Reporter - Westminster City Council

eporter
T H E W E S T M I N S T E R
Issue 93
February 2009
Westminster City Council magazine
Beating the
recession
What the council
does to help you
Your streets
Meet the team that
keeps them in order
Do you need
business advice?
Find out what services
are available
Preparing for 2012
Olympic gold medalist
Jonathan Edwards on
opportunities for Londoners
Do you know your
local history?
Learn interesting facts
about your area
Things to do
this half term
Activities on offer
for your children
WIN!
10 afternoon
tea for two
vouchers
See page 16
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS

Community
Reassurance
Issue 93
FEBRUARY 2009
The Westminster Reporter is produced
as part of Westminster City Council’s
customer service programme.
Cabinet Member for Communications:
Councillor Colin Barrow,
Leader of Westminster City Council.
The Westminster Reporter is delivered to
homes and businesses throughout
Westminster.
If you encounter delivery problems,
please call the communications team
on 020 7641 2412.
Also available from One Stop Services,
libraries and leisure centres.
For general enquiries, call the council
switchboard on 020 7641 6000.
Westminster City Council magazine
Olympic gold medalist Jonathan Edwards
contents
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
To discuss editorial matters, please contact:
The Editor, The Westminster Reporter,
17th Floor, Westminster City Hall,
64 Victoria St, London SW1E 6QP.
Telephone: 020 7641 2412
Fax: 020 7641 2958
Email: reporter@westminster.gov.uk
Minicom: 020 7641 2948
The editorial team: Stephanie Prause,
Neil Wholey and Clym Sutcliffe.
Reference copies of The Westminster
Reporter are available in large print and
audiotape format. To have a free copy sent
to your home call 020 7641 2412.
Published by Westminster City Council,
Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street,
London SW1E 6QP
6
8
12
15
16
How the council can help
you beat the recession
Meet the team that keeps
your streets in order
Exciting improvements
Church Street
Help us find more
parking spaces
What we are doing to
prepare for 2012
18
21
22
26
Helping businesses
and boosting Harrow
Road trade
Holiday Fun: activities during
the school vacation
21st Century infrastructure:
what’s being planned
Your area’s history:
Lancaster Gate
Printed by Quadracolor Ltd,
Unit 3, Kangley Bridge Road,
Lower Sydenham, London SE26 5AR
Printed on FSC/PEFC certified recycled
material using vegetable based inks.
Please recycle The Westminster Reporter.
For more information on recycling call the
Environment Action Line on 020 7641 2000.
The Westminster Reporter
The Westminster Reporter

News in brief
Rooftop playground opens in the heart of London
Westminster Primary School pupils on top of the world.
Play time has been taken to new School offers surfaces for playing
heights at a Westminster primary football, netball and volleyball.
school. A 250 square metre rooftop Paul Voural, Headteacher, said:
playground at St Stephen’s Primary “What was previously an unused area
Plans to improve One Stops
Chantel Tate mans the Victoria One Stop.
The One Stop Shop at City Hall,
Victoria, has recently been
refurbished. It offers new self-help
terminals and an area for confidential
meetings, following feedback from
customers. We have also revamped the
area for viewing plans and meeting
with duty planning officers.
Refurbishment work at the Church
Street and Harrow Road One Stop Shops
will start later this year, ensuring that
we meet the diverse needs of residents
and businesses.
is now an inspirational space for play
and a resource that will enhance
pupils’ learning experience.”
Save money
with the
MyWestminster
ResCard
As recession bites, you can reduce
your costs while still enjoying
cultural events across the city. The
MyWestminster ResCard offers
significant savings and details of
free events at venues across
Westminster including museums,
galleries, theatres and festivals.
If you are a resident, apply for your
card at www.westminster.gov.
uk/mywestminster
Don’t miss
the deadline
The deadline for primary school
applications is 2nd March, for the
2009/10 academic year. Most
voluntary aided schools have an
additional supplementary form to
complete, which you obtain from
them. The council’s admission team
will write to applicants on 8th May to
advise them of the outcome of their
applications. Visit www.westminster.
gov.uk/admissions for more
information.
Come along to Choice Advisor
Sessions, held every Tuesday 2-
5pm at Church Street One Stop,
91-93 Church Street, NW8 8EU.
Call 0800 066 5359 or visit
www.westminster.gov.uk/
choiceadviceservice
Student
finance
applications
Finance applications from
Westminster students starting
university in 2009/10 will no longer
be processed by the council. Instead,
applications should be made to
Student Finance England. Those
continuing their studies will remain
the responsibility of the council.
Visit www.studentfinanceengland.
co.uk or call 0845 6077577.
by Sam Adler
Community
Reassurance
Leader’s Column
The recession is biting in Westminster as elsewhere.
The council is not immune to the impact and we are
seeing demand for our social services increasing
and our income falling as people and businesses
attempt to deal with the impact. Throughout this
period we will make sure that we continue to provide
you good, value for money services.
In this special edition of the
Reporter, you’ll find examples of
how we are doing this including
information about how the council
keeps Westminster streets in good
working order. You’ll find out about
different projects to improve your
borough such as the Church Street
improvements and large projects in
the city such as Crossrail and the
Victoria Station upgrades. We’re also
reporting on the Olympic road
network and how you can help us
identify spaces for further parking and
taxi bays.
And, of course, we are tackling the
economic problems many people are
facing. We’re running apprenticeship
and Westminster Works schemes to
offer opportunities to local residents.
We’re supporting the government’s
mortgage rescue scheme to prevent
repossession and homelessness. We’ve
recently launched a business advisory
service to aid small businesses, as well
as a debt and benefits entitlement
advice service for people in financial
difficulty. We also intend to freeze
council tax for 2009-2010.
Street work in Westminster
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
To find out more about beating the
recession, visit www.westminster.gov.
uk/beattherecession
Cllr Colin Barrow,
Leader of Westminster City Council.
The Westminster Reporter
The Westminster Reporter

