is a Road, the school has made a major Hereford Road, W2 perfect venue for children's parties. contribution to the education and community-grounding of the multi- fter nearly three years of temporarily basing itself Pastor Sewell also thanked the community and neighbours for ethnic, multi-faith children of the in several local premises Westbourne Park Baptist “putting up with the inevitable disruption of the building work Church is expected to return in January to its home surrounding neighbourhood, says head and occasional road closures”, for the ‘banksmen’ who directed of 150 years on the corner of Porchester Road and teacher, Simon Atkinson. WestbourneA Park Villas. motor and pedestrian traffic around the site and for The Stowe Not only has it in recent years Centre, St Stephen's School, St Paul's Church and Metropolitan "We will then be holding open days giving visitors an received a good academic Housing for the “temporary accommodation that has meant we opportunity to view the premises” says Pastor Jem Sewell, commendation by Ofsted, but it has a "Meanwhile, over Christmas we will be joining our friends at St have kept things up and running during the last three years”. strong community heritage. Founded Stephen's Church, enjoying with them the conclusion of their own building work.” For further information visit:www.wpbc.co in 1858 with funds raised by the members of nearby St. Stephen's In addition to the church's worship area and community hall, the or westbourneparkfamilycentre.org.uk new, modern, multi-storey building designed by award-winning Call: 020 7727 6019 Email: [email protected] or Church, it survived World War II by architects Allies & Morrison and constructed by Allenbuild will [email protected] temporarily moving to Maidenhead house, as before, The Westbourne Park Family Centre and the and now, says Atkinson, “has an intake which reflects our local community: NEW WESTBOURNE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH COMPLEX - 75 percent of the 195 children, age "SO WAS IT WORTH ALL THE UPHEAVAL?" four to 11, are of Muslim heritage with Margot Bright many starting at the school speaking little English but everyone is working Westbourne Park Villas, W2 toward the same ends... to look after fter three years of mud, noise, Under Dolphin Living’s ‘Accelerator’ The actual church in the double basement Schoolteacher Keson Chanda with two of her pupils. the whole child.” nose-to-tail concrete mixers scheme they get an end-of-lease grant of is an inspiring space, three storeys high and lorries, numerous road up to £54,500. Residents get bike storage with light pouring down through big class and meeting rooms – the closures and a giant crane and free car club membership instead of windows at street level. predominant colour scheme of yellow, dominatingA our street, it’s a relief to parking spaces. Looking back through 12 years of emails green and white mirrors that of the know it will soon be over. Eleven flats, on renewable three-year from residents of Westbourne Park Road school uniforms. So was it worth all the upheaval? And 12 leases, are for families and longer-term and Villas (who included 3 architects, It is particularly proud of its physical years of detailed engagement between residents and Airbnb is strictly forbidden. Sebastian Conran who was then building See www.dolphinliving.com/accelerator education programme, based not residents, SEBRA, planning officers, local the Design Museum & Roger Graef who councillors, the church and the eventual The new building is massive compared was on the RIBA committee advising the only indoors and on ground level developer, Westminster’s affordable with the previous church, five storeys mayor on affordable housing design), playgrounds behind the school but housing charity Dolphin Living? above ground and two below at the I remember how hard it was to get also on a fenced-in rooftop area My own answer is a resounding Yes. Porchester Road corner, dropping a storey this project done. After the second encompassing sports areas and a where its communal roof terrace aligns The building is still too unfinished for a unsatisfactory design bit the dust at garden which the children tend under with that of the manse on the Villas full aesthetic appraisal, but I think local planning committee in 2012, the award- side. But nobody misses its dilapidated the leadership of a professional people will be proud of a scheme that winning architects Allies & Morrison came predecessor, built postwar on a shoestring gardener. provides ‘intermediate’ housing for the on board and worked up an acceptable in dark brick to replace the bombed-out “Church schools, such as St. area, along with great modern facilities Victorian gothic original. design that accommodated residents’ for the community and the much-loved main concerns and reduced the number Stephen’s,” says Atkinson “exist to At the time of writing the building is still Children’s Library. of flats. nurture Christians in their faith, shrouded by hoardings and scaffolding, Most of the 33 flats, on three-year and while the show flats upstairs are By 2014, when the project was approved, encourage those of other faiths and non-renewable leases at 80% of market furnished and already being marketed, the Baptists were hugely in debt to the challenge those of no faith” while rents, are for young people who work in the lower rooms are still rough shells— then-collapsing Co-Operative bank. They helping the children achieve academic Westminster and are saving up to buy really needed their faith. And it has seen generous shells, though, with a lot more St. Stephen's Head Teacher Simon Atkinson. excellence and social skills. their own home. community space. them through.

28 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 29 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER World Heritage Site and objected to by English Heritage (now Historic England), "Handsome" - The 1906 Royal Mail Sorting Office Westminster Council and UNESCO. SAVE initially linked the legal action over reasons to the Paddington Cube planning permission – with a view to ultimately overturning the planning permission. However, this element of our case was disallowed by the Court of Appeal when we were given permission to appeal. This position is was re-stated in 2010, Westminster case in 2014[***], nobody Therefore the Court of Appeal decision and referenced as policy in a 2017 in the Department recalled or had in is separate from the planning permission House of Commons briefing paper to mind the unequivocal promise made in for the Paddington Cube – which still MPs on call-in applications. This policy 2001 (and repeated in 2010). Thus, Mr stands. Since we won the case, Cllr Davis was overlooked by civil servants and Harwood QC was right to submit that has resigned from Westminster City ministers since 2014 without apparent the change in practice relied on by the Council after an internal investigation explanation, and since then, reasons Secretary of State was brought about in (published on 8th October) found he were routinely not given for decisions ignorance of the 2001 policy promise. had breached the authority’s code of not to call-in planning applications. So, even on the Secretary of State’s case, conduct in relation to the acceptance of Our judicial review was heard in the the promise to give reasons was never gifts, dinners and holidays from people High Court by Justice Lang in November consciously withdrawn, whether for including developers with schemes in the 2017, who dismissed our case. This good reason or not; it had instead been borough. In light of the report, we have lead to the Court of Appeal hearing in forgotten altogether.” written to the Leader of Westminster September 2018 in front of Lord Justice Councillor Nickie Aiken requesting a * Ms Nathalie Lieven QC was also the Singh, Lord Justice Coulson and Lord full Council led inquiry into the handling Counsel for the Secretary of State in the The story of the Paddington Cube legal challenge Justice MacFarlane. In the judgement of the Paddington Cube planning Paddington Cube case. – a triumph for transparent decision making. written by Lord Justice Coulson, he permission. We intend to keep up the said: “Since a promise had been made ** Mrs Justice Lang was the judge in the pressure on this disgraceful case. High Court over the initial Paddington promoted by Sellars Property. The by a planning Inspector. In March 2017 to operate a particular procedure then, By Henrietta Billings as a matter of good administration and Cube judicial review which was refused. To read the Court of Appeal judgment proposals attracted widespread criticism the Secretary of State (then Sajid Javid) Director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage transparent governance, any change to in full, and to find out more about the and national media coverage due to the declined to do so, and did not give *** The Westminster case refers to a that policy also had to be announced work of SAVE Britain’s Heritage visit: AVE Britain’s Heritage, a London impact the proposals would have on the reasons for his decision. It appeared to planning application to Lambeth Council publicly. It is not a question of fettering savebritainsheritage.org and find us based charity dedicated to surrounding Conservation Area, as well us as if the proposals met the criteria for for Elizabeth House at Waterloo with the future exercise of discretion, but on twitter:@savebrit campaigning for the protection as the adjacent Grade I listed Paddington call-in of a major scheme– as set out in potential effects on the Westminster simply making public the decision that of threatened historic buildings Station. The area is characterised by legislation, so knowing the reasons for something which had been promised Sacross the UK, achieved a landmark buildings of 4-6 storeys in height, and his decision was critical. and provided in the past would not Another view of the Sorting Office on Praed Street. legal victory in October. the Royal Mail sorting office is deemed a On advice from our legal team, Richard be provided in the future. In my view, ‘building of merit’ within the Bayswater It was the culmination of a very hard Harwood QC of 39 Essex Chambers good administration and transparent Conservation Area – a status that fought planning battle which started and Susan Ring from Harrison Grant government required nothing less. Of supposedly protects such areas from with the ‘Paddington Cube’ and ended Solicitors, we launched judicial review course, this did not happen here because over-scaled development and wholesale in the Court of Appeal. Three Court of proceedings at the High Court against no-one in the Department knew that demolition. Appeal judges agreed with SAVE and the government and the refusal to give they were changing a promised policy ruled that ministers must abide by a The handling of the scheme was reasons. We argued that under the (because they had forgotten about it)." published government policy and give contentious from the start. Councillor existing policy, announced in the House Lord Justice Coulson added: “An reasons for call-in decisions on planning Robert Davis, then chair of the planning of Commons in 2001 and restated in unequivocal promise was made, and applications. This includes planning committee gave interviews to journalists 2010, ministers are obliged to give that unequivocal promise should have applications that were not called in – in support of the proposals before the reasons when they decline to call in been publicly withdrawn when (or if) like the highly controversial Paddington plans had even reached his committee, planning applications. a conscious decision was taken no Cube. It is a fantastic result that opens and the Imperial Healthcare Trust which Our case rested on the argument that in longer to give reasons for not calling up the decision making process for highly runs nearby St Mary’s Hospital raised 2001, Lord Falconer, the attorney general in applications …. For these reasons, contested major schemes across the strong concerns about the impact of the stated in the House of Commons that: I consider that SAVE’s legitimate country. It literally changes the landscape new road layout on ambulance access. “…the Secretary of State gives reasons expectation case has been made out.” of decision making – and is a major SEBRA and the Victorian Society also where applications are called in but, up to Lord Justice Coulson also pointed victory for openness and transparency. raised objections with local Councillors now, they have not been given when he out in the judgement that nobody in I would like to take this opportunity and planners. Yet all of our concerns fell has decided not to call in an application. government appeared to know about to thank SEBRA very much indeed on deaf years, and Westminster City In the interests of greater openness he their own policy: “From the Secretary of for a donation to SAVE for £2,500 in Council’s planning committee resolved to shall, from today, give reasons in both State’s point of view, therefore, so far, so recognition of our work and legal costs grant consent. circumstances...As part of our fundamental bad: but it gets worse. Ms Lieven QC[*] around this case. In response, SAVE, along with the review of the planning system, we have was counsel for the Secretary of State Our involvement began in 2016 when Victorian Society, SEBRA and St Mary’s decided that as from today we will give in the Westminster case. When Mrs we raised major objections to the all petitioned the Secretary of State to reasons for our decision not to call in Justice Lang[**] asked her how it was proposed demolition of the handsome ‘call-in’ the proposals for a public inquiry planning applications. This decision … that the change in practice had occurred, 1906 Royal Mail sorting office and the so that the planning issues could be is in the interests of transparency, good it was apparent from her answers (given replacement 19 storey office block independently and robustly examined administration and best practice.” on instructions) that, at the time of the

