DOCSLIB.ORG

The Cwh Nightmare Continues

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Cwh Nightmare Continues THE CITY WEST NIGHTMARE CONTINUES – 25 more ‘nightmare’ stories Westminster City Council’s decision to scrap City West Homes and bring it in-house has been welcomed across the city by tenants and leaseholders. The Labour Group’s year-long campaign on behalf of Westminster’s 22,000 tenants and leaseholders has been totally vindicated. This latest dossier of 25 more ‘nightmare’ stories exposes the scale of the task ahead for Westminster Council. As does this tale of misery suffered by a resident of the Hallfield Estate https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/i-showered-leisure-centre-six- 15252793 This, together with two more reports from Labour Councillors, shows the depths to which City West Homes’ performance has sunk. Churchill Ward Councillor Shamim Talukder says: “There is a family in St George's Square, Tachbrook ward, their ceiling partly collapsed for over 3 months now and they get showered every time it rains. CWH only just approved the job to be done this week, upon my intervention!” And Harrow Road Councillor Guthrie McKie reports: “Another CWH case yesterday. 74 year-old woman been without heating since August on the Lydford Estate” The hard work now begins and Labour Councillors will continue the fight for a more effective, efficient and resident-focussed housing service. The Council Director of Housing has already acknowledged that there is a very big job to do. She told the Council Cabinet: “So, whilst all efforts will be to maintain service delivery if not improve it over the next six months, I would be the first to acknowledge that we will need another six months after that, of hard work, to get those services organised and delivering at a level that you and your residents would expect.” You can read Labour’s proposals for improving Westminster’s housing service here https://labourwestminster.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/cwh-review-westminster-labour- submission.pdf Nightmare Number 1 Ashby Court, Wharncliffe Gardens Mr A has been waiting for over 3 months to have the broken fan in his toilet repaired. He was promised someone would call round between 8am - 2pm today. Nobody came or called to say they would not be coming. Nightmare Number 2 Ilbert Street, Queen’s Park On Tuesday 4th September I reported to your out of hours teams a possible leak from the flat above ours in Ilbert Street. I spoke to someone who said that if the water wasn’t pouring through the ceiling it wasn’t an emergency, but he would make a report for the engineers to visit the property. He also promised that someone would call. I have attached a photo of a large brown stain that has recently appeared, probably caused by a leaking radiator valve although I am not certain. Although this might not be an emergency the damage to our decoration will continue to worsen until this problem is fixed. Over the past few years we have had a leak from a washing machine hose pipe, a leaking boiler, backed up waste water due to a frozen waste pipe and now this through the ceiling of the upstairs flat, each time causing a huge amount of damage. It is a very difficult situation for leaseholders in this position and it is a pity that you do not make your tenants responsible for making CityWest aware of these problems in a timely way. Nightmare Number 3 Page Street, Pimlico Our residents booked Grosvenor Hall tonight for a meeting. When we arrived there was no lighting, no toilet paper and no handtowels. If you are going to book out during the day and evening maybe your staff should check facilities. Nightmare Number 4 Ilbert Street, Queen’s Park I am a tenant living in Ilbert Street and have been trying for several months to get outstanding jobs and replacement windows in my flat. They are metal casement windows around 50 years old that were installed when they converted the houses into flats. My kitchen window leaks when it rains and I have video evidence catching water in a bowl as it pours in. A surveyor came out to have a look on 8th August, I called today to find out what is happening as I have heard nothing from them and was told no report has been done yet. Almost a month has gone by and the weather is changing into autumn now and I'm worried for my health and it's difficult to afford to heat my home. I am on benefits so have limited funds. The windows let in a lot of draught so I get very cold in winter. I recently had a level access shower fitted by Able2 in my bathroom but in the winter the condensation from the shower forms ice inside the window and it's freezing in there, everything is damp. At the back of my flat there is a virginia creeper plant growing from the property next door and it blocks the hot water vent from the flat above. I have called CityWest about this several times but nothing has been done and I'm worried about the lady living there and carbon monoxide seeping back into the flat as the vent is completely covered in the creeper - it's stuck to the wall like glue. I had a flood in my kitchen from blocked drains and sewage water all over my kitchen. It took 4 months to get it replaced by CityWest. After it