Beating the recession
Beating the recession
Calling all
volunteers…
If you want to enhance your CV,
build confidence, meet new
people or give something back
to your local community, why
not volunteer?
You can choose
from hundreds
of organisations and
find a volunteering
activity that really
interests you – be
that working with
children, teaching a
sport or organising
events.
Cllr Audrey Lewis,
Cabinet Member for
Customers and
Neighbourhoods, said:
“Volunteering not only
gives everyone who
lives, works and
studies in Westminster a
chance to make a difference
– it also
helps those
who are
unemployed
to gain
valuable
skills and
find work.”
To become a volunteer, contact the
Volunteer Centre Westminster on
020 7402 8076 or visit
www.volunteer.co.uk
How we are helping you
through the recession
Whether you are a resident or business owner,
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting
you through the economic downturn with active
measures including:
• A recommended council tax freeze for 2009/10
• A mortgage rescue scheme – the council is participating in
the government’s mortgage rescue scheme and also setting
up a hardship fund to provide short-term support for eligible
homeowners to prevent repossession and homelessness
• A debt and benefits entitlement advice service, which
will provide advice to people facing financial difficulty
• An apprenticeship scheme offering opportunities to cover
200 local residents
• The Westminster Works scheme, supporting 2,500 job
seekers in Westminster by linking them to training, job-search
facilities and sustained employment
• A business advisory service for Westminster’s small businesses
• A commitment to freezing ‘pay as you go’ leisure charges
for residents
• Training courses for over 500 residents whose employment
is at risk.
To find out how you may benefit from these measures, or for general
advice on how to beat the recession, visit www.westminster.gov.uk/
beattherecession
‘I’ve been
helped into
a job’
Mark Lawrence (right) works as a waiter in
central London. When his hours were cut from
40 to just 6 hours per week, he was forced
to find additional employment. He tells the
Reporter his story.
went to a nearby hotel to look for another job,
“I but the concierge said they didn’t have any
vacancies. He suggested I contact Paddington First.
“Paddington First helped me adapt my CV to show
my experience better and make it more relevant to
work I was looking for. I could make calls and use
envelopes free of charge – it was such a help. They
gave me details of suitable job vacancies, and within
four days I had my first interview. I now also work at
Middle Rowe Primary School, and teach swimming.
“Paddington First gave me honest, professional
and friendly guidance, so I told my friend about
them. People who are willing to work will always
find a job through them.”
by Clare Hepner
If you are looking for work in North Westminster,
contact Paddington First on 020 7087 8080.
For South Westminster jobs, contact SW1st on
020 7087 8088.
The Westminster Reporter
The Westminster Reporter

YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Your Streets
Your streets
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Meet the team
that keeps your
streets in order
Ever wondered who keeps your
pavements safe, your
streetlights working and
your roads clear?
Meet some of the team…
Phil Lain, Lighting
Compliance Officer,
lights up your streets:
y job involves making sure that street lights
“M work properly. In Westminster, we are proud of
our unique, historic Grey Wornum lamps. For the safety of
our residents and visitors it is important that all lamps are
working and if one is broken, I work with electricity
company EDF to fix it. One of the biggest challenges is
that some lights are hard to access. On Oxford Street, for
example, it’s always busy, every day, so we need to find
the quietest and most convenient time for repairs to
minimise noise nuisance to residents.”
Bill Price,
Road Management
Inspector, checks West
End roads for defects:
’m an outdoors person, I like being in the open
“I air rather than working behind a desk. I have been
inspecting roads and pavements in Westminster
for ten years and really enjoy playing a part
in keeping the streets safe. I keep an eye
out for broken roads and pavements,
from Park Lane through to the south
side of Oxford Street. I keep a watch
on graffiti, holes in roads and
pavements which could cause
damage to cars or make people
trip over, and I also check on
scaffolding and dangerous or
damaged street furniture.”
Simon Dando,
Contracts Manager,
repairs your pavements:
’m a talkative and chatty guy, and in my job I speak
“I to many Westminster residents. I look after roads
and pavements, from the painting of white and yellow
lines through to making sure that pavements are in order.
I fix paving slabs and broken bollards when they’ve been
reported. After an accident, I work with the police to
make the road safe as quickly as possible. I like the variety
– I never know what needs fixing next. And I like knowing
that people can walk around Westminster safely because
of my work.”
Paul Renvoize,
Lead Streetworks
Inspector, manages
utilities work:
hen you see people digging holes on your
“Wstreets to supply water, gas or electricity, my
colleagues and I make sure there is no danger to the
public and that the roads and pavements are not
damaged. It’s my job to check that utilities companies
work to a safe standard and that their work affects
Westminster’s residents and visitors as little as possible.
I chat to residents about their concerns and problems.
Many new premises are being built – all needing
telephones, water and gas – and it’s rewarding to
manage this so that there’s minimum disruption.”
by Emma Germain
If you see broken lights, cracked pavements or damaged roads in Westminster, contact the council on 0207 641 2000
or visit www.westminster.gov.uk/streetproblems to report a street problem.
The Westminster Reporter
The Westminster Reporter

YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Westminster Standard
Learn about
street issues at
the 2009 Road
Management
Exhibition
On Monday 9th March, you are
welcome to attend an exhibition
where street issues and possible solutions
will be highlighted.
The day will also see community and
business groups, ultility companies,
traders and residents discuss the
problems affecting their streets, at a
private summit.
For further details on the exhibition,
including venue location, visit www.
westminster.gov.uk/rmexhibition
or call 020 7641 3655.
New webpage
for governance
information
You can now find all governancerelated
documents – from Data
Protection to Anti Fraud and Corruption
– in a single location online at
www.westminster.gov.uk/
councilgovernmentanddemocracy/
governance
If you have questions or suggestions,
please contact Mick Steward at
msteward@westminster.gov.uk
or on 020 7641 3134.
Keeping our roads to the
Westminster Standard
With over a million visitors to Westminster every
day, the streets in the West End are some of
the most walked in the capital and need regular
maintenance to stay in shape.
As part of our Westminster
Standard programme ‘Neat
Streets’, we are running a pilot
project in the West End to keep
streets to a consistently high
standard. Neat Streets aims to
improve our streetscape so that by
2012 the city will have a public realm
unrivalled anywhere in the world.
“The Westminster
Standard is about
questioning whether
what we do really
takes into account
how people live
their lives.”
Cllr Colin Barrow,
Leader of Westminster City Council
To achieve this, we are addressing
the individual aspects that make a
street safe and clean. We are
preparing a checklist, to make it
easier for the separate teams – such
as lighting, signs, pavements and
cleaning – to share information about
work or issues to be addressed.
Leicester Square has already seen
the benefits of the programme: it has
been cleaned up, missing paving
slabs have been replaced, the style of
street lamps has been co-ordinated,
and anti-flyposting paint applied.
Leader of Westminster City Council,
Cllr Colin Barrow, said: “The
Westminster Standard is about
questioning whether what we do
really takes into account how people
live their lives. It is based on making
things as simple, consistent and coordinated
as possible. This applies to
all areas, including the day-to-day
maintenance of streets.”
by Ruth Anderson
If there are street problems in your area, call the Environmental Action Line
on 020 7641 2000 or visit www.westminster.gov.uk/streetproblems
to report them.
Job Opportunities
‘My daughter is happy
and full of confidence’
Find out how the City of Westminster Charitable Trust and
Westminster Children’s Society helped one Westminster resident.
When Rebecca needed to return
to work, she put her five
month old daughter Zyra’s name
down for a nursery run by
Westminster Children’s Society. The
society provides affordable
community nurseries and education
for young children. Like many other
“At first I was paying
full price, but then
I was given an
Affordable Nursery
Place, which really
helped, as nurseries
can be quite
expensive.”
Rebecca
not-for-profit or charitable
organisations in the borough, it
receives grants from the City of
Westminster Charitable Trust set up
by the Lord Mayor of Westminster.
Rebecca said: “Zyra got a place
right on time. At first I was paying full
price, but then I was given an
Affordable Nursery Place, which really
helped, as nurseries can be quite
expensive. The staff are brilliant and
really made my daughter feel at
home. The nursery manager was
fantastic – when it became hard for
me to pay for Zyra’s place, she
applied for a grant from the Charlotte
Grobien Fund on my behalf to pay off
the arrears, and then I was able to
pay back the nursery in an affordable
way. This year, Zyra’s gone to ‘big
school’ happy and full of confidence
after her time at the nursery.”
To help the Trust
continue its good work,
please send donations
to Sarah Craddock,
Senior Committee and
Scrutiny Officer, Head
of Administrative
Services, Westminster
City Council, 15th
Floor, City Hall, 64
Victoria Street, London
SW1E 6QP.
by Ruth Anderson
You can find out more about the Westminster Children’s Society at www.wcs.org.uk, or by contacting them at
info@wcs.org.uk or on 020 7834 8679.
To apply for a grant from the City of Westminster Charitable Trust, call Sarah Craddock on 020 7641 2770.
These pictures were taken at
Bessborough Street Day Nursey
where Zyra used to go.
10 The Westminster Reporter The Westminster Reporter 11

YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Church Street improvements
Church Street improvements
YOUR
BEAT THE
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
RECESSION
‘A few years ago, you
couldn’t push a buggy down
this road, now you can’
If you’ve walked along Church Street recently, you might have noticed some
improvements. Here’s how it happened.
In 2007, a pilot scheme was launched
by Martin Low, the council’s Director
of Transportation to get residents in
Church Street to tell us what they
didn’t like about their street, focusing
on highways, footways and street
lighting.
The project was called ‘Church Street
Red Dot Exercise’. Residents themselves
identified the problems, marked them
with a red dot on the map and
Church Street boasts beautiful lanterns and hanging baskets.
controlled the changing of the dot’s
to green as the work progressed.
Fiona McCreedy has lived in Lisson
Grove for 30 years and is really
pleased to be involved with the
project. She said: “A few years ago I
would sometimes have to push the
buggy in the road because the
condition of the pavements was so
bad, with tree roots sticking up
through the tarmac.”
Residents and traders were asked
to identify road and transport-related
problems along the street. A red dot
was placed on a map to signify each
one, and replaced with green dots
when the problem was fixed or it was
decided not to make a change. Over
100 defects have been rectified.
This made it easy for Fiona and
other residents to follow up on
improvements. Fiona said: “Things
can never be changed overnight. But
the maps were a very effective way
to show the progress of each issue
from red to amber and then green.”
“It’s all the little
things that have
improved that make
it a real success.”
Fiona McCreedy,
Lisson Grove Resident
The issues picked up by residents
ranged from defective road signs and
insufficient lighting to requests for
transport related improvements such
as a new zebra crossing and changes
to parking controls.
Fiona said: “There were so many
little things that needed to be
addressed and although it’s not yet
complete, we have come such a long
way. It’s all the little things that have
improved that make it a real success.
The best things have been the
meetings with officers to discuss
solutions with residents. It’s really a
two-way project.”
by Nynne Jespersen
Fiona McCreedy
The pavement has
been cleaned.
For more information on the Church Street
Red Dot Exercise, please call Sheba Begum,
Neighbourhood Management Officer, on
020 7641 5421.
12 The Westminster Reporter
Church Street.
Westminster Reporter 13