36 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 37 AROUND BAYSWATER NEWS FROM THE WEST LONDON CATENIANS SUPPORTING CRAVEN TERRACE STREET PARTY AND LOCAL CHARITIES he West London Circle of the Catenian Association turned up in large numbers to support the Craven Terrace Street Party on T16 June, which was a great success. The main attraction on their stall was the game “Splat The Rat”, which gave great enjoyment not only to participants, but also to the members of West London Circle who were there on the day! The proceeds were equally divided between the Circle’s charity for 2018/2019 (Pursuing Independent Paths), and another local charity, the Friends of St Mary’s Hospital Paddington. Colin Craven, of West London Circle, did a sterling job as MC for the street party, and was busy co-ordinating the various activities that took place at different The Catenians stand at the Craven Terrace Street Party. times during the day. As can be seen from the group photo in front of the As the Circle is keen to do all it can to As indicated in the previous issue, the Catenian stand, Colin was dressed as a help Pursuing Independent Paths (PiP), a Catenians are an Association of Catholic clown and, despite the wonderful warm small group of members recently visited men, and is mainly a social organisation weather, didn’t get too hot and bothered! the charity’s main building, and were whose events are attended by our wives, given a guided tour of the building, and a family members and friends. talk which provided a full description of We also care for our members and their the charity’s work. families who are in need, and engage in The charity does great work on helping charitable activities in the wider world. young people with disabilities to become more independent, and it was FURTHER INFORMATION fantastic to see and hear the students’ Please contact Colin Craven: musical contribution to the Craven Touring the PiP main building. [email protected] Terrace Street Party. CATENIANS VISIT BELFAST he West London Circle of the Catenian Association (which meets in Lancaster Gate) has had a busy summer, as they Tspent five wonderful days in Northern Ireland, when the weather was unbelievably good! It was a lovely surprise to realise how much there is to see and do in Belfast itself and everyone we met was very helpful, whether on the individual outings, or just as we were, walking around the city. The Titanic Experience was brilliant, and in terms of concept and operation, is one of the best such “attractions” any of us has visited. No trip to Northern Ireland is complete without a visit to the Bushmills Distillery, which naturally included an opportunity to sample the end product! Other highlights included a visit to the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (suspended almost 100 feet above the sea!) and the Ulster Folk and The Titanic Experience, opened in 2012. One of Belfast's main visitor attractions. Transport museum. 40 www.sebra.org.uk AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER THE CLOSURE OF THE BAYSWATER MEDICAL CENTRE - A TRAVESTY THE FLAVOURS OF CYPRUS IN HEREFORD ROAD Steve Atack, former Chairman of the Patients ' Guidance Group of the Bayswater Medical Centre in from The Editor Lancaster Gate, writes about the decision by the NHS to close this popular, long standing local surgery. t would appear that the residents of write this piece for SEBRA NEWS Hereford Road are spoilt for choice W2 with a very heavy heart. First, when it comes to great dining, because last month we saw the totally because this is the third time that this incorrect and unnecessary closure of Irather stylish Bayswater location has Ia much loved local surgery with a patient featured in the "Lunch with John and list of seven thousand five hundred local Steve" series. residents, now dispersed to the winds Having previously written about Pomona's of surgeries far and wide and secondly, and the eponymous Hereford Road, we because as someone deeply involved in found ourselves going Greek Cypriot working voluntarily for NHS supporting during the October photo trip for this very charities I am appalled at a side of the magazine. We went to Aphrodite Taverna NHS I witnessed during the enforced and it turned out to be really quite a treat. closure of the Bayswater Medical Centre in September and the tactics they Pictured to the right is Mr Pantelis Mr Pantelis Koutroukkis outside employed. Koutroukkis, the owner. He proved to Aphrodite Taverna in Hereford Road. From the NHS point of view it was I do not know how many people exactly be both an excellent chef and a really In recent weeks I have had time to reflect essential that such a meeting did not take wrote, at the behest of the surgery, direct charming host for the short time we on events leading up to the closure and place - and it didn't. Meetings that did to the Centre but believe that it was in spent at his restaurant. Indeed, I've made A rather nice bottle of Vranec & Merlot Pantelis told us tales about Rosie, known there are several cardinal points which take place were overcrowded to the point the area of one hundred to one hundred a mental note to return when I'm next in (imported by a firm in Westbourne affectionately as "Rosana", showing us one must take into account. where several small rooms had to be used and fifty. The vast majority against the London as I have a feeling that Mrs Olive Grove) went down well, perhaps too photos and describing her as "The hostess in the surgery to try to get everybody in closure. The first is the way this was presented. might rather like this place too. well, as a late night in Hounslow was with the mostest". The two of them and did not see a contented reception And it is difficult to know how many What was patently a closure was Anyway, you'll see from the photo starting to whisper "afternoon nap" in my lived in Maida Vale for a while, opening from patients to shutting the surgery letters were written directly to constantly referred to by the NHS as a below that this is no trendy/minimalist ear. There was no time for that though their first restaurant in Wood Green, but down. Councillors, the NHS or to our Labour merger which refused to accept, at all establishment, far from it. This is a place as the main course arrived, again chosen a mutual love of Bayswater was what But alas, apart from our local Labour MP MP Karen Buck but there will, I suspect, times, the use of the word closure, even that really feels like someone's home, with and prepared by our host. Grilled Lamb inspired them to open Aphrodite Taverna Karen Buck, no high profile individuals have been many. It would be interesting though seven and a half thousand former Greek and Cypriot ornaments, paintings and Chicken Kebabs served with the very in Hereford Road in 1990. came out supporting the closure. Indeed I to know how many people supporting patients regularly pass by the locked and pictures filling every available space. freshest of Greek salads. doors of the surgery. have failed to locate from the NHS or the the closure contacted Ms Buck in order former management of the surgery, the for her to support a closure so clearly Not perhaps the sort of place where Everything was delicious and luckily my Secondly, the presentation of the "merger" latter whom I hold in the highest regard, strongly opposed by so many thousands you'd expect to find celebrity diners but "pudding tummy" came to the rescue with the Grand Union practice was at any source of support for the closure of of her constituents? in fact plenty of stars of stage and screen when the coffee and Cyprus delight best, at times, highly creative. Estimated the surgery whatsoever. So the so called "public consultation" had have frequented the establishment arrived. That helped to wake me up walking times from the Bayswater Centre since it opened in 1990. Bruce Willis, a little and we had another chat with Against its closure were: its results, an overwhelming FLOOD of to the Grand Union were ideal if you were opposition to the closure. But, in my view, Alan Rickman, Honor Blackman, Terence Pantelis as we were keen to hear a little All three local Conservative Councillors an Olympian athlete - for the elderly and that was irrelevant because the NHS had Stamp, there's quite a list and we did more from him. disabled it was bordering on the ridiculous. for Lancaster Gate including the Deputy already taken the decision to shut the have to smile when Pantelis tells us "Guy "I came to Bayswater in 1976 and Lord Lieutenant of the County. Thirdly, the all important timing of the surgery down. Ritchie and Madonna booked a table, began working in the family restaurant Mark Field, Member of Parliament for A very tasty mezze, pictured before closure and so called, (in my opinion, totally I believe the final NHS meeting to axe the but we had to turn them away. The business" he tells us, "and when I was the Garlic King Prawns arrived! bogus) public "consultation" was being part of the patient area. surgery was held on 17 September. I also other guests hadn't finished their meal, working a young Brazilian lady took a undertaken under the aegis of the NHS. The hugely influential South East believe that should have been a public so we told them to come back later". fancy to me. She was very pretty and The decision was taken, obviously to ease Bayswater Residents' Association with meeting but to the best of my knowledge "Did they?" asks John. "Of course" says she asked her landlady if she knew the Together they built a reputation for the passage of the closure, to hold the said over 1,000 members locally - many in it was not advertised as such. I certainly, Pantelis with a grin. handsome waiter! Well it turned out that making every customer feel like a friend "consultation" at the height of the summer Lancaster Gate. as Chairman of the Patients Panel, was The conversation would have to continue she did and so she asked if she could get and business thrived, with countless holidays. Agreed, a short extension to Over six hundred patients and local not informed. after lunch though, as a rather immense her a job working with me". locals regarding Aphrodite as truly a home from home. Two children, Rebecca the consultation period was granted but residents who signed a petition against The surgery now lies empty and I believe, plate of Mezze arrived, which in truth we "She did get a job and we became very and Anthony made their family complete. ensuring there was not enough time to the closure at Moore's the Chemists now (and stand to be corrected if wrong), that had earned. Tsatziki, Hummus, Olives, fond of each other. One day she gave me organise the large scale public meeting marooned opposite an empty surgery. the NHS will not support any applications King Garlic Prawns, Flatbread, Grilled a kiss and told me how much she liked John knows Pantelis well, I've only met required to oppose the closure. Please continue to support them. for a surgery to reopen there. Halloumi, Roasted Peppers, the list went me. She was called Rosie, she was lovely him once but I feel I do too and it is sad on and on. We ate the lot. and she became my wife!" to finish this article with a few words to COMMENT FROM SEBRA PRESIDENT JOHN WALTON say that Rosana passed away in 2012. She left lots of people with many fond atients of the previous Bayswater Medical Centre at full and new patients can no longer be accepted there. memories and a bench opposite the 46 Craven Road have now been transferred to the There are indications of teething problems at the Grand restaurant in Leinster Square which bears Grand Union practice in Harrow Road. Union practice, which now has close to 17,000 patients, her name will keep those memories alive PIf they wish, they can still pick up renewal or other nearly twice as many as before, but in the same premises. for years to come. prescriptions at Moore’s chemist, on the other side of Craven It is difficult to get through on the telephone, reception staff Road. The Grand Union practice is situated at 209 Harrow appear to be under pressure and a patient was told that not Aphrodite Taverna Road beyond the main-line railway, just after Royal Oak station, all the clinical staff, doctors and nurses, can work at the same 15 Hereford Road some 0.6 miles away. There is a stop of the 36 bus nearby. time because of space limitations. London W2 4AB Some patients have transferred to practices in Leinster A decision on SEBRA’s application for designation of the Open midday to midnight, Mon to Sat Terrace, the Hallfield Clinic and Newton Road, which are not 46 Craven Road site as an Asset of Community Value, in a Tel: 0207 229 2206 as far away. The list at the practice in Leinster Terrace is now medical use, is still pending. Web: www.aphroditerestaurant.co.uk

42 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 43 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER THE BAYSWATER ROAD SUNDAY ART EXHIBITION THE CASE FOR A 20 MPH SPEED LIMIT IN BAYSWATER Haydn Dickenson Ward Alsafi Secretary, Bayswater Road Member of SEBRA committee and Artists Association Transport Planning Society