was finished the gaps for the joints were huge and couldn't be filled and they put the new floor straight over the top of the old one without levelling it first and I can feel grit underneath when I walk. The surveyor that came out said it would be replaced but again I have heard nothing. it's a constant battle to get anything done with CityWest homes. I would appreciate some advice. Nightmare Number 5 Ashbridge Street, Church Street I live in Ashbridge Street with my two children and husband. Since Tuesday, due to a leak coming from upstairs, we have had our electricity switched off as the electric's cupboard was filling with water. City west homes has given us an option to stay in a hotel in Wembley. We did stay there on Friday and Saturday but had to come back Sunday night as Monday morning the children had to be at school. Since last week I have been asking to be put in any vacant property near me so that we can cope during this situation which in no aspect was any of our fault. My children are suffering as they are either in a flat without lights, fridge etc or in a hotel room. We are all very sad and frustrated. The leak started a long time ago, and I have been regularly calling the council explaining that I have been getting water from the ceiling and the bathroom started disintegrating. The kitchen and hallway followed and I kept calling and reporting. The walls, door and flooring got destroyed as the leak goes inside the door and through the wall. City west homes, despite me insisting that there is a leak from upstairs, decided to fit a dehumidifier. In the meantime they did find out that there was indeed a leak, but the answer I have been getting is that the flat upstairs belongs to a leaseholder and that they cannot do anything about that. They asked me to knock on the neighbour’s door and ask him to do something about it. As many times as I knocked I did not get a response. In the meantime, we kept and keep on living in damp, mould and recently without electricity. I am asking in despair as a mother who is seeing their children upset and does not know who to address anymore. Nightmare Number 6 Westminster North I’m in a wheelchair. I’m on my own. The kitchen taps are damaged and I can’t get myself a drink. Also, I can’t open the kitchen cupboard as the door’s jammed. Now I’ve got no hot water. I have to wash in cold water. Just over a week ago the engineer called and said a new part is needed in the tank. Just now, as I hadn’t heard anything, I called the repairs line and after waiting a long time to get through and after explaining my situation to several people I was asked to hold on and I was cut off. I have had enough!! Please, please can you do something about this? Nightmare Number 7 Lillington Gardens, Tachbrook I would like to inform you of a matter that is ongoing on the Lillington Gardens Estate for one of my neighbours who is a pensioner and who asked me to help re some unwanted aerials on the side of her property for which she is the tenant. The aerials do not belong to her and have been in place for more than ten years and were also being used by her neighbour to grow plants up them and have bird boxes positioned on them. The aerials are big and rusty and an eyesore. I approached City West on her behalf and enquired about their removal and they were corresponding with me from when the first email was sent in October 2017. However, City West then decided to tell me it was 'case closed', none of my business and that one of their staff had spoken by phone to her and she had suddenly agreed to close the case without the aerials being removed.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Back by Public Demand!
    SEBRA NEWS W2 PROBABLY THE Back by MOST TALKED ABOUT Public Demand!GARDEN PARTY IN WESTMINSTER JOHN ZAMIT PRESENTS ISSUE No 93 A SEBRA PRODUCTION SUMMER 2018 “ “ ““ CARRYCARRY ONON NHSNHS ‘U’ THANK YOU NHS SEBRA SUMMER GARDEN PARTY 5 JULY 2018 ON THIS DAY 70 YEARS AGO THE NHS WAS BORN INTRODUCTION In this Issue From the THE GREATEST INTRODUCTION 10 BRIDGE GRAFITTI 40 LITTLE BARBER SHOP FROM THE CHAIRMAN 3 Chairman FROM THE EDITOR 4 Chairman: John Zamit SAFETY VALVE Email: [email protected] DELIVERY SCOOTER WOES 6 Phone: 020 7727 6104 BANK CLOSURE AT SHORT NOTICE 8 Mobile: 074 3825 8201 AN UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT? 9 Address: 2 Claremont Court LABOUR UPS ITS VOTE 11 Queensway, London W2 5HX AROUND BAYSWATER STATUE SPARKLING AGAIN 12 elcome to the Summer Also, we advised our local Councillors Also as you have may have read in the ON THE BUSES - HOLD ON TIGHT 13 2018 issue of SEBRA of our surprise at the publication of the press and on seen on TV, Business Rates "NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE" 17 NEWS W2. It's another report during a "purdah" period during can be crippling. (These rates are not set LUNCH IN THE SUN AT POMONA'S 21 bumper edition running to the local elections. As a result the report by Westminster Council and nor do they POLICING THE CAPITAL 24 Wover 120 pages. We delayed publishing was pulled by Stuart Love, Westminstrer receive the full amount levied). NEWCOMBE HOUSE BATTLE LINES 29 due to some late stories we wanted to City Council's Chief Executive.