Parking
Parking
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Finding more parking
spaces in Westminster
In last month’s Reporter, we asked you to nominate streets in Westminster
where the council could create more parking bays or taxi ranks. Here are
some of your suggestions…
Damian Hendren of St John’s Wood
Collect your two free DVD rental vouchers when you join any
Westminster library between 1st February and 31st March 2009*.
Books, CDs, DVDs, PC use, internet access, newspapers,
magazines, courses, and more...
*Terms and conditions apply. See website for details.
www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries
14 The Westminster Reporter
To find your nearest library, text ‘LIBRARY’ to 80097
Damian Hendren, a resident of St John’s Wood,
said: “Public transport is generally quite good in
my area (St John’s Wood), but there is a lack of taxi
ranks. It’d be helpful if there were more taxis,
especially for people travelling late at night.”
Richard Rawlinson, from Mayfair, suggested the council
should access an area of Green Park: “There is a 100
metre stretch at the top of Curzon Street, between
Clarges Mews and Clarges Street, that could be used for
resident parking on one side of the road and motorcycle
parking on the other side. It would be ideal as the
motorcycle park on Curzon Street is always overloaded.”
The idea of finding more parking spaces has been
welcomed by resident associations. John Zamit, Chairman
of South East Bayswater Residents Association,
Richard Rawlinson would like more parking in Clarges Street.
commented: “It’s a positive incentive as no one is better
qualified to report on potential parking bays than
residents, they are the eyes and ears of the city. The
council could use this opportunity to create more parking
bays for motorcyclists and the disabled”.
by Joe Chalmers
You can still submit potential locations for additional
parking spaces or taxi stands by emailing
parkingspaces@westminster.gov.uk or writing to
Helen Underwood at Westminster City Hall, 10th Floor,
64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
Westminster Reporter 15

YOUR
WIN!
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
10 afternoon tea for
two vouchers at ‘Canteen’
are up for grabs.
To enter in the prize draw, simply email
your full name, email address and
mobile phone number to Lisa at
lisa.ispani@canteen.co.uk
or call her on
020 7739 6643.
Preparing for 2012
We’re proud to be hosting several Olympic Games
events and are working hard to reduce the disruption
to residents and businesses. Find out how…
Olympic gold medal winner Jonathan
Edwards is a 2012 ambassador for
Westminster City Council.
Your streets
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Canteen restaurant.
Canteen, an
award-winning
all-day British diner,
recently opened its
third restaurant.
They are giving away
free afternoon tea
experiences for two –
hot drinks with a
selection of delicious cakes – to ten
lucky Reporter readers.
The vouchers will be redeemable any
day of the week, from 3pm - 5.30pm at
the new restaurant in the old Marks &
Spencer building, 55 Baker Street.
Canteen co-founder Patrick Clayton-
Malone said: “We are passionate about
food, and we are also passionate about
creating a space that is not exclusive, a
relaxed place open all day that brings
together all sorts of people.”
In 2008, Canteen was voted ‘London
Restaurant of the Year’ by ‘The Which?
Good Food Guide’.
The city is expecting a massive
influx of visitors during the
Olympics and Paralympics for six
weeks between July and September
2012. People will stay in Westminster,
visit the sites and come to organised
events. They will also travel through
en route to the Olympic village.
“These games are all
about legacy... the
council is already
improving the look
of the city thanks
to our Neat Streets
project, new road
signage, and building
improvements.”
Cllr Robert Davis,
Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council
The council is doing everything it
can to ensure visitors have a great
experience, and that residents and
businesses are able to get on with
their lives.
We are already working closely
with the Olympic Development
Agency, Transport for London and
other groups such as Business
Improvement Districts and large
landowners to get the City of
Westminster in top shape by 2012,
and to make it easier for visitors to
travel around safely and in
environmentally friendly ways. This
includes improving accessibility for
disabled people. Other examples are:
• a new diagonal crossing at Oxford
Circus, much improving this
bottleneck for pedestrians
• streetscape improvements around
Leicester Square and other key sites
in the West End
• rollout of Legible London
pedestrian maps
• working with the Mayor of London
to find sites for a network of new
cycle hire places.
Cllr Robert Davis, Deputy Leader of
the Council, said: “These games are
all about legacy and the council is
already improving the look of the city
thanks to our Neat Streets project,
new road signage, and building
improvements in the West End. These
improvements will last long after the
Olympics are over.”
The retired triple jumper, who retains the world record set in 1995, said:
“My aim is to get the people of Westminster enthused and excited
about the Olympics. This is a great opportunity on our doorsteps to be a
part of one of the most exciting events on the planet.
“It is also important for residents and businesses to see the long-term
benefits of London hosting the Olympics; the promotion of health and
activity by getting young people to take up sports and the improvements
to transport and the general look of the city.
“When we welcome the world to London in 2012, we hope it will
be a huge success and bring a strong feelgood factor and sense of
national pride.”
by Lindsay Coulson
Getting the best deal for residents
During the games, an Olympic Route Network will be in place to ferry athletes and officials
across London to their arenas. Some lanes on main roads will be reserved for the Olympics –
tell us which route it should take.
Martin Low, Director of
Transportion, said: “The City
Council is keen that the streets look
great and that we’ve maximised
opportunity for improvement. We
are lobbying the Olympic Delivery
Authority to ensure that the needs
of local residents and businesses are
properly considered when measures
are being developed for the Olympic
Route Network, which has
significant implications for the City
of Westminster.”
Consultation on the network
started on 11th December and ends
on 19th March.
Local residents and businesses can
respond directly to the Department
of Transport or can ask the council
to respond on their behalf.
Consultation documents are on the
Department for Transport website
www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/
olympicroutenetwork/
To let the council know where you think the Olympic Route Network should go, contact Martin Whittles at
mwhittles@westminster.gov.uk or on 020 7641 3040.
16 The Westminster Reporter The Westminster Reporter 17

YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Your streets
‘This support for local
business is brilliant’
Your streets Community
Reassurance
London’s newest market for
half a century opens soon
YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
The Prince of Wales Market will help residents save money, and
will form a key part of the £1million regeneration of this part of the
Harrow Road. Open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 8pm,
the market will sell food, clothes and many other exciting items.
Westminster City Council is helping businesses to boost trade
by improving shop fronts in Harrow Road.
Indra Patel, owner of Prince Chemists
To revamp the look of the area, the council has
allocated £310,000 and recruited environmental
regeneration charity Groundwork to help.
Businesses can apply for grants towards the costs of
improvements.
Paul Walsh, who owns Four Corners Framing,
said: “At the moment I’ve got an old Hitachi sign
and an old awning. It all looks a bit tatty and
should be replaced with a wooden frontage and a
dark green sign with raised silver lettering. It should
look much better.”
“This kind of support for
local trade is brilliant and
should make a real difference
to how the area looks.”
Indra Patel,
Prince Chemists
Indra Patel, who owns Prince Chemists, is
working with architects at the moment.
He said: “This kind of support for local trade is
brilliant and should make a real difference to how
the area looks. With the new market planned for
the Prince of Wales junction, hopefully there will
For the business advisory service, contact the Portobello Business Centre on 020 7460 5050, and for information
about general council services for businesses, visit www.westminster.gov.uk/business
Paul Walsh, Four Corners Framing
be more people around too.”
Cllr Brian Connell, Cabinet Member
for Communities and Economic
Development, added:
“It’s difficult for small businesses to
invest in improvements in the current
economic climate, even if they make
a positive difference to trade. We’re
doing all we can to help and this is
just one of a number of schemes we
have to help traders across the city.”
The council launched a one-to-one
business advisory service to help
businesses struggling with the
economic downturn, and it funds the
Westminster Small and Minority
Business Council as well as other
projects such as the Youth Enterprise
project at the Stowe Centre, which
puts on workshops and masterclasses
for young people.
by Jenny Legg
For the Westminster Small and
Minority Business Council, visit
www.wsmbc.org.uk
To take part in the Youth
Enterprise project, call the Stowe
Centre on 020 7266 8220.
Olu Shittu (left), a carer who has worked around the
Harrow Road area for 13 years, said: “If it doesn’t
disturb people and is only three days a week, why not?
It will give people employment and something
to do. I think it’s a good idea.”
Christiana Adesanya (right), who
works in Harrow Road, said:
“As long as the prices are reasonable and
there is easy access for the disabled to
shop there, then I think it’s a good idea,
it will be good for the community.”
Kohinoor Begum (left), from Queensway, said:
“I think it is a good idea, it will be very convenient
from where I work and it means people will all be able
to shop together.”
Love
your money,
love your market.
Tell us who your favourite local market trader is
and win a free £5 voucher to spend at a winning stall.
This year the council is again looking for Westminster’s top market stall
holder in the Market Trader of the Year competition.
Traders are giving out re-usable bags with nomination cards or you can nominate
online at www.westminster.gov.uk/loveyourmarket
18 The Westminster Reporter The Westminster Reporter 19

