May E-Newsleter

16/05/2014
1. Closure of the Jubilee Centre to go ahead
2. High Speed 2 - refectng local concerns
3. A beter deal for private tenants
4. Getng it right for Westminster schools
5. London police numbers contnue to fall
6. Farewell to Paddington Law Centre
7. Protect yourself from air polluton - walk away from the kerb, says advisor
8. Local round-up

Closure of the Jubilee Centre



People protestng the closure of the Jubilee Sports Centre

I was very sorry that Westminster Council went ahead with giving planning permission to allow the demoliton of the Jubilee Sports Centre, and its replacement by (mostly) high-value housing, and the build-
ing of a new sports centre on the Moberly site, in Brent.
This decision was taken despite strong local oppositon, including from the 5000 people who signed a petton against the plans. It was also challenged at the last minute by Sport England, who are concerned
about the loss of squash and open play space.
The decision means:
The loss of the Jubilee Sports Centre in the heart of Queens Park. A new sports centre, but in a less convenient locaton for most Westminster residents, with discounted prices for Brent residents given as
part of the deal for their planning agreement. Westminster cannot even tell us how much this deal - which helped make sure Brent Council approved the Moberley re-build - is worth!
The loss of open-air play space next to the centre.
The building of 72 new homes on the Jubilee site for sale at open market prices. As nearby new build homes have been advertsed for sale at 800 900,000 for 1 and 2 bed propertes, these new fats
and houses will be far out-of-reach of most local people, and will do nothing to relieve housing need.
Although the decision has been made, there have been some concessions, notably the agreement to build a new hall on the Jubilee site, for community use. Together with local Labour councillors, I am also
stll fghtng for more, and improved, sports/play space in and around Queens Park, which is very densely populated, and which needs places for people to play which do not have to be pre-booked and paid
for.
I also believe the Council must do far more to meet real local housing need - with the new Jubilee homes being unafordable for most people, and with only luxury housing being built at local sites like the for-
mer police staton at Harrow Road, the former Adult Educaton Centre on Amberley Road, the Elephant and Castle pub on Elgin Avenue and so on, it is vital that afordable housing for local people must also be
provided.
High Speed 2
Britain has one of the worlds major economies and a growing populaton and, over the coming 20, 30 and 40 years, we will need to upgrade our transport infrastructure, just as the Victorians understood
when they frst invested in rail over a century ago. Long-distance rail demand has doubled in the past 15 years, with a growth rate of 5 per cent a year - and we certainly dont want to see these journeys
move onto the roads or planes. Whilst appreciatng the genuine concerns that many people have, and with some important local reservatons, I therefore support the principle of a new north-south rail
line. However, just as there cant be any blank cheque for HS2, allowing costs to get out of control, - so we must be able to press for specifc variatons to protect our communites from the impact of HS2.
On the specifc local issues:
The planned route currently runs deep underground through the very north-western corner of Queens Park, and I want to run this stretch of tunnel under the existng rail line instead. I also want an alterna-
tve to the suggested ventlaton shaf just over the borough border in Brent, not least because this is such a trafc hot-spot already, and cannot cope with the additonal disrupton that the constructon would
cause.
You can read my leter to the Department of Transport and the HS2 company here:
The link to Westminster Councils report is here:

Getng it right for Westminsters schools
Westminsters schools have been transformed over the past ffeen years, but the latest wave of changes has been beset with problems. The founder of the Westminster CET Free School in Paddington - which
received a poor OFSTED inspecton report this spring - has warned of the dangers of Free Schools being set up too fast and without adequate support. The Times Educatonal Supplement, while running an in-
terview with her, fags up risks such as uncertainty over sites, use of temporary buildings and high staf turnover. Similarly, Marylebone Boys School did not get either permanent or temporary sites identfed
untl April, with Westminster Council making clear that there was not a current shortage of secondary school places.
Now there are reports of serious over-spending on the Free Schools programme, and that money has to come from elsewhere in the educaton budget. Already educaton for 16-19 year olds has been cut back,
with City of Westminster College amongst those facing major budget cuts.
It is increasingly clear that the management of the Free Schools programme is fawed and that local schools cannot be run from Whitehall. Good schools need local support and partnerships to help them, espe-
cially when things go wrong. You can read my column on this problem - and how to fx it, here:

Time for a beter deal for private tenants
Housing has overtaken transport to become the biggest issue of concern for Londoners, with fgures showing property prices having soared nearly 18 per cent in a year, and more Londoners than ever are
rentng privately.
Westminster has the largest share of homes in the private rented sector of any council in Britain. Some of these are, of course, at the luxury end of the housing market, and many are well managed by good
landlords, but many are not, and amongst the propertes I have had complaints about, are some of the worst conditons that I have seen in any sector.
On top of this, many tenants have faced sky-high rents (even some ex-council fats are rented out now for 500 or more - 4 tmes higher than the rent charged by the Council), rip-of letng agents and very
high levels of insecurity. Evicton rates have soared and the end of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy is now the leading reason for households becoming homeless. My report of late 2013, based on a survey of
tenants experiences, described many of these issues.
Labour has now set out plans to increase protecton for private tenants, with greater security for those who need it - especially the growing number of families.
We will change the law to make three-year tenancies the norm and protect against excessive rent increases to give tenants the stability they deserve. And we will also take acton to ban unfair letng agents
fees for tenants, saving renters an average of 350 in costs.
You can read more details about our plans here:

London police fgures show large fall since 2010...
The closure and sale of police statons across London - including our own Harrow Road and St Johns Wood statons, were supposed to lead to extra police on the streets. So far, this has not happened.
The Metropolitan Polices fgures show that overall in London there has been a cut of 3,111 police ofcers since May 2010.