fter World War Two the am very pleased to hear Councillor London County Council set Emily Payne's initiative to advocate up the Embankment Show in for a 20 mph limit throughout the May each year in the 1950's I Bayswater area. A As a member of the Transport Planning for artists. It was so popular that artists wanted a Society and a SEBRA committee member I wish to provide some points to support regular exhibiting area so some started this initiative and to help inform SEBRA pitching up near Hyde Park Corner and members of the evidence. were not moved on until roadworks First, based on empirical data of started in the 1960's when they moved "Part of the fabric of Bayswater" - Art is exhibited every Sunday. collisions; at 20 mph, a car has a less to Green Park. When that became full than 5% chance of killing someone who is walking, at 30 mph, this can be up to a artists tried Bayswater Road opposite As the exhibition grew, the late 1960's houses and galleries, and serious buyers 20% chance of killing the person who is and early 1970's became a turbulent still scour the road. Queensway on the Kensington Gardens walking. Given that many drivers exceed wire fence (the original iron railings had period; by now the show was sprawling The Exhibition runs every Sunday, come speed limits the risk of death is in fact along the road right up to Marble been melted down in the war to make rain or shine, though numbers inevitably probably even higher. Arch and into Park Lane, much to the ammunitions). As the exhibition grew, dwindle in bad weather. A few artists Secondly, at 20 mph, a car will produce annoyance of locals. Alongside genuine less exhaust pollution, consume less fuel, getting space to exhibit meant a night pitch up on Bank Holiday Mondays too – artists came more unscrupulous types, generate lower noise pollution and lower sleeping in the car. Parking on Bayswater usually towards the Lancaster Gate end. particulate matter from brakes and tyres displaying illustrations taken from Road was permitted from 6.30pm on BRAA would be delighted to hear from and reduce road damage. old books and passing them off as Saturday so artists would arrive the night artists keen to join the exhibition. Check Finally, by applying the speed limit across hand coloured prints or etchings to an before to mark their pitch with a painting out the association's website: the entire area, it creates a consistent unsuspecting public, as well as those and easy to understand limit for anyone or sign. In those days you didn't need a www.bayswater-road-artists.co.uk selling bric-a-brac and knick-knacks to a driving in the area. licence to exhibit, so artists took turns to and go and talk to Haydn Dickenson passing tourist trade. The majority of Inner London has 20 Gloucester Terrace already has a 20 mph speed limit. stake a pitch on alternate weekends for at Pitch 260, who is the Secretary Could this become the norm for Bayswater? During the 1970's, the previously mph limit on all council roads, so it is each other. and Recruitment Officer. To apply indeed the norm in Central London unregulated Exhibition became a The reality was that it was not always for a licence simply hop over to the now. This initiative would bring us in There's no need to exclude any roads, determine the levels of queueing. licensed one, and in this way, the line with Brent, Camden, Wandsworth, such as Porchester Road, Chepstow Transport modellers do not input speed safe being on the road in the early hours! Westminster City Council website at: integrity of the show was rejuvenated, Hammersmith & Fulham. Road and Westbourne Grove; these limits into a junction congestion model One night a drunk man beat up an www.westminster.gov.uk (click on to the benefit of the general public and The Bayswater area has very few active are not major A/B roads, they are for example. artist on night watch, breaking his nose 'Licensing' then 'Street Trading'). There is indeed very narrow roads with a lot to local residents. To this day, Bayswater drivers, and TfL’s latest Travel in London For the above reasons I feel it is quite and three ribs before pulling a knife on no waiting list for pitches. report shows under 20% of trips in the of pedestrian activity and would also important for SEBRA to support Road Artists Association (BRAA) proudly benefit from calmer traffic. another one. Artists would wear pyjamas BRAA is also expanding its presence on borough of Westminster are undertaken Councillor Payne. To this end, the upholds these high standards and is A 20 mph limit would not cause any SEBRA committee has motioned to under their day-clothes, which must have social media and you can find us on both by cars or taxis, over 80% are undertaken honoured to be part of the fabric of by other modes of transport, with 40% congestion issues as it is in fact the support the Councillor’s proposals added to the air of eccentricity. One Facebook and Twitter. Visit us at: Bayswater. trips by walking. traffic lights and junction designs which in full. oddball artist apparently used to wear a facebook.com/BayswaterRoadArtists Like all things from time to time, the clown's check suit, bright yellow boots and twitter.com/bayswaterart. You'll Bayswater Exhibition is in a state of flux, and a bowler hat! There were regular also see the Exhibition feature in several SEBRA President John Walton writes: with some elderly artists retiring and a punch-ups over spaces, and the London publications, both physical and online, noticeable change in the buying habits of EBRA already has two sections of road with a 20 They have a noticeable effect in getting drivers to slow Mob became involved, roping off long mph limit, Gloucester Terrace, between Craven Road the public. However, the show continues notably in 'Galleries' magazine. down. and Bishop's Bridge Road, and Craven Terrace, past stretches of Bayswater Road, patrolling Most importantly, the Bayswater Road An overall 20 mph limit would reduce the confusion of drivers, to boast a huge diversity of solely the school there. them with Alsation dogs and demanding original work, which customers can be Sunday Art Exhibition is a thriving part S who now enter and leave short sections of the lower sped money from artists for a pitch. It seems that accidents at the junctions of side roads with limit, especially if it were also introduced in Bayswater Road. sure that they are buying direct from of London's artistic life and cultural Gloucester Terrace have been substantially reduced since There are still a handful of stalwart heritage, not to be missed. The nearest A further advantage would be avoiding 20 mph signage at the licensed artist, not from a dealer. introduction of the 20 mph limit, but compliance is not good, artists who have been at Bayswater Tube Stations are Queensway and every single exit from Bayswater Road, and corresponding 30 Prices are invariably much lower than at when traffics is light, in the evenings and at weekends. mph signs at every single point of entry. since the beginning and are full of these many of the London Art Fairs, and the Lancaster Gate, and parking is free on We have repeatedly asked for the two flashing signs, warning colourful tales of the history of the atmosphere of the show on a fine day the road all day on Sundays – if you can Our neighbours in the Hyde Park Estate have also asked drivers of the limit, which were not working, to be repaired. for an overall 20 mph limit, and in 2020 the same will be exhibition, which over the years has is still unparalleled. Over the years, a find a space! Many artists now accept We are glad to say, however, that both are working, at the introduced in the adjacent central area that is subject to the attracted attention from Brian Sewell, number of our artists have been spotted card payment, so give the show a visit as time of writing. congestion charge. Jonathan Meades and other art writers. and signed up by major publishing soon as you can – you'll be in for a treat!

46 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 47 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER NO ONE SHOULD HAVE NO ONE DIGGING DEEP AND GOING UP... James Robinson is General Manager of Lurot Brand, an Estate Agency Stephen Spavin with branches in Hyde Park, South Kensington and Notting Hill Outreach & Befriending Support Co-ordinator specialising in mews and mews-style houses. In this article, from the AgeUK Westminster Summer 2018 Edition of "Mews News" he discusses why improving and extending property is a wise strategy in the current market. ge UK has been active in Westminster for over 50 years. We run a number of services providing Information James Robinson &A Advice, Welfare Benefits Guidance General Manager and Debt Advice. Lurot Brand But, perhaps the biggest challenge affecting Westminster’s older population is social isolation. Some 43% of Westminster residents aged 65 and o, if you can’t sell or rent your to find a mews that hasn’t had at least over live alone compared with one in property for what you want, what one dug or is soon to have one. It also four nationally, and many of those live Visiting the Bayswater Tuesday Lunch Club to speak about should you do? This is a question appears that we could see planning laws with a limiting long-term illness. Age UK AgeUK Westminster Services. "Same place, more space." many of our clients are asking relaxed for ‘airspace developing’ or what Westminster is committed to tackling the Sthemselves as rents have fallen and The cover of the Summer 2018 we used to call ‘going up a floor’. high levels of social isolation amongst Loneliness, which in the past may have We receive no government or council buyers are waiting to catch the nadir, edition of "Mews News." our older residents. been viewed as a trivial matter, is a funding for our work, so we were In 2016 someone with too much time the moment just before the property occurring void periods between serious condition that can severely delighted when the Howard De Walden market shows green shoots and starts on his hands studied the roof tops of tenancies to carry out these types of affect a person’s mental and physical Estate offered us funding to appoint an to rally. central London and concluded that works and it’s probably only a matter of health and increase the risk of premature Outreach and Befriending Co-ordinator London has sufficient developable space This is a dangerous strategy for them time before either local authorities or the death by 30%. Age UK Research shows for the Marylebone district. Together on its rooftops to deliver a minimum of to employ as when a market turns it Chancellor introduce a sliding scale tax loneliness can be more harmful than with our befriending services we are normally happens extremely quickly 180,000 homes, worth approximately on building works. smoking 15 cigarettes a day. introducing a number of new events in precipitating a race to ‘get something £54bn. There has been growing pressure At Age UK Westminster we provide addition to our regular timetable, aimed bought’ resulting in them paying a lot on the Government to relax current Our Property Management Service a one to one Befriending service for at enriching our older residents’ lives. more for a lot less. planning laws and we are now seeing organise all manner of works, from schemes being approved that probably leaking shower trays to basement digs, older people who live alone and/or are We are a real community charity being So, wise owners are taking advantage wouldn’t have been before. So, with from gutter clearing to roof extensions experiencing social isolation. We match funded by the community to help the of this time by making their houses the Stamp Duty being so high, extending and excel in meeting our clients' isolated older people with a friendly, community. best they can be. Rather than dumping local volunteer who commits to visiting hundreds of thousands of pounds in up or down to maximise space, equity expectations of quality while keeping With less and less traditional forms them on a weekly basis. During these stamp duty and moving costs they are and/or rental yield has never been more costs under control. of funding being available, we are visits, our befrienders provide much spending their money on improving and attractive. Whatever project you are considering actively seeking relationships with the Our iTea parties at WeWork are truly needed social interaction and emotional extending. In particular, with the fall in central please contact our property manager, intergenerational events. Westminster based business community, support and encourage the older person Love them or hate them basement digs London rental values, we have been Tiburcio Sanz to discuss what we can do not just for areas of funding, but sources to be more active by accompanying them are everywhere. It’s almost impossible advising our landlords to use naturally for you. of venues, volunteers and ideas. Loneliness blights the lives of older on short walks and helping them with people, with many going for weeks tasks. Often a true friendship develops We are interested in any suggestions without any meaningful human contact. on both sides. your readers may have and always We deal with people who have gone Although our services are well used in looking for venues, volunteers and for over a month without speaking to the north and south of Westminster, residents who would be interested in a friend, neighbour or family member where we also have our office and shops, taking part, so please do contact me via and many older people consider the we are aiming to reach out to people in our website: television as their main form of company. Bayswater, Marylebone and Mayfair. www.ageuk.org.uk/westminster/

50 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 51 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER SEBRA Summer Party 2018

SEBRA Chairman John Zamit presenting a cheque for £5,000 to The Friends of St Mary's Hospital. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Friends are Lady Jane Fellowes and Dr Rodney Rivers FRCS. From The Chairman t really doesn't seem that long ago that we were planning the 2018 SEBRA Summer Party, but the weeks and months have flown by and before we know it Christmas Iwill be here. Time really does fly by... Those who attended this years event in Cleveland Square Gardens will certainly have fond memories of the evening though and with the date falling on the 70th anniversary of the birth of the NHS, it was a great opportunity for SEBRA to mark this rather special birthday. On these pages we've taken the opportunity to feature a few photographs from the party and it's also a great chance for SEBRA to say another huge "thank you" to those who sponsored and supported our event, The sponsors, in no particular order were Knight Frank, Conway, Everyone Active, WSP, Whiteleys, Veoila, Royal Lancaster London, The Cleveland Arms, Edox, Lords Builders Raffle Prizes Merchants and BCD Property Group. Our supporters, who also helped to make things happen Our free prize raffle is always popular with SEBRA members and once again were Catherine Watters and the SEBRA Committee, The we'd like to thank those local businesses who were kind enough to donate prizes. Cleveland Gardens Committee, Billy Kennedy, Camilla Dueser and the Gardeners of Cleveland Square. La Suite West Hotel Knight Frank Queens - Skate, Dine, Bowl Thanks to Anna's Kitchen for the great food and to Teresa Room for two + breakfast and tea. A day's use of their London taxi. Voucher for six to Skate - Dine - Bowl. Stokes and Christopher Tanous for supplying us with such colourful photographs, and to our distinguished invited British Land Nisbets Ristorante Taormina guests who took time out from their official duties to attend. Dinner for 2 on the Prince Regent Boat. Vouchers for £100. Dinner for four including wine. Once again we received some really positive comments Royal Lancaster London European Land George's Hairdresser about the party, it's certainly very well supported and it's fair Dinner for 2 including wine. Paddington Basin Go-Boat Trip. Voucher for £100 to say that the 2019 event will be here before you know it.

58 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 59 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER CRAVEN TERRACE COMMUNITY FAYRE 2018 For the Community, by the Community In support of the Friends of St Mary’s Hospital and other local charities.

n the morning of Saturday, tall Paul Incredible whilst the parents 16 June, it was all change could relax, order something from the and all hands on deck in BBQ, listen to the music and have a Craven Terrace. quiet drink in front of the Mitre O Pub. We hope that everyone who As the saying goes, “a picture supported us in 2018 will be able is worth a thousand words”, to do so again next year. just look at the ones here! THE 2019 FAYRE If for any reason you were not able The local primary school in Next year’s event is already being to join us this year, please make a Craven Terrace, St. James planned, so a note for your diary: note of the date and hopefully you will be able to participate in this & St. John, opened its The 2019 Craven Terrace Community great event in 2019. doors serving afternoon Fayre will be on Saturday 22 June. tea. For many who have It really is a community event, put on The main charity we will be raising no children of school age this by the local community for our local funds for will again be The Friends of was an opportunity to see So, in total, the day community! St Mary’s Hospital. inside this beautiful Victorian raised £3,500 for local charities, a building; many will know it just fantastic result by any measure! from its exterior.