Recycling
Half term
Every newspaper
and can you recycle counts
Last year, over 18,000 tonnes were recycled, but this was only
just over 22% of the total household waste produced.
If every household recycled their paper, cardboard, cans,
glass and plastic bottles, as much as 50% of household
waste could be diverted from landfill or incineration.
But it doesn’t have to stop there. You can also recycle
your old, unwanted clothes, textiles and shoes in SCOPE
bins at 27 of the micro recycling centres spread across
Westminster. This supports the work of SCOPE within
your local community.
Milk or juice cartons can be recycled at 13 of our micro
recycling centres. They require special treatment and cannot
be put in blue bags, baskets or mixed recycling bins.
Batteries can now also be recycled, with battery tubes
at all Westminster’s libraries and One Stops.
by Seb Monks
You may have read recently that
councils are storing recycling due
to the downturn of the recycling
markets. This is not the case in
Westminster – we continue to
reprocess all collected recycling
into new products.
To find your nearest recycling facility, visit
www.westminster.gov.uk/recycling
Say goodbye
to boredom
School vacation needn’t be a drag with
Westminster’s Holiday Fun scheme.
Every school holiday, Westminster
City Council provides physical,
cultural and crafts activities for
children and young people aged up
to 19. Based at youth clubs, play
centres, libraries and sports centres,
activities are provided at low cost or
even free of charge, perfect for credit
crunch entertaining.
February half-term highlights include:
Parkour
course
Edutain
varied arts
and sports
activities
• Moberly Sports and
Education Centre
• Avenues Youth Project
• Churchill Gardens
Youth Club
• Westminster Academy
As a parent or carer,
Holiday Fun can give you
a few free hours whilst
your children have a
fantastic time learning a
new skill or improving their health.
Whole family activities are also
available during the summer break.
by Melanie Huntley
Free Age 8 - 19
£1
per day
Age 8 - 13
Bags of Fun • National Portrait Gallery Free Age 8 - 19
Unity in the
Community
Football
Tournament
• Paddington Recreation
Ground
Free
Under12s
Under14s
Under16s
Under19s
Why take our word for it?
Other people said:
“It was very well planned, well organised
and fun for the children”
Westminster parent on a library event
“I like this activity because I had lots of fun
and met new people.”
Young person on sports
centre activities
“It helped me in many ways to improve my
confidence and the way I used my speaking
skills.”
Young person on interview
panel experience
“Unity in the Community football is a great
success - it promotes cohesion and really
engages the young people. In fact, one of
our teams went on to win the Positive
Futures London championship two years
running.”
Eugene Minogue, Sports Development
Manager – Participation
For details about these or other
activities, call the Family Information
Service on 020 7641 7929 or
Westminster Sports Unit on 020 7641
2012. You can search online and
register for updates at www.
westminster.gov.uk/youngpeople
20 The Westminster Reporter The Westminster Reporter 21

YOUR
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
Your streets
Business Your Advice streets
YOUR
BEAT THE
WESTMINSTER
STREETS
RECESSION
Infrastructure fit for
the 21st century
London’s transport and sewerage systems, built over one hundred years ago,
require extensive renovations to accommodate a growing population. We are
working hard to minimise the disruption.
Crossrail
Crossrail transport, when complete in 2017, will allow
travellers to go from Maidenhead and Heathrow
across the capital to Essex and Kent. The new underground
trains will link with major routes through the city centre,
including three of Westminster’s busiest tube stations –
Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Paddington.
Work has commenced at Tottenham Court Road Station
with bus diversions and building demolition. To reduce
impact on residents, Westminster City Council’s Brent
Turton says contractors must follow a code of
construction: “This code includes legislative
responsibilities, and regulations, best practice and site
specific requirements.”
The council will work closely with Transport for London
to minimise disruption, and Crossrail has set up information
forums for local resident group leaders to attend.
To view the Crossrail plans, visit www.crossrail.co.uk
Ian Belgrave, 40, commutes by train from
Croydon:
“I avoid Victoria station if I can because it’s
extremely busy. Today, I had to use it and
the gates were shut. The ticket hall just
can’t cope – it was full of people within
minutes and you could barely move.”
Victoria Station Upgrade
For the 250,000 travellers who use the station daily, a
major upgrade is needed to cope with severe morning
congestion and overcrowding, which sometimes results in
the platforms being closed.
Helen Vvass, 30, catches the tube to
Victoria every morning to get to work:
“It will be inconvenient, but it has to be
done. People block the gates nearly every
morning. I’m glad I get out at Victoria and
don’t have to get on trains from here.”
A public inquiry for the work is now closed and an
independent inspector will outline recommendations for
the project including how and when utility services, buses
and taxis are diverted away from the station, as well as
disruptions and closures for services.
Jill Gormley is visiting from
Perth, Australia:
“It’s good to hear there’ll be improvements.
Its just too crowded and getting off here
with suitcases is really hard. We just can’t
believe how many people use the trains.”
For more information, please contact the Department
of Transport Works Act Unit on 020 7944 3196.
Artist’s impression of the planned new Tottenham Court Road tube station.
Thames Water Tunnel
There are plans for improvements of the Thames sewerage
system, designed in the 1860s, to prevent raw sewerage
seeping into the river. Over 30km of new pipes will be laid,
from west London to Beckton Sewerage Treatment Works
in the east. At up to 80 metres deep, this is the deepest
tunnel ever planned in the UK. Mr Turton, Construction
Impact Manager, said: ”All affected boroughs are working
together to look at potential construction sites and help
minimise the impact on residents and traffic.”
by Lorelle Silveira
22 The Westminster Reporter The Westminster Reporter 23