Westminsters fgures show a reducton from 1628 to 1165 - or a 28% fall since 2010.
Despite the good work being done by local police, and even though we contnue to see a welcome long-term decline in crime overall, there can be no doubt that this fall in police numbers has had an impact on
many of our Safer Neighbourhood teams, especially as it seems to have come at a tme when they are also being required to carry out additonal dutes.
...but the Government review of Stop and Search powers is welcome (though could go further)
Stop and search is an important power which can help tackle crime and prevent serious threats. However, cases of misuse and the general overuse of Stop and Search has caused serious problems and under-
mined efectve policing, especially in respect of black and minority ethnic communites. Four years ago the Equalites and Human Rights Commission report made a strong case the inefcient use of the powers
and the serious problems these caused in respect of racial discriminaton. There is cross party agreement on the need for reform. As Yvete Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, has said, Measures recently an-
nounced by the Home Secretary, such as the review of training by the College of Policing. And revision of the code of practce are welcome. However the Home Secretary has only introduced a voluntary
scheme to require a senior ofcers authorisaton, the law on secton 60 isnt being changed, and the guidance on race discriminaton is not being put onto a statutory basis. So there is stll more to be done.

Farewell to Paddington Law Centre
Our much-loved Paddington Law Centre, the second-oldest in the country, has closed down its W10 premises and will, in future be based from the Central London Law Centre in Soho. The lawyers will carry on
running a service from the Walterton and Elgin Community Homes, but this is another example of services withdrawing from the north of the borough, coming as it does on top of the closures of the police sta-
ton and the Citzens Advice Bureau ofce.
The Law Centre has shrunk from 13 to 5 staf in recent years because of funding cuts but has stll been providing vital help for people in difculty

Please follow this link to fnd a map to CAB services that are stll operatng in Westminster North.
Air quality: While advisors say keep away from the kerb, I say- tackle emissions now
This artcle from the Evening Standard is a powerful reminder of the health hazards facing pedestrians (and cyclists) in London.
Londons air polluton is a serious health and a serious quality of life issue - killing an estmated 20,000 a year in the UK. That is why I have backed calls for the Mayor of Londons Ultra Low emission zone to be
extended to cover the whole of Westminster - and would like to see it brought in as soon as possible.
Local round-up
Dibdin House

I recently met again with Grainger, the property company now running these former Church Commission fats in Maida Vale.
We discussed the need for a new community space, now Grainger have closed the tenants hall, the policy on controlling rent rises and ongoing work to get a handle on maintenance.
I am also speaking to the council about what can be done to help facilitate transfers for overcrowded families and people with a medical need to move and I am speaking to the Police about fresh reports of
ant-social behaviour.

Work starts on new Harrow Road crossing
Together with local councillors, I have been pushing for various speed control and road safety measures locally, including this new pedestrian crossing on the Harrow Road.


Following concerns I have raised about pedestrian safety on Elgin Avenue, the council has agreed to install speed actvated warning signs along the road, to alert drivers who exceed the speed limit. TFL are
also modernising the trafc signals at the juncton of Elgin Avenue and Shirland Road and installing countdown tmers on the signals at Maida Hill Market to help pedestrians make informed decisions about
when it is safe to cross. Following complaints I have passed on from local residents, the Police will also be carrying out a short period of high profle enforcement around Warwick Avenue staton, to ensure
motorists take due care around the pedestrian crossings.
Wessex Gardens


I recently met with tenants and leaseholders from the Wessex Gardens estate, to discuss their concerns about the costs and management of the Major Works on the estate. As with Hallfeld, Wharnclife and
other examples, residents are frustrated by what they see as the legacy of many years of neglect, which drives costs up over the long term.

Warwick estate re-development


Residents on the Warwick will soon be votng on plans for the regeneraton of the area in and around the Harrow Road. Whilst keen for improvements to this estate, Westbourne councillors and I agree that
there should be more afordable homes, and stronger commitments to future community beneft.
You can read my most recent leter to residents here:

Wellington/Grove End Road
Road safety and trafc management issues have been big concerns in the area. Recently, consttuents have been in touch about theWellington Road and Grove End juncton following an accident involving a
motorcyclist that was lef with serious injuries afer being hit by a van. Apparently this isnt an isolated incident and according to Westminster Council, in the last 36 months prior to this recent incident there
have been 10 accidents at this juncton. I have taken the mater up with Transport for London, as this forms part of their road network.You can read the news story here.
Window upgrades in W9
I have been contacted by several Maida Vale residents living in Victorian propertes who are concerned about the restrictons the councils planners place on window upgrades. Residents say the traditonal
single glazing they must keep is the cause of cold and damp problems and higher heatng bills.
Local landlords have also fallen foul of the planning rules, with Stadium Housing Associaton being ordered to remove new double glazing from 42 propertes in Maida Vale.
While I appreciate the councils eforts to preserve the traditonal character of our streets, I am making enquiries with the planners to see what can be done to enable our Victorian housing stock to beter meet
the needs of the people who currently live in it.
Thank you for reading.




Karen Buck MP

Website: www.karenbuck.org.uk
Twiter: KarenPBuckMP
Facebook: KarenBuckMP
POLICE OFFICER NOs. BOROUGH TOTAL CENTRAL TOTAL MPS TOTAL
MAY 2010 20,641 12,506 33,147
JAN 2014 17,437 12,599 30,036

Diference -3,204 +92 3,111
% Diference -16% +1% -9%