    [Show full text]
  • Westminster City Plan Consolidated with All Changes Since November 2013Enovember
    Westminster City Plan Consolidated with all changes since November 2013eNovember Revision to Westminster's City Plan November 2016 This November 2016 version incorporates all changes since November 2013, including those made as part of the Mixed Use Revision, Basements Revision, Special Policy Areas Revision and Policies Map Revision. Maps reproduced from Ordinance Survey mapping with the sanction of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. City of Westminster 2009 LA 100019597. Land Use Pie Charts for areas in Part III are based on pipeline data from Westminster City Council’s land use monitoring. Photographic references: Page 12: “Pumphouse, Pimlico District Heating Undertaking” by Jodi Squirmelia Page 16: Image of Westminster by Wenzer Holler dated 1647 reproduced with permission of Westminster City Archives Page 43: Photograph courtesy of Savile Row Bespoke Page 46: ‘A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds’’ Page 63: Legible London photograph from Transport for London Page 102: Carmine, Merchant Square, Paddington, W2 . Client: European Land & Property Ltd. Architect: Mossessian & Partners Page 117: Gap House, Bayswater, W2. Client: Luke Tozer. Architect: Pitman Tozer Page 137: Hybrid Bus from Volvo Page 143: Westminster Academy, Harrow Road, W2. Client: Westminster Academy, Westminster City Council, DCSB and Exilarch Foundation. Architect: Tim Soar/Alford Hall Monaghan. Page 146: Aerial photo from www.maps.live.com Page 154: Composite image from CityWest Homes Page 158: Oxford Street photograph from Transport for London taken by Ian Bell Page 160: Underground photograph from Transport for London FOREWORD Welcome to Westminster’s City Plan Westminster is unique.
    [Show full text]
  • Churchill Gardens Conservation Area Audit 2 CONTENTS
    CHURCHILL 43 CONSERVATION AREA AUDIT AREA CONSERVATION GARDENS This conservation area audit is accurate as of the time of publication, 15 April 2005 Until this audit is next revised, amendments to the statutory list made after 15/04/2005 will not be represented on the map at Figure 20. For up to date information about the listing status of buildings in the Churchill Gardens Conservation Area please contact the council’s South Area Planning Team on 020 7641 2681. Document Status: Adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance Document ID No.: 2394 This report is based on a draft prepared by Alan Baxter and Associates. Department of Planning and City Development, Development Planning Services, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QPwww.westminster.gov.uk PREFACE Since the designation of the first conservation areas in 1967 the City Council has undertaken a comprehensive programme of conservation area designation, extensions and policy development. There are now 53 conservation areas in Westminster, covering 76% of the City. These conservation areas are the subject of detailed policies in the Unitary Development Plan and in Supplementary Planning Guidance. In addition to the basic activity of designation and the formulation of general policy, the City Council is required to undertake conservation area appraisals and to devise local policies in order to protect the unique character of each area. Although this process was first undertaken with the various designation reports, more recent national guidance (as found in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 and the English Heritage Conservation Area Practice and Conservation Area Appraisal documents) requires detailed appraisals of each conservation area in the form of formally approved and published documents.