The cars were Our thanks go to all who sponsored and supported this special day: cleared, the road was shut, tables and A Good Business, Barons of London, Catenians, Cavendish Rowe, City of Westminster, 5th Cub Scouts Paddington, chairs came out, bunting went up, DSE Group, Friends of St Mary’s Hospital, German YMCA, Goldschmidt & Howland, Hyde Park Village Nursery, BBQs were lit and the outside bar set Knight Frank, Lancaster Hall Hotel, The Mitre Pub, Paddington Children’s Holiday Scheme, PIP Porter & Co, up (and a pint or two was pulled to test Priestfield Property Services, SEBRA, St James and St John CofE Primary School, St James’s Church Paddington, the beer!). Taormina Restaurant and our three Lancaster Gate Ward Councillors. All photographs by Karmele Hernaiz.

A little bit about the charities we supported this year… FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S THE PADDINGTON 5TH PADDINGTON HOSPITAL, PADDINGTON CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY SCOUT GROUP An independent voluntary organisation SCHEME Meets in the St. Mary Magdalene’s providing support and raising funds for A small registered charity enabling Inner School Hall in Rowington Close, W2 St Mary’s and Western Eye hospitals. The Hyde Park Village Nursery held an London children in economic or social 5TF. It has a mixed Scout Troop for boys It operates the Hospital shop and out- need to have a week’s holiday in the open day and had a busy time showing and girls aged 10 to 14 years (meeting families around and introducing them patients café at St Mary’s and a tea bar countryside. at the Western Eye Hospital. Wednesdays 7.30pm to 9.00pm) and a to their facilities and teaching / care The scheme is run by volunteers and By 11:00 everything was ready, philosophy. For more information please visit Cub Pack for boys and girls aged 7½ to the weather was kind and a fun day gives the children, many of whom live in The day raised £2,166 for The Friends www.imperial.nhs.uk/get-involved/ 10½ years (meeting Thursdays 7.00pm commenced, enjoyed by all who came. cramped and overcrowded conditions of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and a become-a-friend/friends-of-st- with no access to significant to 8.30pm). There was something for everyone. further £1,336 was raised by a variety marys-hospital open space, It encourages children to take part in Children enjoyed the petting zoo, face of local charities who ran games and painting and the very the opportunity programmes that are active, fun and collected on their own behalf. PIP (PURSUING to enjoy all the provide life skills. INDEPENDENT PATHS) countryside has to Supports adults with learning disabilities offer and experience If you would like more information to achieve their potential by offering a many different or are interested in your children flexible and dynamic range of services, activities; the children joining, please contact John Murphy including a full range of training grow in confidence at [email protected] or on and education, such as literacy and and take home lasting 07932 785 775 numeracy, travel training, creative arts, and happy memories. work placements, and support into For more information contact: mainstream education. Pru Stevenson, Paddington For more information please visit: Children’s Holiday Scheme, 14 www.piponline.org.uk College Lane, London NW5 1BJ

66 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 67 AROUND BAYSWATER THE ROYAL PARKS FESTIVE FUN FOR ALL AT KENSINGTON PALACE

The Royal Parks Experience a Victorian Family-friendly events include creating Meanwhile, outside of the palace, the a magical cornucopia Christmas celebrations continue, with the Luna Christmas at Kensington Palace The Editor writes: It's currently freezing cold here in Somerset yet not much more than a few weeks ago decoration and designing a special Cinema doing its first ever take over this December, with crafts, festive card to take home. There will the palace’s Pavilion, showing all your we were basking in glorious summer sunshine. That weather will soon become a distant memory but carols and more. also be the chance to delve into the seasonal movie classics in palatial we're sure that our Royal Parks section will serve as a reminder of hot afternoons and balmy evenings. ensington Palace, the birthplace history of Christmas presents in a series surroundings! Film fans can escape No doubt you'll enjoy the subjects covered here, beginning with some words on how the parks are of Queen Victoria, will explore of expert talks, and maybe even provide the hustle and bustle of last-minute managed during and after the extreme temperatures and visitor numbers they had to cope with. the wonderful festive traditions some last-minute inspiration! Discover shopping and snuggle up with a wintery she introduced during her reign why there is a sixpence in a Christmas feel-good film including It’s A Wonderful HYDE PARK AFTER THE SUMMER HEATWAVE Kthis Christmas, with a series of events pudding, why we send cards at this time Life, Home Alone and Love Actually. his year’s summer produced landmarks including the Serpentine perfect for all the family. of year, and where the origins of Boxing To top it off, there’ll be delicious mulled some of the hottest days Lake and the Diana, Princess of Wales Day come from. Ahead of the 200th anniversary of wine, mince pies and hot chocolate on on record. As the mercury Memorial Fountain both of which offer, as well as a full bar, comfy seats her birth in 2019, the palace will be These interactive talks will be led by regularly exceeded 30 degree provided an oasis of cool for visitors transformed with music, lanterns and social historians and are a chance to and gently falling snowflakes to create a TCelsius many people flocked to parks during the intense summer heat, with decorations, including the stunning State find out how Victorians have shaped cosy atmosphere. in search of shade, al fresco eating open water swimming and boating being Apartments where Victoria spent her some of the much-loved traditions we Meet Victoria and Albert spots, prime sunbathing space or particularly popular. childhood. still celebrate today. Between Christmas 1 – 4 and 7 – 11 December simply for sleep and relaxation when Throughout selected dates in December, and New Year, the Prince Regent Band David Jordan, Assistant Park Manager Included in palace admission the city became too much. visitors will be able to meet Queen will be on hand to play traditional for Hyde Park, is responsible for Victoria and Prince Albert and discover festive tunes on original Victorian brass Create a Victorian Christmas Hyde Park, often known as the ‘People’s maintaining the facilities and the health why Yuletide was such an important time instruments, the perfect way to get Decoration Park’ covers 350 acres in central London and wellbeing of wildlife within the park, for their family. anyone in the holiday spirit. 1 and 2 December and is home to a number of famous so the summer months were somewhat Included in palace admission Create a Victorian Christmas Card 8 and 9 December Included in palace admission Talk: The making of Christmas David Jordan - Assistant Park Present Manager for Hyde Park. 6, 13, 15, 20 December Included in palace admission challenging as he was faced with mitigating the effect of prolonged high Luna Winter Cinema temperatures. 17 – 22 December (various timeslots) See website for more details: SUSTAINABLE WATER www.thelunacinema.com MANAGEMENT Prince Regent Band People flocked to the Royal Parks during the summer heat. David Jordan said: “The hose pipe 27 December 2018 – 1 January 2019 ban failed to materialise but careful Included in palace admission management of scarce water resources

80 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 81 THE ROYAL PARKS THE ROYAL PARKS was required. Several years ago, having secured permission from the THE ROYAL PARKS MAKE SUSTAINABILITY Environment Agency, we installed three TOP OF THE EVENTS AGENDA boreholes in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens along with a ring main, which Sarah Collier The Royal Parks aim to be a leader in sustainable events. provides us with the ability to circulate Events Communications Manager - water around both parks.” The Royal Parks He added: “We utilise this to irrigate new he Royal Parks is responsible for plantings, young and establishing trees, managing and preserving over ornamental bedding areas and our sports 5,000 acres of historic parkland pitches, as well as providing the water across London including valuable for the Diana Memorial Fountain.” Tconservation areas and important habitats for wildlife and a variety of flora PADDLING AND SWIMMING and fauna. Indeed, the Diana Memorial Fountain is The eight Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, During the high temperatures grass always a big draw for visitors to Hyde TREES AND DROUGHT The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde cutting was either relaxed or suspended Park but was especially so during the The established trees fared reasonably Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's entirely. This reduced the stress levels warm weather, with visitors of all ages well this summer negotiating the dry Park & Primrose Hill, Richmond Park dipping their feet in the cool, borehole to turf areas and, now that the weather period with very few signs of drought and St James's Park. They are among the fed waters and enjoying an ice cream or has cooled, the worst affected areas stress. This is largely thanks to how most visited attractions in the UK with a picnic. Temporary signage was put in have been vertidrained (aerated) and selective the park professionals are with around 77 million people a year coming to place to ensure public safety, for example de-compacted, a compost topdressing choosing the most suitable type of tree the parks for different reasons including has also been applied to act as a ‘feed’. for different habitats, for example the emphasising the need to avoid bringing fitness, wellbeing, relaxation, a meeting process. These include conserving and including seaweed water capsules in glassware to this area of the park. elms at Speaker’s Corner were selected place or as part of their daily commute. to cope with being planted into a fully enhancing the unique park landscapes, the festival site which dissolve in the One of the most famous is Hyde Park The adjacent Lido public swimming paved area. heritage and biodiversity, improving mouth to eliminating the need for plastic facility was also extremely busy and to also known as ‘the people’s park’ and as a wellbeing for visitors, mitigating bottles. The race shirts were made from Even so, the risk of summer limb drop was ensure the safety of the swimmers, the venue for historic events and iconic music and adapting to climate change and sustainable bamboo and medals from never far away, as due to the lack of rain Environment Agency performs regular events such as The Great Exhibition, Live providing environmentally excellent and Forest Stewardship Council-certified water, there was the very real risk of tree water sampling throughout the summer, Aid, The Rolling Stones, and the 2012 financially viable green open spaces to Beech wood. limbs drying out and the wood becoming with the results displayed online and in Olympic Games. the public. A few of the most significant desiccated and weakened. This meant the Lloyd Grossman, Chairman of The Royal park notice boards. There are also over ways this is implemented at events are tree surgeons and management team had Events provide a vital source of income Parks, said: “Sustainability has been at twenty aerators on the bottom of the explained below. to remain vigilant. for the parks which has to generate the core of the Royal Parks Half since its lake which force compressed air into around £40 million per year to manage inception and we continue to work to the water, in this way oxygen levels are and maintain the parks to the high TRANSPORT LINKS improve on our green credentials. I am Applying mulch to plant beds was MANAGING FIRE RISKS maximised for the benefit of swimmers standards expected. Due to a decline in The Royal Parks ask ticket holders to pleased to announce our commitment to also essential to retaining moisture The risk of fire was a constant threat and wildlife. funding the charity needs to generate think about the best way to travel to throughout the summer. As the UK remove all plastic bottles from the course and suppress weed growth. This is around 75% of its own income and a struggled with as many as 60 moorland minimise their carbon footprint. Luckily by 2020. This year we took the first steps TURF MANAGEMENT also fully sustainable as The Royal large proportion of that comes from grass fires at any one time, the Hyde Park is extremely accessible by towards fulfilling this commitment, by Parks compost 100% of their green hosting events. Turf is generally very resilient but careful London Fire Brigade offered advice on public transport and The Royal Parks introducing two water stations with paper waste and annually produce significant management has been necessary to minimising the risk of fire in The Meadow The Major Events Strategy was published work closely with Transport for London to cups rather than bottles and by not having ensure that the brown landscape left amounts of compost to be used as a area of Hyde Park by installing fire- in 2014 and outlines the organisation’s ensure this method of travelling to events sports drinks. Through these small steps after the summer recovers quickly. soil improver and as a mulch. breaks. This was achieved by increasing approach to hosting events and striking is well publicised. it is estimated we removed over 100,000 the mowing margin alongside each minor a balance between the many uses and plastic bottles from the course.” footpath, which gave a larger overall growing demands upon the park and REDUCING PLASTICS All of the Royal Park asre recovering well after the heatwave. fire break space. In addition, temporary respecting and preserving the eco system On site single use plastic serve-ware has SUSTAINABLE WATER SOURCES ‘No BBQ’ signage was also used at key and the species within it. been banned from all events from our Water used at events is also from on locations throughout the park and this Alun Mainwaring, Head of Events at The caterers and traders and everything that site sources wherever possible with park was publicised to the media to get the Royal Parks, said: “We are acutely aware food is served in is made from renewable borehole water used for toilet and wash message out. of the responsibility we have to protect resources. There are no plastic straws at room facilities. LED lighting is used on all our environment. We want to improve the events, only paper ones for people temporary parade ground towers lights MANAGING LITTER and be a leader in running sustainable who need to use them. Water and soft and generators are European standard The park landscape maintenance team events. We are looking into every drinks are still sold in plastic bottles but compliant and clustered to minimise noise worked especially hard in managing element of the event planning process there are visible taps available for these to and reduce energy consumption. increased quantities of both general and operational delivery and seeing be refilled or event goers can bring their The Royal Parks invite you to join in their and recyclable waste, with additional where improvements can be made.” own refillable bottle. commitment to becoming one of the ‘wheelie bins’ being installed in key areas The event planning process involves Any waste produced on site is recycled greenest parks in London. Together, we of the park to assist with this. members of The Royal Parks, event and composted wherever possible with a can drastically reduce the environmental Thanks to expert staff and careful delivery partners, emergency services three bin system separating compostable, impact of mass participation events planning all of the parks are recovering and Westminster City Council recycling and general waste. and ensure the parks remain places of well from the effects of the heat and Environmental Health team. The Royal enjoyment for visitors for many years to millions of visitors have memories of Parks also recently published a ten HALF MARATHON LEADING come. enjoying a fantastic summer in the year Sustainability Strategy ensuring THE WAY More information on The Royal Parks and beautiful grounds of The Royal Parks. the four key pillars of this strategy This year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon our events can be found on our website are embedded across the planning introduced pioneering green practices www.royalparks.org.uk