Policy and Scrutiny
The people’s
champion
Cllr Tony Devenish
“W estminster
City Council
makes hundreds of
decisions every day. The biggest decisions are made by a
cabinet of ten councillors. Specialist decisions like planning
permissions and licences for pubs are made by special
committees and all 60 ward councillors have a role to play
in representing the views of their constituents in some way.
“Policy and scrutiny committees exist to hold the
council’s decision makers to account and proactively take
on and examine other organisations such as utility
companies, the Greater London Authority and the
emergency services on behalf of residents. Last year, we
focussed on efficiency and helped the organisation save
£13 million. This year we want to make sure we get more
police man-power on the street.”
Westminster has five Policy and Scrutiny Committees
looking at children issues, resource issues, built
environment issues, health and community issues, and
crime issues.
by Paul Middleton
Whether it’s scrutinising why water mains burst or
examining the growing use of CCTV, Cllr Tony Devenish
is fighting for residents. Tony, who leads a high
powered group of committees charged with holding
services to account, explains what he does and how
you can get involved.
For more information about the council, visit
www.westminster.gov.uk
If you want to take part in a meeting
or suggest a topic, contact us:
Children and Young People Policy and Scrutiny Committee
Looks at: Children’s services, foster care and adoption, nurseries, schools, youth
provision and adult education.
Led by: Councillor Nickie Aiken
Contact: 020 7641 2802 Email: apalmer@westminster.gov.uk
Achievement: Reviewed services for Early Years and Looked after Children;
supported the move to find more foster/adoption parents within ethnic communities.
Built Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee
Looks at: Economic and environmental health, licensing, planning, parking,
transport, waste collection and street cleansing
Led by: Councillor Angela Harvey
Contact: 020 7641 3160 Email: rsegal@westminster.gov.uk
Achievement: Scrutinised the Re-Let Strategy for the Waste Collection, Recycling
and Street Cleansing Contract.
Resources and Corporate Services Policy and Scrutiny Committee
Looks at: Efficiency, budget, performance, customer service, Human Resources,
Information Technology and property functions
Led by: Councillor Mark Page
Contact: 020 7641 3163 Email: pwoodward@westminster.gov.uk
Achievement: Delivered large scale savings to maintain a low council tax, and
seeking funding from central government.
Health and Community Services Policy and Scrutiny Committee
Looks at: Adult social services, libraries, arts and culture, sport and leisure services
Led by: Councillor Judith Warner
Contact: 020 7641 7056 Email: esimpkin@westminster.gov.uk
Achievement: Reviewed CityWest housing services and youth sports provision, especially
focussing on HolidayFun, also reviewed the role of libraries and mental health.
Health Task Group
Looks at: Performance and future plans of NHS Trusts, healthcare standards, local
action on health irregularities.
Led by: Councillor Barrie Taylor
Contact: 020 7641 2877 Email: jbevantaylor@westminster.gov.uk
Achievement: Reviewed Direct Access to Primary Healthcare Services.
Crime and Disorder Policy and Scrutiny Committee
Looks at: Community protection and the Safer Westminster Partnership
Led by: Councillor Tony Devenish
Contact: 0202 7641 2799 Email: sgartshore@westminster.gov.uk
Achievement: Scrutinised the London Mayor’s Crime and Disorder reduction
policies, and reviewed Westminster’s approach to tackling knife crime.
Get a safe ride
home from
Leicester Square
Thursday to Saturday from
10pm to 4am, you can
now make use of the new
minicab collection point.
The service makes it even
safer for you to get
home. All cars and
drivers are fully
licensed, and you
will be escorted to
your vehicle, which is
especially useful for
women. 60% of user
are female.
You’ll know the price of your journey
before you travel so there will be no
nasty surprises.
To book your journey home, simply
visit the London Information Centre in
Leicester Square opposite Capital Radio,
next to TKTS, and pay before travelling.
You will then be escorted to your
allocated vehicle on Whitcomb Street
by an official Secure Minicab marshal.
24 The Westminster Reporter
The Westminster Reporter 25