    [Show full text]
  • Heathrow Plans, Further Crossrail Delays, Fundraising in Bayswater and Much, Much More
    SEBRA NEWS W2 ISSUE No 95 SPRING 2019 HEATHROW PLANS, FURTHER CROSSRAIL DELAYS, FUNDRAISING IN BAYSWATER AND MUCH, MUCH MORE... In this Issue HEATHROW PLANS PROTESTS OVER INTRODUCTION 5 WILL AFFECT LIVES 8 ROYAL OAK FROM THE CHAIRMAN 2 SAFETY VALVE A SCANDALOUS SITUATION 4 PORCHESTER TURKISH BATHS 20 THE DESECRATION OF W2 21 AROUND BAYSWATER SAD LOSS OF A SEBRA LEGEND 24 THE LEADER ON LOCAL ISSUES 25 EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO SEBRA 27 WAITING FOR THE KETTLE 30 THE 2018 SEBRA AGM 32 HOW HEALTHY IS BAYSWATER? 34 DIGGING DEEP NEXT DOOR 48 FAREWELL TO ROBERT DAVIS 50 FIRST THEY TOOK THE TREES 57 LAUNCHING LES FILLES 58 CROSSRAIL - THE BOB ROGERS' MISS THE BUS? 68 16 DELAYS CONTINUE 40 CORNER RETURNS SAD FATE OF A WAR MEMORIAL 72 PORCHESTER CENTRE NEWS 74 POLICE PARTNERSHIPS 80 THE ROYAL PARKS MISSION INVERTEBRATE 88 SURVEY RESULTS 90 NEWS FROM THE PARKS' FRIENDS 92 THE 2019 SERPENTINE PAVILION 95 POLITICAL COMMENTARY REPORT FROM KAREN BUCK MP 96 A POLICE DOUBLE WHAMMY 98 CITY HALL NEWS MAYORAL CONTEST 100 BUDGETS - SPRING UPDATE 104 A NEW WARD COUNCILLOR 108 A SPECTACULAR NEW CUBE UPDATE - HELPING STREET POPULATION 114 62 LOOK FOR CHURCH 120 DEMOLITION DONE SHOUT AND KEEP SHOUTING 115 PLANNING, LEGAL & LICENSING PROPERTY MARKET UPDATES 116 BREXIT AND YOUR FAMILY 122 LICENSING SEBRALAND 126 HIGHWAYS & TRAFFIC HIGHWAYS REPORT 128 TRAFFIC BAYSWATER 129 BETTER OXFORD STREET? 130 LETTERS & ABOUT SEBRA YOUR LETTERS 132 JOIN SEBRA 133 ABOUT SEBRA 135 SEBRALAND 136 SEBRA NEWS W2 - SPRING 2019 1 INTRODUCTION SEBRA From the ‘I HAVE A DREAM’ I am happy to join with you today in what will go down as the greatest Chairman dream in the history of Bayswater! Chairman: John Zamit I have a dream that one day the Public Realm scheme in Queensway Email: [email protected] will commence! Phone: 020 7727 6104 I have a dream that one day Mobile: 074 3825 8201 our neighbourhood will be free of crime! Think central Address: 2 Claremont Court, Queensway, I have a dream that one day London W2 5HX our streets will be free from organised begging! I have a dream that one day London property.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Contact the Council
    Ismael, Raul, Emil, Laura and Pharon in St John’s Wood Library #MySt John’s Wood #MyWestminster What’s your #MyWestminster Lowest Band D Council Tax in the country How to contact More information inside the council and get value for money from local services 2018 – 2019 02 Dear resident #MyWestminster 03 By working hard to make your money go further, I am pleased to report that Westminster has once again set the lowest Band D Council Tax in the country for 2018/19. A low Council Tax means we help and support those on lower and fixed incomes whose finances may be under most pressure from increases in household expenses. How to contact the council More information is included in this booklet on how your Council Tax is calculated and how it supports the local services that are most important to you. You may have heard about our new voluntary Community Contribution Scheme. We’re introducing this because some residents in higher value properties have asked us if they can pay more to support local services. It will provide a way for people who want, and are able, to make a voluntary contribution to support additional local services. You can find out more about the scheme online atwestminster.gov.uk/mywestminster Some have asked why we haven’t just raised Council Tax. National legislation dictates that if a local authority plans to raise Council Tax it has to be across all Bands, which means everyone would have to pay more and we believe it is our duty to protect those on the lowest incomes.
    [Show full text]
  • Abandoned Vehicles and Parking Infringements
    Abandoned vehicles and parking infringements Purpose Is to ensure that abandoned vehicles left on CityWest Homes managed land are reported and removed in line with the council’s responsibilities. Is to ensure that parking infringements are managed appropriately. Scope This procedure applies to both residents and non-residents. Use this procedure when vehicles have been abandoned or are causing a parking infringement on CityWest Homes managed land. Personal information required Name and address of vehicle owner Data is managed by CityWest Homes and used in line with GDPR regulations. All documents are to be scanned onto Swordfish and managed in accordance with the Document/Data retention policy and schedule. Do not keep hard copies. A password protected spreadsheet is kept to maintain records so that repeat offenders can be identified and the case escalated. Data is provided by the DVLA under the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and is only used for the purposes of parking enforcement Responsibility The housing services advisor is responsible for managing this process. The housing services manager authorises action against the vehicle/owner. Procedure 1. The housing management team are notified of a suspected abandoned vehicle or parking infringement on CityWest Homes managed land. See appendix 1 for common characteristics of an abandoned vehicle or parking infringement. 2. The housing services advisor (HSA) visits the area and completes the vehicle details checklist (appendix 2) within 24 hours. The advisor also takes photos and stores these with the checklist in their Area parking enforcement folder and updates the parking enforcement tracker (located in the G-Drive).