82 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 83 THE ROYAL PARKS THE ROYAL PARKS It is now being deconstructed and then 7,500 + oil drums will be BUZZING BEES, CLICKING CAMERAS……. crushed on site and scrapped. A shame that there was no clever Close to the flying trapeze, the flower beds around the Albert way for recycling such a large number of new drums. Memorial and along the South Flower Walk have looked There was a massive amount of publicity for Mastaba which was stunning all summer long. The buzzing of bees there has been a photographers' dream. Reviews in the press, TV coverage and almost deafening! an hour long arts programme on BBC 4 all led to large numbers Following extensive redesign and replanting a couple of years of visitors to the Park over the summer. ago this area has gone from strength to strength. What are the benefits to Hyde Park to counter the wear and tear during these challenging months? We are looking forward to seeing the Island being spruced up. The work is to be undertaken by the Royal Parks consultants and contractors and will take place over the Autumn and Winter. In addition, following many diving inspections, some light items of waste (for example shopping trollies) will be lifted from the area where Mastaba floated. The submerged 1950’s car will be left where it is in order for the silt to remain undisturbed. The third undertaking, also in the same area, is to repair damage to Sue Price Photography by Paul Shelley the Phoslock treatment to the bed of the Serpentine which may Chairman, Friends of Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens have been caused by the very large and heavy weights used to IF ONLY……. The bandstand was beautifully restored a few years ago but keep Mastaba in place. there was no money in the kitty to pay to restore the music. ’m writing this as rain pours down outside, it would have Mastaba was a talking point and must have attracted a million or been helpful to have had a bit of it over the summer There is a very short window of opportunity to put on music so visitors from around the world. Congratulations are due to all those people who look after months. It is also possible that this torrent will not be here because the hoardings for the fundraising Hyde Park this area so well. I understand that as much as they spend enough to make up for the hottest, driest summer we’ve concerts are very close by. WHAT'S THAT FLYING THROUGH THE AIR?.…… time working on the garden they have to break off to talk to Ihad for years. Three very different bands played on the three dates. On the By contrast to Hyde Park, across the road in Kensington visitors who want to discuss and congratulate. Our members, The Parks irrigation is sourced from a deep borehole and first Sunday, as well as the South London Jazz Orchestra, a Gardens all was much more peaceful. Cuban band played first with Lindy Hop dancers too. There in the Spring when we plunge underneath the Albert Memorial, pumped around them both. This has meant that there are still Gorilla Circus was welcomed back to the lawns by the Albert was a wonderful response from the audience who joined in the also have a short, guided talk about these gardens by acting many flower beds looking wonderful and full of blazing Autumn Memorial. dancing. manager Theresa Short. colour. There were Autumnal looking fallen leaves though in early August from stressed trees. We will wait and see if they COOL SHADE AND VETERAN TREES…… all survive but I think we must expect some losses. While we are in Kensington Gardens the Friends enjoyed a tour There may be some capacity to extend the reach of the led by Greg Packman of a special group of veteran trees and irrigation system to other areas, which would be helpful. learnt about the planning which goes into their conservation The grass which had virtually disappeared by August is and care. We looked at the historic beautifully laid out avenues recovering well and in some areas looks back to normal, though and how, with time, they have to be constantly checked for the areas of compaction have not shown any sign of regrowth. fitness. There are longer term plans being put in place to deal with How many of you have spotted the rustic chestnut paling these hard worn areas. around a rare and old specimen of a Field Maple in an out of the way part of Kensington Gardens? This clever and The newly laid turf on the Old Football Pitches was top quality subtle new arrangement has deflected the footfall causing and that has done well. It is good to see games and sports being compaction along a "desire line” (unofficial path) right across played once again in this area. Again the irrigation to this area the base of the tree. which was installed in the Spring has been a very great help. I was only able to come to the middle concert which was the Snowdown (Kent) Colliery Welfare Band. As the 32 piece brass MUSIC RINGS OUT…… band struck up with a series of fanfares for their first number The Friends supported Hyde Park with a donation and physical the hair stood up on the back of my neck! help to bring the bandstand back to life on three Sunday Our photographs are from the third Sunday when the South afternoons in August. London Symphonic Winds performed. On each afternoon free deck chairs were laid out, an ice cream van was in attendance and the audiences were mostly made up of very appreciative and enthusiastic visitors to London. We would like to repeat this next year if we can achieve some fundraising to support it. We all think it is great that wonderful, free, live music can once again be enjoyed in this very special location.

WHAT IS IT? WHAT’S IT FOR? ..….. Here you could learn to fly on a trapeze and, as it was quite While you are close by, look at the area where (mostly) tourists close to the traffic lights at Alexandra Gate, it was a complete Were frequent questions along with the love it or hate it feed hundreds of parakeets and grey squirrels. The ground is diversion for the drivers waiting for the lights to change. reactions to Christo's famous Mastaba in the Serpentine. packed hard around all the trees and bald in places. There is Construction took place through May and early June and it was While not with the profile of Mastaba or the razzmatazz of the at least one tree which is nearly dead and several others are towed out to its anchorage in mid Serpentine where it stayed major events in Hyde Park, it was fun to watch and obviously getting close. So many feet in one area are incompatible with until late September. much enjoyed by all those brave enough to have a go. healthy trees.

84 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 85 THE ROYAL PARKS THE ROYAL PARKS

The Dell has been part of a year-long photography project.

The aim is to maintain and improve on all the very high MORE GOOD NEWS…….. The Shire horses have been doing a horticultural standards, the glorious formal flower beds, the wonderful job in the meadows. The beautifully designed new kiosks in Hyde Park will start to wild flower meadows, the Dell, the trees and wild life as well appear over the winter. Some of the old ones are now looking as cope with the logistics of running a Park which hosts all scruffy, some completely rotten and in many cases the inability the major and subsidiary events. We wish him well and our HEAVY FEET…… The site does not get bigger, it has moved slightly further members will look forward to meeting him and hearing a to boil a kettle at the same time as toasting a panini due to inadequate services has become a real problem. In this case the plodding steps of eight very heavy hooves north to share access equally between Marble Arch and Hyde presentation from him at our AGM in the Spring. belonging to the Shire horses are most welcome. If you are Park Corner and to keep the Serpentine Road completely DEJEUNER SUR L’HERBE…… STILL MORE GOOD NEWS….. lucky enough to see them when they visit from Richmond Park, open to all users. they are doing a wonderful job mowing the meadows. Their Other visitors love the Parks too. From Easter to the Autumn The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen (Grade II) is going to undergo Of course all the events bring in extra footfall to the Parks hooves have a greater chance of spreading the seeds in these weather setting in, large groups and family picnics take place. a major refurbishment. The metal supports are rusting and and the visitors do not all just come and go with no further areas than mechanised mowing. Maintaining the wild flower Quieter during the day in this summer’s heat the groups set up, corroded, the concrete terraces are crumbling and the whole exploration. Luckily they spend a lot of money.….we need often enormous, picnics during the later afternoon and evening. meadows is more challenging than one might have thought. place becomes boiling hot in summer and steamed up in the percentage which finds its way back into the Royal The resulting waste has become a real problem to deal with. With police horses (in the centre of Hyde Park) and the Shire winter. It is a victim of its own success. But it is still the best Parks funding. The single largest budget item for both Parks is dealing with horses being loaded and unloaded next door to them this part place to sit in a deck chair facing west into the afternoon sun of Hyde Park is a truly equine paradise, and that's not even waste (and I expect you were probably thinking that it was with a pizza on the go. taking into account the horses from the Knightsbridge Barracks WELCOME….. plants, lawns or trees). The unattractive sight of enormous training and exercising, their smart rather smaller cousins, often With all the things happening in Hyde Park our new manager, wheelie bins placed at the end of all the benches in the most HAPPY SNAPPING…… on leading reins, from the Hyde Park Stables going out on a Jason Taylor, arrived in the Spring to face one of the busiest popular areas and even dotted around in the middle of the sedate hack and the very grand horses from the Royal Mews most challenging summers in Hyde Park ever. grassy areas, has become the norm. We are lucky that Hyde Park Our accredited photographer has been hard at work creating pulling a variety of spanking smart carriages. has its own dustcart, which is fully deployed, and ground staff a record of a year at the Dell. Mostly at dawn or sunrise and and contractors who do a terrific service in sifting all the waste monthly he has been watching the seasons change ever so MONEY, MONEY, MONEY…… to separate the recycling. But it is a problem which grows larger subtly. We are working on a way of presenting the results of The Royal Parks now have to raise 70% of their income. every year and there is a lot of effort going into trying to find an the project at the end of twelve months. 40% of this comes from major events. Other Royal Parks acceptable way of dealing with this tidal wave of waste. There were lots of photographs taken a couple of days ago are, unfortunately, not in such a strong position (for example wild life) to help raise this vital income. Without it we would BUTTERFLIES….. when hundreds of cyclamen were planted under the trees in quickly notice a deterioration in the fabric of buildings and Who would have thought that there were so many butterflies the enclosed areas at Speakers’ Corner. The cyclamen will a drop in the high standards at which level our Parks are in Hyde Park? On a very hot couple of days at noon David hopefully spread and naturalise forming a beautiful carpet and maintained. We enjoy the prestige of our world class Parks. Jordan, assistant Park Manager, took small groups of members are a gift from the Friends to Hyde Park. Between both Parks there are 24 million visitors a year. And on a butterfly transect exercise. The members of staff and the apprentices did all the hard work we suspect that this may be an under-estimate of the true We learnt about the varieties as well as the science behind and we are very grateful to them. number. the scheme. On “my” day we spotted eight different kinds Looking back at my contribution to SEBRA in the summer, I Some four years ago there was a Major Events strategy at of butterfly, admittedly with the help of Dave and numerous ended then too on an upbeat note with congratulations and which the number of events was consulted on and agreed visual aids. He has promised to repeat the exercise next year good news. It’s a pleasure to do so again on behalf of these with the stakeholders at the time. This has been maintained, and we were all taken with it so much that I think there will be not increased, and there are no plans to do so. a queue of us applying for a space. two beautiful Royal Parks . The events are well run and there are regular consultations Jason Taylor - New manager at Hyde Park with the stakeholders both before and after each one. GOOD NEWS…….. Sue Price Concerns are listened to and wrinkles ironed out. The ground staff at Kensington Gardens will soon, we have Chairman, Friends of Hyde Park He has been very helpful to the Friends and you can see an There are days during these events (mostly during the heard, have their stacked up Porta Cabins in The Storeyard & Kensington Gardens interview with him on the front page of our newsletter. This setting up and deconstruction periods) when the Parade replaced. For far too long they have had to put up with this www.friendshpkg.org.uk Ground is out of bounds. And there is a longer period in the will appear on our website before too long. He is busy building “temporary” facility which provides their offices, messing and [email protected] late winter as turf is restored to the Parade Ground. up a strong team to manage Hyde Park. showers etc.