Queen’s Park
Westbourne Road
Royal Oak
Queensway
Maida Vale
Bayswater
Warwick Avenue
Paddington
St John’s Wood
Paddington
Lancaster Gate
South Kensington
Edgware Road
Marylebone
Baker Street
Marble Arch
Knightsbridge
Sloane Square
Regent’s Park
Gt Portland Street
Bond Street
Hyde Park Corner
Oxford Circus
Green Park
Victoria
Picadilly Circus
Tottenham Crt Rd
St James’s Park
Pimlico
Leicester Square
Charing Cross
Covent Garden
Westminster
Embankment
Temple
Boundary Road
This edition, the Reporter launches the first of a series of articles
about the history of your ward and what we are spending your
money on in the future. The council covers 20 wards, and we are
starting with Lancaster Gate.
Lancaster Gate Ward
Off the main shopping streets of Lancaster Gate lie tree-lined avenues
with three-storey Victorian stucco terraces, named the most handsome
in London in 1868.
The ward might be
called Lancaster
Gate but it is actually
Bayswater, so called
after Bayswater Rivulet,
a stream once used by
thirsty horses and
riders. It is bounded by
Hyde Park to the
south, Paddington
Station to the east, the
A40 to the north and
Notting Hill to the
west.
Edward Orme, a Bond Street print
seller led the upsurge in building in
the 19th Century. His Russian
business dealings may explain the
naming of Moscow Road and St
Petersburgh Place. Ward Councillor
Robert Davis, Deputy Leader of the
Council, champions another
possibility: after the Tzar of Russia set
up a temporary court there in 1816,
Queen’s Road, c.1905, now known as Queensway.
“On the surface this
looks like a well-off
area, but scratch that
surface and it has its
problems. We do our
best to reduce these.”
Nigel Jellis, City Guardian
the streets were named to
commemorate his visit.
The focal point is Whiteleys, once
the biggest covered
shopping centre in the
world. Nowadays, it
faces competition from
Westfield in White City.
Councillor Davis hopes it
will find its niche: “I
would like to make
Queensway an upmarket,
specialist shopping area,
which stands out from
what else is on offer.”
Along with ward
councillors Andrew Smith
and Susie Burbridge, he is creating a
BID (Business Improvement District)
to attract investment.
Queensway is colourful, bustling
and loud: boasting an array of
restaurants reflecting a diverse
population, of which 40% were born
outside the EU. High footfall in
Queensway, combined with
numerous hotels, provide great
Whiteleys Shopping Centre,
Queensway, today.
challenges for street cleaners, police
and the City Guardians – wardens set
up by Westminster Council to reduce
the impact of antisocial behaviour.
“I would like to
make Queensway an
upmarket, specialist
shopping area, which
stands out from what
else is on offer.”
Cllr Robert Davis,
Lancaster Gate Ward
Kilburn L ane
LANCASTER
GATE
Harrow Road
CITY OF WESTMINSTER
Elgin Avenue
Whiteleys when new in 1910.
Nigel Jellis, a City Guardian, said:
“On the surface this looks like a welloff
area, but scratch that surface and
it has its problems. We do our best to
reduce these.”
City Guardians are kept on their
Third Avenue
Fernhead Road
Great Western Rd
Carlton Vale
Westway
Chepstow Rd
Westbourne Park Road
oad
Kilburn Park R
Sutherland Avenue
Westbourne e Grove
Randolph Gdns Randolph Av
Grove
Carlton Hill
Bishop’s Bridge Rd
The Broad Walk
Hall Road Circus Road
Bayswater Road Marble Arch Oxford Street
toes by the South East Bayswater
Residents’ Association. With around
1,000 members, the group is often
consulted by the council on traffic
and planning proposals and has won
many victories against developers.
They also patrol the ward’s primary
schools including Hallfield Junior and
Infant School to talk about issues of
citizenship. The school is in the Hallfield
Estate, built between 1951-59 by
leading British architects Drake and
Lasdun.
The ward has been given £100,000
by the council as part of the Building
Neighbourhoods scheme. It will be
spent on the BID for Queensway and
another for Paddington, as well as
additional police patrols. It will also
fund a Hallfield Football team and a
new homework club.
by Lindsay Coulson
In the next edition of the Reporter, you can read about Marylebone Ward.
Maida Vale
Warwick Avenue
Leinster Gdns
Leinster Gdns
Porchester Gdns
Abbey Road
Clifton Gdns
Westway
Gloucester Terrace
G
Bishop s BridgeR
Finchley Road
Eastbourne Terrace
Kensington
Gardens
Queen’s Gate
Acacia Road
We lington Rd
St John’s Wood Road
Frampton St
John’s Wood High St
Edgware Road
Praed Street
Sussex Gardens
Exhibition Rd
West Carriage Drive
Avenue Road
Lisson Grove
Stanhope Terr
Ox
fordSq
Park Road
Rossmore Rd
Marylebone Road
Prince Albert Road
Seymour Pl
Conaught St
Hyde
Park
Serpentine Road
South Carriage Drive
Gloucester Place
Oute
Baker St
George Street
Brompton Road
Regent’s
Park
Inner Circle
Park Lane
r Circle
Mary
lebone High Street
Seymour Street Wigmore Street Mortimer St
Knightsbridge
Grosvenor Sq
rzon s
treet
Cu
Pimlico Rd
Chelsea Bridge Rd
New Cavendish Street
Davies Street
Grosvenor Place
Portland Plac e
Gt Portand
New Bond St
Piccadi ly
Buckingham Palace Rd
Cleveland Street N ewman St
Str et
Constitution Hi l
Regents Street
Victoria St
Wilton R oad
St James’s St
Buckingham
Warwick Way Roch ester Row
Lupus Street
Grosvenor Road
Birdcage Walk
Tachbrook
Claverton St
Wardour Street
Brewer St
Shaftesbury Av
Pa l Ma l
Gate
The Ma l
Great Peter St
Vauxhall Bridge Road
St
Regent St
Haymarket
Regency Strret
Charring Cross Rd
St Martin’s Lane
Northumberland Av
Horse Guards R d
John Slip St
Whitehall
Horseferry Road
Page Street
L ong Acre
Bridge Street
MillBank
Strand
Victoria Embankment
Community
Reassurance
Discover
the history
of your
neighbourhood
If you are interested in the
history of your city, then
why not visit Westminster
City Archives?
The archive centre is a vast
source of information on
family, local, business and
community history.
You can search the archives
free of charge without making
an appointment.
Once there you will find a
treasure trove of information,
including:
• old newspapers and journals
• electoral registers
• over 60,000 prints and drawings
• special collections including
theatre programmes, play bills
and a unique collection on the
artist and poet William Blake
• local government records
from 1460 onwards.
There is also a local history
shop which sells books, maps,
postcards and greeting cards.
You can find the Archives
Centre at 10 St Ann’s Street,
London SW1P 2DE, nearest tube
is St James’s Park.
For more information on what
is offered call 020 7641 5180 or
visit www.westminster.gov.
uk/archives
26 The Westminster Reporter
The Westminster Reporter 27

ack page
Useful numbers
Westminster City Council
Customer Enquiry Line 020 7641 6000
Website
www.westminster.gov.uk
Community Intelligence Line 020 7641 3000
Council tax 0845 302 3400
Environmental Action Line 020 7641 2000
A 24-hour hotline for recycling, refuse collection, street cleansing,
abandoned vehicles, noise and other street-related issues such as
defects in our roads, pavements and street lighting.
Housing benefit and council tax benefit 0800 072 0042
Housing options 020 7641 1000
Library renewals 020 7641 1400
Parking 020 7823 4567
Planning 020 7641 2513
Registering to vote 020 7641 2730
Senior Passport 020 7641 1444
Social Services 020 7641 7535
CS-28-A-0109
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP
Telephone 020 7641 6000