    [Show full text]
  • Westminster Ward Universal Credit Support Services
    Westminster Ward Universal Credit Support Services 1 Table of Contents Abbey Road – Universal Credit support services ................................... 3 Bayswater - Universal Credit support services ....................................... 4 Bryanston and Dorset Square - Universal Credit support services ..... 5 Church Street - Universal Credit support services ................................. 6 Churchill - Universal Credit support services .......................................... 7 Harrow Road - Universal Credit support services .................................. 8 Hyde Park - Universal Credit support services ....................................... 9 Knightsbridge and Belgravia - Universal Credit support services ...... 10 Lancaster Gate - Universal Credit support services ............................ 11 Little Venice - Universal Credit support services .................................. 12 Maida Vale - Universal Credit support services.................................... 13 Marylebone High Street – Universal Credit support services ............. 14 Queen’s Park – Universal Credit support services .............................. 15 Regent’s Park – Universal Credit support services .............................. 16 St James’ – Universal Credit support services .................................... 17 Tachbrook – Universal Credit support services .................................... 18 Vincent Square – Universal Credit support services ........................... 19 Warwick – Universal Credit support services.......................................
    [Show full text]
  • Queen's Park Estate Conservation Area
    QUEEN’S PARK 29 CONSERVATION AREA AUDIT AREA CONSERVATION ESTATE Document Title: Queens Park Estate Conservation Area Audit Document Status: Adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance Date: 15 April 2005 Document Id No.: 1127 Produced by: Department of Planning and City Development, Development Planning Services, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP www.westminster.gov.uk PREFACE Since the designation of the first conservation areas in 1967 the City Council has undertaken a comprehensive programme of conservation area designation, extensions and policy development. There are now 53 conservation areas in Westminster, covering 76% of the City. These conservation areas are the subject of detailed policies in the Unitary Development Plan and in Supplementary Planning Guidance. In addition to the basic activity of designation and the formulation of general policy, the City Council is required to undertake conservation area appraisals and to devise local policies in order to protect the unique character of each area. Although this process was first undertaken with the various designation reports, more recent national guidance (as found in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 and the English Heritage Conservation Area Practice and Conservation Area Appraisal documents) requires detailed appraisals of each conservation area in the form of formally approved and published documents. This enhanced process involves the review of original designation procedures and boundaries; analysis of historical development; identification of all listed buildings and those unlisted buildings making a positive contribution to an area; and the identification and description of key townscape features, including street patterns, trees, open spaces and building types. Given the number and complexity of Westminster’s conservation areas the appraisal process has been broken down into three stages, the first two of which are complete.
    [Show full text]
  • Lillington and Longmoore Gardens Conservation Area Audit As a Supplementary Planning Document
    CONSERVATION AREA AUDIT 49 Lillington and Longmoore Gardens Date: 07.02.2012 Status: Adopted Supplementary Planning Document Document ID No: Representations to: Conservation Area Audit, Built Environment, Westminster City Council, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP E-mail: [email protected] Direct Tel: 020 7641 8705/8019 Built Environment City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP www.westminster.gov.uk CONSERVATION AREA AUDIT | LILLINGTON AND LONGMOORE GARDENS P2 PREFACE audits and management proposals for each of its conservation areas. All of these Westminster is proud of its exceptional audits are now adopted as Supplementary built environment, which is a defining Planning Documents and as such aspect of the character of the City. This they form part of Westminster’s Local character derives not just from our best Development Framework and the guidance known landmarks but also the wider within them will be used to determine historic environment, the importance of planning applications. which is recognised through designation of local areas of special architectural and Westminster’s recent designations historic interest, known as conservation have increasingly recognised the areas. importance of the City’s twentieth century heritage. Commissioned in the 1960s by Conservation areas were first designated Westminster City Council, the Lillington in Westminster in 1967 and since this Gardens Estate was designated as a time, the City Council has undertaken conservation area in 1990 and is widely a comprehensive programme of recognised as an exemplar for successful conservation area designation, extensions high density, mid-rise housing. The and policy development. There are now conservation area was extended in 2012 to 56 conservation areas in Westminster, include the adjoining Longmoore Gardens.
    [Show full text]