Cllr Barrow, leader of WCC - But who knows him? I suspect if he was a directly elected mayor people would know him

In last Friday’s Evening Standard my colleague Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg was quoted as saying that the City of Westminster leadership poll amongst the majority Tory group councillors as an insult to democracy. 

He is quite right to point out that a city which has some 250,000 inhabitants won’t have a say but the 48 Tory councillors in a ballot will at the end of the month, only one of whom opposed the discredited “nightlife tax ” policy. The latter showing quite well how out of touch the majority group was on this issue and why l feel the City needs to consider having a directly elected Mayor, as a means of reconnecting with residents again. What better mandate can you give someone then being directly elected by your residents as leader of the council then through the members of the majority political group in the council. Between elections it would then be up to the Mayor to keep in touch with locals in a way that a council leader does not have to do so.

In many ways the City of Westminster is unique in the governance of London similar to the City of London though much more credible in local government terms, having also the seat of government, monarchy and the vast majority of embassies based within its boundaries. Lets not also forget its residents, wildly diverse and  living in a host of urban villages like Pimilico, Marylebone, Paddington and Queens Park as well.

Interestingly on the 3rd of May, a number of local authorities are having ballots on whether to have a directly elected Mayors in their councils up and down the country with the full approval of the Department of Local Government & Communities (DLGC). Indeed we already have a number of councils in London which already have this arrangement including Newham, Lewisham and Hackney. So l say, if it can work for them why not the City of Westminster? 

More interestly in the Council’s Community Governance Review consultation, the option of a directly Elected Mayor is not put up as an option even though it is incorporated withn the Localism Act for 2011. I think its only right that those responding to this review with its extended deadline now till the 17th of February ask the council why this is the case and get some explanations?

What l am sure about, is that if we had a directly elected Mayor of the City of Westminster, it would be hotly contested. As it would have a profile like no other Mayor of a local authority in London, rubbing shoulders with royalty, diplomats and central government.

Edgware Road once again neglected by TFL

 So, not only have I been confronted with this issue in my capacity as a London-wide assembly member, I’ve also been clobbered as a local resident. With my assembly hat firmly on, I was interested to hear what the Mayor of London had to say about the issue of evening and weekend charges which is why I submitted a question to him asking “How does the City of Westminster’s new parking policy affect your policies in central London?”. He gave a muted response against the proposals but his response spoke louder about the impact on local businesses (which is of course very good) but not enough about the impact on local residents. With recent price hikes in the cost of transport and the relentless poor service at weekends, those who may not oridinarily have travelled by car are being lured, some would argue forced back into their car. It would not be too cynical of me to suggest that there is a strong element of revenue raising behind the proposals. Residents have wholeheartedly spoken out against the moves and the proposals are also bad for business. For these reasons, the Mayor should be much bolder and vocal in his response. I hope that my recent question to him will prompt him to speak out for the Londoners most affected.

Local residents should not be asked to bear the brunt of the crossrail project

The Crossrail Paddington Community liaison Panel heard from contractors “BFK” last Wednesday night ( Western Lorry Routes presentation ) on how it intends to bring the tunnel segments for Crossrail into the Western Portal by a major number of lorry movements through neighbouring residential areas. That’s some 70 vehicles a day ( there and back ) for 18 months. This is contrary to the original understanding that it would all come in and out of the site by rail. This, when we already have issues about heavy lorries passing along Great Western Road and the Council has been asked to investigate issues raised by the tarmac cement site behind and on the side of the Westbourne Park garage.

I have heard complaints that very large bulk carriers from the tarmac cement site behind the Westbourne Park bus garage in Great Western Road used to have their raw materials delivered by rail; this has now stopped and been replaced by truck deliveries.  I am understanding of the fact that the contrators have a job to do, however, inflicting this sort of large articulated traffic 6 days a week until 10.00pm in a residential area is asking too much of residents to endure.

Also, in order to pass down Elgin Avenue and Chippenham Road to reach Harrow Road, they are crossing the canal bridge in Great Western Road which has a 7.5 ton prohibition on it. The outgoing cement trucks seem to have ignored this restriction for years, but this is now becoming even more frequent, so much so that there is evidence of damage to the road surface and corners.

 As planning does not cover this sort of activity, Crossrail will seek approval of the lorry routes under Schedule 7 of the Crossrail Act. This will include a request for exemption from a right turn ban at the Prince of Wales junction for segment deliveries.  But as my sister Cllr Papya Qureshi has commented, if granted, this exemption will ride roughshod over what is in fact a vital restriction on vehicle movements into her Westbourne Ward and others like Harrow Road & Bayswater. If large & heavy vehicles are made exempt, why not much smaller cars owned by local residents?

So look out for the Schedule 7 application to the City of Westminster to trigger alarm of lorry movements in the residential streets of Paddington during the Crossrail works.