86 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 87 POLITICAL COMMENTARY POLITICAL COMMENTARY

The police Social Affairs are another Jack Gordon casualty of the government's Jack is Chair of the Westbourne Neighbourhood Forum, Chair of idealogical the Westbourne Ward Safer Neighbourhood Police Panel and a SEBRA committee member. obsession with austerity. POLICING BECOMING 'IRRELEVANT' AS OFFICERS NUMBERS PLUMMET In fact, knife crime in London has risen to The Home Secretary, Sajid David. About to be subject to a judicial review? its highest level ever with nearly 15,000 offences committed in the past year. Chiefs’ Council (NPCC): “The public’s Legal action comes in response to the THINNING OF THE BLUE LINE Also, by September, London had recorded, experience is policing that is less Tory government’s decision to award a here are now 1,600 fewer according to the Press Association, 100 visible, less responsive and less two percent pay rise from 1 September homicides, with nearly three in five being officers, including emergency proactive.” He continues: “Core aspects 2018, instead of the three per cent fatal stabbings, a third of the victims response teams, then at the of policing - such as answering calls, recommended by the independent Police aged between 16 and 24. The resulting attending emergencies, investigating same time last year. Yet, what Review Body. Tis even more worrying is the reduction pressure on the NHS is enormous. crime, bringing offenders to justice It was reported that at the recent in neighbourhood policing where officer Statistics are thrown into sharp relief and neighbourhood policing are being numbers have dropped by 2,609 officers, against a background where we have pushed beyond sustainability, and are in Police Superintendents’ Association or 4.6 per cent, also in the past year. the lowest number of police officers in danger of becoming ineffective, to the Annual Conference, Metropolitan Police over 20 years. The unvarnished truth detriment of confidence in the police.” Commissioner Cressida Dick called the The Police Federation, the staff is that police cuts have meant fewer decision not to award the full 3 per cent association for rank and file police THE GOVERNMENT’S officers on the streetslikely contributing as a "punch on the nose". officers in England and Wales, states DERISORY PAY OFFER something that we all have recognized The Police Federation chairman had that the steady erosion of these stronger words calling it a “betrayal” and crucial frontline functions drastically spoke of a “deep sense of anger felt by undermines the police’s ability to many of our members about the way "Thinning of the blue line". Police officer numbers are dropping at an alarming rate. keep the public safe, continue to build they have been treated”. There cannot stronger relationships with our local be any doubt about the further corrosive A GHOST FORCE CRIME CONTINUES communities and fight crime. effect on police moral that this decision The Police Workforce reflects an TO SPIRAL UPWARDS The latest Police Workforce report states must have. unhappy, and untenable state of affairs, that in the 12-month period to 31 March New figures, just revealed from the which is only compounded by another The police are another casualty of the 2018 the number of neighbourhood Office for National Statistics have recent survey, this time commissioned government’s ideological obsession officers dropped to just 53,822 revealed extremely worrying data by the Daily Mail that reveals the other with austerity and the savage cuts and compared with 61,083 in 2015. showing that crime has increased side of the same policing coin from the by 10 per cent, with murder, knife unrestrained cuts that tear at the heart public’s perspective. crime, rape, theft and robbery all rising of our public services and our own civic Here we find that 60 per cent of the across England and Wales, heightening dignity. sample had not seen a police officer on concerns that an under-funded police The Tory government that revelled in ...an under- the beat in the last 6 months. Nearly 50 force may have indeed lost control of the soubriquet of the party of law and per cent did not have a police station the streets. The ONS figures ominously "Top Cop" Cressida Dick - Pay rise decision ia "a punch in the nose". order now presides over a demoralized, funded police near them, not unexpected given the showed that London accounted for 20 underpaid, under-funded, under- epidemic of police station front counter to the frightening rise in serious crime. force may have per cent of all crime Now, if all of this, the constant slicing resourced and under-appreciated police closures; and more than 75 per cent And, yet, the government continue to However, even more to the point is salami-style of the police budgets, and the force. Is it any wonder that we are lost control of the would like to see more officers on foot put pressure on police budgets. patrol in their neighbourhood. that the government stands guilty of current crime wave wasn’t stuff enough confronting a crime wave that threatens failing to address crime, thus leaving the Calum Macleod, Former Chair of the for nightmares there is more to come. streets. Far worse, and much more damning, in all of us? force stripped of resources to tackle the Police Federation of England and Wales this research of 2,000 adults nationwide, The Police Federation of England and Yet, instead of putting more resources in problem effectively. echoes concerns: “…Police officers are was the impression by 57 per cent Wales is to begin legal proceedings over combating this spike in violent crime the facing unprecedented demands with of responders who thought that the Police recorded crime figures indicate the government’s failure to implement government, will be engaged in another that rape went up by 21 per cent, ever-diminishing resources; their health Looking more closely at retention figures police had lost control of the streets, the recommended pay rise for the fight: in court with the police to keep the and wellbeing, and their ability to serve uncovers a problem with 1,995 voluntary with criminals no longer fearing being stalking and harassment by 36 per cent force. The association that represents the public, are being seriously affected.” forces’ wages down. resignations in 2017/2018 an increase apprehended or even brought to justice. and robbery by 22 per cent. At the same the 120,000 police officers has briefed You couldn’t make it up: and, in fact, you of 31 per cent since 2013/14. It is fair It is this finding that is particularly time, knife crime rose 12 per cent. Dave Thompson, the chief constable lawyers, according to Sky News, to start would be hard pressed to write it up in to assume that these figures show a chilling but unsurprising when recent These ONS figures have been released of the West Midlands, has been judicial review proceedings against Home an article forSEBRA NEWS W2! concern associated with low morale that crime figures, particularly those involving following a recent wave of violent and reported in the Guardian as saying Secretary Sajid Javid. continues to eat away at the force. knives, are considered. knife crime particularly in London. in a post on the National Police

92 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 93 PLANNING, LEGAL & LICENSING PLANNING, LEGAL & LICENSING LONDON PRIME RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MARKET UPDATE Nicholas Barnes - Head of Research at Chestertons

SALES MARKET Within W2, average values fell by Availability was better in the prime central London locations at the start of he residential sales market 11% over the period with an average continues to slow across 9.5% discount on initial asking price. the summer, which encouraged tenants London, both in terms of Nonetheless, average sold prices in to be more proactive although they transaction activity and price July-September 2018 were still 6.2% remained price sensitive. However, Tgrowth. the increase in tenant demand brought (flats) and 1.5% (houses) higher than about a reduction in available stock and Adjusted data from the Land Registry they were in the same period five years by the beginning of October the number suggest that the number of sales across ago. Moreover, we are still seeing the of available properties was just over one Greater London in the first nine months best properties attracting competitive fifth lower than at the same point in of 2018 is just under one fifth lower bidding and, in some cases, exceeding 2017 according to Lonres. than in the same period last year. asking price. Property Market Although affordability in the wider Despite a still favourable mortgage The market is unlikely to pick up until London market remains stretched, environment, affordability remains a the final Brexit deal is agreed while the the imbalance between supply and THE AUTUMN BUDGET - NOTES stumbling block for many first time impact of the stamp duty surcharge demand has enabled many landlords buyers (FTBs) and movers alike. Putting ON STAMP DUTY LAND TAX on foreign buyers remains unknown. to increase rents. The Homelet index together a deposit is especially hard for Liam Bailey The imbalance between supply and reported that annual rental growth most FTBs, while the RICS reports that Global Head of Research at Knight Frank demand should result in modest price across Greater London accelerated the number of properties available for from 1.3% in June to 1.8% in growth in the wider London market over hilip Hammond announced of new build property help to fund, and This decline equates to a reduction in sale remains at a near record low level. September, by which time the average the next 12 months. Meanwhile the today that the government therefore facilitate, the delivery of much tax take of more than £250m in the The prime locations have likewise seen monthly rent had reached £1,596. will publish a consultation first half of this year. prime locations may well see further needed accommodation. a reduction in activity, with Lonres In the prime central London locations in January 2019 on a SDLT reductions in asking prices, although Further, this new proposal is another in The need for a truly accessible housing reporting 19% fewer sales in central tenants generally had a greater Psurcharge of 1% for non-residents achieved prices are showing signs market is well articulated by politicians - a long line of tax changes which have London between July-September 2018 choice of properties and as a result buying residential property in England the challenge is to create policies which of flattening and could stabilise next acted to weigh on property transactions compared to the same period last enjoyed a stronger bargaining hand. and Northern Ireland. aid this objective rather than hinder it. by raising costs and creating market year. The W2 area saw a 20.5% drop year barring any major shock to the However, the gap between landlord A new additional rate of stamp duty uncertainty and, according to the Stamp duty is a badly designed tax in sales over the same period. Buyer underlying economy. and tenant expectations has narrowed for foreign purchasers of residential government’s own data, are now helping which reduces the efficient allocation of demand at this end of the market has as the increased demand has reduced property will undermine investment to reduce market liquidity and stamp property, limits labour market mobility, been dampened by a combination of LETTINGS MARKET availability. The average discount in new housing in London and across duty tax take. reduces the ability of families to access housing that fits their requirements Brexit uncertainty and further tax hits Demand across the Greater London on asking rents between July and the UK. Stamp duty receipts from residential and ultimately reduces supply of new affecting second properties and buy-to- rental market during the summer September was 3.6% according to The most recent academic property transactions fell by 6.1%** in homes. let landlords. Foreign buyers also face Lonres, down from 5.3% in the previous investigation* confirms that rather than the first six months of 2018 compared months outstripped supply. The supply the additional prospect of a proposed three month period. However, achieved raising house prices, foreign purchases to the same period in 2017. Notes:- of properties available to rent was new stamp duty surcharge announced reduced by landlords selling properties rents performed significantly better, *The pattern after 2010, when the recording healthy growth of 13% over at the Conservative Party Conference. to owner-occupiers, mainly as a result effects of the financial crisis were at the period compared to the previous their worst, suggests that overseas Prices in Greater London have come of the phased loss of tax relief which three month period. investment since then has had a under downwards pressure this year, is making buy-to-let investments positive net effect on the availability Rental growth across Greater London as although with supply and demand increasingly unviable for many to Londoners of new housing, both broadly balanced the movement has a whole is likely to be sustained at least private and affordable.” Source: landlords with mortgage debt. At the been minimal. Land Registry data in the shorter term by the mismatch https://tinyurl.com/y7tlvn66 same time, affordability issues in the shows that average sold prices in the between supply and demand, which will sales market are driving more people **This figure is an accurate like for first eight months of 2018 were less be exacerbated if more landlords sell up. like comparison which makes an into the rented sector. than 1% down on the corresponding There has been more widespread rental allowance for both the Stamp Duty The summer marked a turning point growth in the prime locations since the Relief for first time buyers and the period in 2017. in so far as landlords were prepared beginning of summer which is likely to fact that since Q2 this year receipts In contrast, achieved prices in the prime to be more flexible with regard to continue over the next 12 months if from Wales and England are reported locations have seen further reductions availability reduces further. separately. this year. In the three months to asking rent in order to attract tenants. September 2018, Lonres reported a Consequently, the number of agreed Knight Frank Hyde Park 6.8% drop in sold prices compared lets in prime central London rose Chestertons Hyde Park 020 7871 5060 to the same period in 2017, with an between July and September and 020 7298 5900 www.knightfrank.com average 11% reduction on the initial was over 60% higher than in the www.chestertons.com asking price on properties sold. corresponding period in 2017.

110 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 111 PLANNING, LEGAL & LICENSING PLANNING, LEGAL & LICENSING CO-OP FOOD alcohol with food, but the Licensing Sub- representations are received within this 108 WESTBOURNE GROVE Committee retained restrictions through time period, a licence must be granted: Moving slightly west down Westbourne the later evening hours. the Council has no discretion in the Grove, perhaps the new restaurant at matter. No. 84 will be able to pick up some VAGABOND The application sought to re-jig the plans business from the possibly soon-to-close 6 SHELDON SQUARE of the premises somewhat, to permit Carluccio’s. Planning permission has One might think that there is a limited an element of vertical drinking. SEBRA been sought for an A1 (retail) use for 15 amount of different circumstances submitted a representation simply years, after which it would revert back which can occur on a licence application. seeking a couple tweaks of the licence, to an A3 (restaurant) use. Accordingly, Nevertheless, it seems that each being aware of some concerns about Co-Op Food applied for a licence to sell application throws up something noise. SEBRA was also aware that a local alcohol for consumption off the premises. different. This premises is a wine-tasting resident had sent a representation in Convenience stores are often a boon premises, where customers can serve by post. However, SEBRA discovered Licensing Bayswater to local residents as a result of their, themselves limited measures of wine by that the licence had been granted. On well, convenience. However, logistical picking up a top-up card from the till. A investigation by the Council, which Richard Brown is a solicitor with the Licensing Advice Project at problems can arise with arrangements licence was granted but with restrictions reacted very speedily and efficiently once Citizens Advice Westminster, based in Paddington. The LAP advises for servicing of the premises such as covering the extensive outside area in alerted to the issue, it transpired that deliveries and waste collections. particular. SEBRA’s representation had fallen down Westminster residents on alcohol, entertainment and gambling issues. This was precisely the concern from the back of the online sofa (disappeared ITALIAN GARDENS CAFÉ residents and SEBRA. It is a good into a junk email folder). The Council LICENSING IN SEBRALAND KENSINGTON GARDENS example of the sometimes competing confirmed it had been received ‘in This café comes highly recommended time’. However there was no sign of the t is not easy to discern trends in terminal hour and other safeguards views and interests of different statutory URBAN SOCIAL COFFEE by none other than the Chairman of resident’s postal letter. Perhaps this is licensing, but one distinct trend in to ‘future proof’ such licences - this authorities and residents. The latter were 1 WESTBOURNE GROVE SEBRA himself, for whom it is one of still making its way around the Royal recent years is for businesses which is something of which SEBRA is very very clear that servicing should not be TERRACE his favourite spots. It certainly has a Mail’s systems. In any event, the Council one may not associate with alcohol, mindful, looking at the bigger picture. via a servicing bay in an underground In keeping with the trend, this is another gorgeous view over the Italian Gardens. accepted immediately that the grant of Ilate night refreshment or entertainment car park, the entrance to which was On this subject, SEBRA is always such premises seeking an alcohol licence. within the residential block. This was in The licence they sought to sell alcohol the licence should not stand, as there is to apply for a licence for these activities. very keen to have a requirement on a It describes itself as a ‘specialty coffee fact accepted by the Licensing Sub- was largely uncontroversial, save for a relevant representation. I suspect that Businesses as diverse as coffee shops, licence that a telephone number for shop serving special coffee beans with Committee, and a hopefully workable one complication – the lack of toilet the licence holder was not too happy, hairdressers and ice-cream shops have the management must be available different brewing methods’. An alcohol solution reached to deliver via the provision. This had been recognised by but the law is clear. In theory a hearing asked for and obtained licences - all for residents to call if they have any licence was sought to serve coffee with a front of the store. However, when the applicant, who had sought to resolve would need to be held, but all parties with appropriate scrutiny from SEBRA issues. This does not circumvent or shot of alcohol, and serving special spirits. the issue was examined under the worked together and the applicant on behalf of the community. SEBRA supersede the City Council’s Noise Team SEBRA attended the hearing. A licence planning process, the Highways Planning accepted SEBRA’s tweaks. The licence has noted an increase in these types – telephone number 020 7641 2000 – was granted although with reduced Department preferred servicing to was granted for a second time without of premises seeking to gain premises but can be an additional or alternative hours suggested by the Licensing Sub- be via the underground car park. The the need for a hearing. licences, and is scrupulous in examining way of resolving issues speedily with the Committee and agreed by the applicant: planning officer has preferred the former such applications and meeting premises directly. Doing this of course 22.00 for sale of alcohol, with the arrangement, subject to conditions. QUEENS ICE BOWL also means that the management can’t applicants. premises closing half an hour later at 17 QUEENSWAY say they aren’t aware of any concerns, One of the conditions referenced above The increase is particularly marked in 22.30. The sale of alcohol is ancillary to a We reported in the last edition ofSEBRA which have been known to happen… is to prohibit the storage of trolleys on Queensway and surrounding streets, table meal. NEWS W2 that a discrepancy in the the footpath, so that the footpath is not which are designated as a ‘cumulative licence had become apparent at the blocked or access restricted on the busy impact area’ due to the existing URBAN BARISTAS hearing – every licensing practitioner’s BLACK STONE RED FIRE streets of SEBRALAND. This is an issue proliferation of licensed premises. 11 QUEENSWAY 84 WESTBOURNE GROVE nightmare. The operator was trying SEBRA has identified with another local to tweak their licence to change and The Council’s policy in these areas This is one such example of a premises This application was a good example the issue by coming to an arrangement supermarket store (not a Co-op) and is increase the areas for selling alcohol, is effectively not to grant licences which does not neatly fit into the of how residents can express specific with Royal Parks to use the public toilets trying to resolve with them. including areas around the ice rink itself. permitting drinking without food. The category of ‘bar’ or ‘restaurant’. It concerns about an application and reach a by the Marlborough Gate, adjacent to describes itself as a ‘speciality coffee Ultimately this was resolved between Policy did not necessarily have an satisfactory conclusion at a hearing which DRAFT HOUSE the premises. easily identifiable ‘hook’ to hang such offering’, also offering a tapas-style food the operator, the Council and SEBRA, allows the licence to be granted but UNIT 1 WEST END QUAY and the famous old venue was permitted applications on. experience for brunch, lunch and early with the residents’ concerns addressed. PERGOLA This premises in the West End Quay the changes it sought. The Council therefore amended its evenings. SEBRA is keen to encourage a There has been a licensed restaurant at MERCHANT SQUARE development is on the periphery of Feel free to contact the Licensing Advice policy in 2016 to recognise that such diverse range of premises, which are not 84 Westbourne Grove in the past, but Much of life is now online. This can SEBRA’s sphere of influence, but there Project for advice or representation premises may wish to apply for a licence drink-led. The licence hearing which took the unit has been empty for some time. create two problems: what happens are SEBRA members in the vicinity. The on a specific application or if you are to sell alcohol as a genuine ancillary place was focused on these aims, and a A proposed operator applied for a new when there is a glitch in the matrix; and licence for the premises has for many experiencing problems with a licensed service to its main business, if the satisfactory solution was reached. licence. There were some concerns from what happens when somebody does not years permitted a restaurant with a bar premises. Contact details are below: sale was not going to be ancillary to residents and SEBRA about aspects of want to (or can’t) use online facilities. area, in keeping with the lawful planning substantial table meals. The policy also the application, and more information use. The licence holder wished to remove Both these issues cropped up on this Richard Brown recognises that residents, particularly and reassurance was required that the the restriction that sale of alcohol application. Licensing can be a very Citizens Advice Westminster in the ‘cumulative impact areas’ have a premises would be operated under a should be ancillary to a substantial technical area – there are all sorts of 21a Conduit Place legitimate expectation that late night and licence which was subject to appropriate rules and time limits. A fundamental table meal from the outside and inside London drink-led premises will not be allowed to strictures. The residents submitted areas. SEBRA attended a meeting at the one is that representations on licence proliferate. very good representations, and a good W2 1HS premises. We represented a resident at applications must be received by the conclusion was reached at the hearing for [email protected] Licences granted for such premises the licence hearing. The applicant was Council within a 28 day consultation SEBRA and the residents. 020 7706 6029 may therefore be subject to a reduced given some flexibility regarding sale of period. Another is that if no

118 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 119 HIGHWAYS & TRAFFIC HIGHWAYS & TRAFFIC

Highways Report TrafficBayswater his year’s Cabinet Report for UPDATES ON THE CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAY AND THE CYCLE QUIETWAY 2018/19 is being implemented and we list streets below where Latest from John Walton carriageway, paving and lighting Timprovements are still to be completed CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAY or commenced in our area. hIs was designed with a ‘choke’ in Bayswater Road, HIGHWAYS AND LIGHTING PROGRAMME 2018/19 narrowing traffic to one lane in each direction, and added CARRIAGEWAYS Tnumerous traffic lights in Bayswater • Hereford Road – Talbot Road to Road and nearby. It continues to cause Leinster Square (northern side).Due to long queues and diversion through start on 28 February 2019. residential roads; yet there are hardly • Leinster Square – North side. Due on any cyclists on it. 28 February 2019. Our neighbours living in the Hyde Park • Leinster Square – Hereford Road to Prince’s Square. Due on 28 February Estate have suffered a great increase 2019. Hereford Road - Footways work is due for completion by the end of January. in traffic seeking to avoid the ‘choke’ in Bayswater Road, and in our area • Northumberland Place – Due on 31 • Courtnell Street. • Inverness Terrace - West side between January 2019. Westbourne Street and Westbourne • Dawson Place. Bishop's Bridge Road & Porchester • Sussex Square – Due to start 18 Gardens. Crescent are similarly affected. • Elm Mews. February 2019. • London Street – North side between • Harrow Road - South side between Councillors of the Hyde Park Ward have Praed Street & Sussex Gardens FOOTWAYS Hermitage Street and major obtained funding for traffic calming • Westbourne Park Road - North side The Quietway is progressing well, a newly resurfaced Craven Road shown here. • Hereford Road - Completion due by roundabout. measures of around £365,000, from from Porchester Road to No 36. end of January. • Kendal Street - Edgware Road to Westminster’s share of the Community Devonshire Terrace/Craven Terrace and takes them into Westbourne Terrace, Porchester Place. LIGHTING LIGHTING Infrastructure Levies on developers. resurfacing of Craven Road. can be safely separated from cars going • Palace Court. • Talbot Road - Between Kildare Terrace These should slow down the diverted Lighting improvement works are now The next section is largely along Sussex towards Westbourne Street. This will • Porchester Road – No 25 to No 45. and St Stephen's Crescent where an well underway and are listed in our last traffic, but may not reduce it much. cause delay, and so might discourage the • Porchester Terrace - Bayswater Road additional lamp column is required as Gardens and is ongoing. Completion issue on page 114. above mentioned ‘rat runs’ through the to Queensborough Passage. the lighting level is very low. CYCLE QUIETWAY FROM is expected early next year. Sussex Hyde Park Estate, which in the outward HIGHWAYS & LIGHTING • Prince's Square - Southern section BAYSWATER ROAD TO Gardens will be resurfaced, with painted direction all lead to Sussex Gardens. 2019/2020 PROGRAMME between No's 1 & 22. For issues related to drainage, EDGWARE ROAD white lines to separate the cyclists from highways and street lighting matters, We understand that most of the streets • Queensborough Terrace. ork is progressing vehicles and a new ban on kerbside shown on the Reserve List in Cabinet members should either: • Queensway – Far northern end. on this ‘Quietway’ parking. The traffic lights at the junction Report 2018/19 are to be included in the • Westbourne Gardens - Porchester Call the Highways Hotline on with Sale Place and Norfolk Crescent will 2019/20 Highways Programme (all listed going from West to Road to No 21. on page 110 in the Spring 2018 issue) 020 7641 2000 East which connects be modified to enable cyclists going East • Westbourne Park Road - Chepstow Our suggested additional works WBayswater Road, through local roads and to turn right into Norfolk Crescent. Road to Westbourne Park Villas. Or visit: for consideration for the Highways Westbourne Terrace/Sussex Gardens, There will be new traffic lights at the • Westbourne Park Road - Ledbury westminster.gov.uk/report-it Programme 2019/20 are as follows: with Edgware Road, at Burwood Place, point where the westbound carriageway Road to Shrewsbury Road. If you receive no satisfaction, please and points further East. of Sussex Gardens joins the gyratory CARRIAGEWAYS get in touch with SEBRA Chairman, • Bishop's Bridge Road - Eastbourne FOOTWAYS John Zamit, and he will endeavour to The section through our area as far as system around the triangular gardens, Terrace to Queensway. • Courtnell Street. get the issue resolved: Westbourne Terrace is now complete, just west of the junction with Spring • Chilworth Street - Devonshire Terrace • Craven Terrace - West side between [email protected] with new kerb build-outs with bike racks Street. They are needed so that cyclists to Gloucester Terrace. Lancaster Mews & Lancaster Gate. in Craven Road, at its junction with heading west along the route, which

120 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 121 LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA UNJUSTIFIED CRITICISM PLANNING DECISION DELIGHT There is no way for residents to know whether or not these cars are entitled to oger Harding's criticism of any thanks for your efforts park there. our association as “pathetic” to try to get the mobile (SEBRA NEWS W2 issue 93) is mast at 18-24 Westbourne The additional problem in Devonshire Terrace is the number of hire cars totally unjustified. Grove taken down. R M hanging around for a fare from the local He compares our small membership As I mentioned this monstrosity has hotels at certain times of day. When with that of Bexley but ignores the fact been positioned no more than 10 parked in a resident parking bay, these that the Bexley association has been in metres from my kitchen window so I am hire cars are reluctant to move when existence for several decades whereas naturally very concerned for my health. challenged and can be aggressive. we were established only last year, albeit I suffer from a chronic neurological The problem would be resolved if after twenty years of effort. condition and since the mast has Westminster reverted to its previous Far from being pathetic, I was praised at appeared my mental and physical health policy that any vehicle parked in a resident parking bay not visibly this year's AGM of the national body for have declined. our progress thus far. displaying a valid parking permit is I was delighted to hear from the illegally parked. Nick Parker Westminster Planning officer a few Chairman City of Westminster weeks ago that an enforcement Michael Nicholson Neighbourhood Watch Association notice is to be issued to get the Craven Hills Mews, W2 telecommunication mast removed taken SCOOTER SUCCESS down. Fingers crossed this goes ahead. RENAMING THE CUBE? e would like to report Resident ollowing the resignation of Your Letters the delivery scooter Newton Road, W2 Councillor Robert Davis over an situation in Monmouth investigation into his behaviour We welcome your letters on any subject that you feel might be of interest to the readers of Road is much improved in relation to Westminster City PARKING WITHOUT A PERMIT Wsince Westminster Council took action. Council’s Code of Conduct, in particular SEBRA NEWS W2. F The regular visits by Traffic Marshalls arking in resident parking bays for accepting lavish hospitality from Send your contributions to: [email protected] or by post to John Zamit, Chairman (address on without a visible residents and the CCTV car seem to have resolved developers, should we perhaps in page 2). Please note that contributions may be subject to minor editorial changes. Please include permit is increasing. A casual the problem (for now). We would like to future refer to the “Paddington Cube” walk along Devonshire Terrace your full contact details. thank everybody involved for their input. as “The Square Meal”? Pthis morning showed 6 out of the total The writer of the "Star Letter" in each edition will be presented with six bottles of wine. Diana Burtt of 20 parked cars did not have visible Simon Whittle Monmouth Road, W2 resident permits. Queensway, W2 PADDINGTON STATION ACCESS PROBLEMS ollowing the commencement men in yellow jackets waving him on, of the demolition of the old not allowing him to drop me off. Post Office premises in the link road to the St Mary's When he did so, he said he would have FHospital, just off Praed Street, I found been filmed and faced a £25 fine. I to my great consternation, on the have yet to hear if that has happened. 31 August, that there is absolutely Although I had allowed plenty of time nowhere for private cars or taxis to for unforeseen eventualities I did not drop people off at the only access expect to be dropped so far away road to Paddington Station. that I only just made the very long, I would not contemplate the uncomfortable, painful walk (with alternative of the Bishops Bridge possible further pressure on my wrists) be able to use the Eastbourne Terrace Join entrance. SEBRA Road entrance - much too difficult for onto the platform with minutes to disabled people. spare before my train departed. I sometimes feel that the great I am no longer able to handle luggage I do wonder if TfL or our Councillors, surge to develop has overtaken the EBRA welcomes new members, making our voices heard when planning A membership application form can whether local residents, those be found overleaf and once completed - following surgery to one wrist and who waved through this new comfort and needs of the people who applications have flown in the face of working in the area, businesses common sense, but equally we’ve strongly please send it to SEBRA Chairman John extreme difficulties with the other - development, gave any thought at all actually live and work in Paddington. or other organisations with a supported developments that benefit the Zamit. so I have been in the habit of using I really fear for the lives of people S to the difficulties for those less able connection to Bayswater. area and improve the public realm. in ambulances unable to get to the Members will receive our magazine a local car firm to take me the very to negotiate these added obstacles. We're continuously working towards the If you’d like to be involved with SEBRA NEWS W2 three times each year. short distance up Craven Road to Since 2014 we have put up with huge hospital without delays, which have improvement of life in our unique part SEBRA please take out a membership. We also host a very popular summer enable me to wheel my case onto the been occurring for some time now disruption by Crossrail. Surely this of London and we enjoy considerable Subscriptions rates are very low and you’ll garden party and an AGM each autumn. and no improvement in sight. influence with Westminster City Council, concourse itself. second development should have be helping us continue a job that we If our readers have any questions about On this occasion my poor driver was been put on hold until Crossrail is Jillian Dart Transport for London (TfL) and Crossrail. genuinely feel has brought great benefits membership or any other aspects of the hemmed in by notices, cameras, and finished, when at least passengers will Gloucester Terrace,W2 For more than 45 years we’ve helped to those who live in, work in, or visit work that SEBRA undertakes then please to preserve the essence of Bayswater, Bayswater. email us: [email protected]

122 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 123 LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA MAGNIFICENT SUPPORT the Friends to work on key and essential - all deliberately revving their engines FROM SEBRA projects at St Mary’s Hospital in the deafeningly. It's an attitude thing, and happens at all hours. write as Vice-President of the months ahead. Perhaps we should have some Friends of St Mary's Hospital and a Thank you also to all who attended strategically placed sonic triggered Trustee of Cleveland Square Gardens who donated in the collection tins cameras to catch offenders and a high which SEBRA allowed to be used on to thank SEBRA for the magnificent fine - say £5,000 per offence - well Isupport provided by John Zamit and the wonderful evening put on by the publicised and a ban on all such vehicles the splendid SEBRA team for the work Association. (as with old diesel vehicles). of the Friends of the Hospital at the We welcome all to the Friends Christmas Edmund Hornby Annual Garden Party of the South Bazaar at the Queen Elizabeth, the Westbourne Terrace, W2 East Bayswater Residents Association Queen Mother Building from 10:30am Garden Party held in the summer in on 29 November. PAWS FOR THOUGHT Cleveland Square. Steve Atack Wandering the streets of W2, Vice-President, About SEBRA I always see these bags of poo. Friends of St Mary’s Hospital Some black, some blue, some outh East Bayswater Residents’ Association (SEBRA) We are a founding member of PRACT (Paddington Residents’ green or brown, THE PLAGUE OF LOUD is recognised by Westminster City Council as an official Active Concern on Transport), which is comprised of: VEHICLES IN BAYSWATER Making a mess of our part of town. amenities association and enjoys great influence in the SEBRA, Bayswater Residents’ Association, Hyde Park Estate borough of Westminster. oise pollution has a serious Hanging on railings, sitting on ledges, S Association and the Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale is consulted by WCC on local planning applications as effect on health and readers Dumped on pavement, thrown in hedges. SEBRA Society. well as traffic and licensing. Our fields of interest encompass: of this magazine might like Who are these people? I wonder who? SEBRA NEWS W2 is the official magazine of the South East Protecting the environment, traffic and transport, cycling, refuse to refer to this excellent Who cannot dispose of their bags of poo? Bayswater Residents’ Association and is published three times Narticle which featured in The Guardian and recycling, planning and licensing, crime prevention and Next time you take your dog for a stroll, per annum: Spring, Summer and Autumn. SEBRA Chairman John Zamit presents newspaper: tinyurl.com/y8tzeuks community affairs. Please exercise some self-control. The magazine represents a compilation of opinions from across to Lady Jane Fellowes. As you know there is no real We host a large garden party every summer which provides a Please put your dogs’ poo in the bin, the local community and is published and distributed to all its enforcement against noise pollution wonderful opportunity for us to engage with our members. The huge donation of £5,000 presented Just lift the lid and drop it in! members, across Westminster City Council and further afield. around Paddington, where we are It’s also a great way for members to meet each other and to to Lady Jane Fellowes, the Patron of the plagued by very loud sports cars, Matilda interact with our MPs, Westminster City Councillors and officers. We continue to invite local residents, businesses, and Friends, will hugely enhance the ability of motorcycles (a group of 70 on Sunday) SEBRA Mascot SEBRA holds a well-attended AGM every Autumn, which as well the broader community to become SEBRA members and as dealing with official business, is a very sociable occasion. contribute to SEBRA NEWS W2.

APPLICATION TO JOIN SEBRA - SOUTH EAST BAYSWATER RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Membership is open to individuals, households and organisations, residents' associations and businesses. Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS. Please delete as applicable. I / We / My organisation would like to apply for Standard / Concession / Residents' Association / Business Your name: Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms / Other ______Spouse/Partner: Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms / Other ______Or name of organisation / business: ______Address: ______NEXT EDITION: The Spring 2019 edition ofSEBRA NEWS W2 is due to be published on Friday 8 March 2019. Post Code: ______Telephone: ______Mobile: ______The LAST date for contributions is Friday 8 February 2019. E-mail: ______(From time to time SEBRA sends information to members by e-mail). DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are those of the writer and are not necessarily those of SEBRA, its Officers, its Committee Members. (Editorial control is the responsibility of SEBRA Chairman John Zamit). Data protection: Please tick here [ ] if you AGREE to SEBRA recording your details electronically. (No information you give us will be shared with any other organisation). COPYRIGHT: All content Copyright © 2018 - The South East Bayswater Residents’ Association.

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Annual Subscription. Please tick: Standard £10 [ ] Concession £5 [ ] Residents’ Association or Business £25 [ ] GENERAL INFORMATION: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP: Additional Donation £ ______(Donations are gratefully received). Contact: John Zamit, Chairman Concessions: £5.00 Standard: £10.00 Phone: 020 7727 6104 I /We enclose a cheque/cash for £ ______Please make cheques payable to ‘SEBRA’ and return this form to: Business: £25.00 Mobile: 074 3825 8201 £25.00 John Zamit, Chairman, SEBRA, 2 Claremont Court, Queensway, London W2 5HX Residents' Associations: Email: [email protected] Telephone: 020 7727 6104 Mobile: 074 3825 8201 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Address: 2 Claremont Court, DONATIONS ALWAYS WELCOME Payment can also be made by Bank Transfer or PayPal. Please email [email protected] for details. Queensway, London An application form to join SEBRA Further information can be found at: www.sebra.org.uk/join-sebra W2 5HX can be found on the opposite page.

124 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2018 125 LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA SEBRALAND W2

CITY HALL: 020 7641 6000 Website: www.westminster.gov.uk CITY INSPECTORS: 020 7641 2000 Visit: www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it

LOCAL TELEPHONE CONTACTS

Police - Emergency 999 Environment and Noise 020 7641 2000 Police - Non Emergency 101 Graffiti and Flyposting 020 7641 2000 Police - Royal Parks 101 Highways and Lighting 020 7641 2000 British Transport Police 0800 405 040 Paddington Library 020 7641 1300 TfL - Congestion Charge 0845 900 1234 Parking Hotline 020 7823 4567 TfL - Highway Problems 0343 222 1234 Karen Buck MP 020 8968 7999 Crossrail Helpdesk 0345 602 3813 Mark Field MP 020 7219 8155

126 www.sebra.org.uk