December 2015 E-Newsletter

Below my Christmas card (with many thanks to the children of Christ Church Bentinck School) you will find:

Contents
My statement on the vote to extend air strikes into Syria

Other issues you have been writing to me about this month

Westminster school children at risk from air pollution

As plans emerge for a Paddington Shard (and the redevelopment of West End Green - I say lets take the time to get this right

Government ends secure tenancies in social housing

Westminster Council deletes 46 jobs (and slashes funding) in the play/out-of-school' child care service

Inquiry calls for halt to West London Accident and Emergency closures

New debt advice service launched in Westminster

Local round up

Syria
Nearly 1000 constituents wrote to me before the recent vote on extending air-strikes against ISIL/Daesh in Syria - the overwhelming
majority being against such action. My own decision to vote against was, however, very finely balanced - I can see the need to defeat
this evil organisation militarily and we are, after all, already involved against them in Iraq, with Parliamentary approval. However, I am
concerned about the ISIL first strategy in this most complex of civil wars, and remain sceptical about the Governments strategy for
mobilising what will be an essential ground force to complete the work air strikes alone cannot do. You can read my full statement here.

What you have been writing to me about this month

Please follow the links for:

Bees
TTIP
Fracking under national parks
Government ministers decided that the week of the Climate Change conference in Paris was also a good week to bring forward regulations to permit fracking under national parks! I voted NO.
and what else I have been doing in Parliament
I serve on two Select Committees - the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Work and Pensions Committee. The JCHR is currently looking into the use of drones, and will publish a report shortly. The Work and Pensions Committee produced an important report during the recent Tax Credits debate, and is also now enquiring into the local welfare state (which included a visit to Westminster
to meet the Z2K charity workers to discuss Discretionary Housing payments, the Social Fund and Council Tax Benefit), and Benefit
Delivery.
The Work and Pensions Committee is also doing an inquiry into the new state pension, and has been taking evidence on how women
have been affected by the equalising of the state pension age. If you have been affected, please do let me know how you think these
changes have been implemented and communicated.

Westminster schools at high risk from air pollution

I have campaigned in the past about the threat to health from unacceptable levels of air pollution in central London and in 2013 I wrote
to Westminster urging action to protect the well-being of children in local schools. Now the issue has arisen again, with new warnings
about the risk toxic air poses to childrens health.
Recently the Evening Standard reported that :
"Nearly one in four school children in London are being forced to breathe air so filthy that it breaches EU legal limits, a shock report
warned today.
In findings which will alarm many parents, it was revealed that 328,000 pupils were at schools where nitrogen dioxide levels were
above the annual permitted level.
They included more than 30,000 children in Westminster, 29,000 in Tower Hamlets, 28,800 in Southwark, 26,300 in Camden, 24,000
in Kensington and Chelsea, 23,700 in Lambeth and 20,100 in Hackney."
You can read the full article here.
Heres the local angle, from last weeks Wood and Vale
It is essential that we take urgent action to reduce these harmful emissions.

Lets build, but lets take the time to get it right

Two of the largest development projects in recent years in or affecting North Westminster, are looking to get the go ahead in a matter
of weeks.
Paddington Shard

Although I am quite a fan of tall buildings and accept the need to increase building density to support housing and economic activity. I
share the concerns expressed by my councillor colleagues that this scheme is too important to rush - read the full statement here.

West End Green

The 2.66 acre West End Green site which has been variously vacant and a car park and car wash for the last 25 years. It has now
been bought by Berkeley homes, who carried out a consultation/presentation at City of Westminster College (which I attended) at the
beginning of December.
They now intend by the end of the year to submit a new planning application for a mixed use development . This will include private
and affordable homes, offices, shops, restaurants and a small boutique cinema, with construction planned to commence in summer
2016.
Whilst I am very pleased to see this vacant site brought back into use after so many years, I am very concerned by the suggestion that
only just over 1 in 5 of the c700 homes proposed will be affordable (far too low), and I am keen to ensure that local residents are content with the design, especially of the proposed tower.
Heres the link to the full presentation.
A fundamental question still remains over the future of Paddington Green police station, which I am sure the Mayors Office intend to
sell, but which remains shrouded in secrecy. One thing is certain - we cannot be left without a police station for the entirely of North
Westminster

Government ends secure tenancies in social housing

The new Housing and Planning Act now going through Parliament makes many important changes to housing policy, including:

Higher rents for social tenants with total household incomes over 30k (40 in London)

Extending the Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants, paid for by the forced sale of higher value council properties

Ending secure tenancies for all new social housing tenants

Parliament debated some of these changes this week, and I spoke about the importance of security and stability in housing for families and for communities. You can read my speech here.

Westminster Council deletes 46 jobs in the play/out-of-school child care

service
Child care isnt, of course, just for the under-fives as any parent of school age children knows. Working parents especially need to
know that there are after-school and holiday schemes they can rely upon.
It is with huge regret that I heard this week that Westminster Council are pressing ahead with plans to drop all responsibility for this
service - run for many years. This week, 46 staff were told that their posts were being abolished as Westminster cuts funding and expects schools to pick up the slack.
If you are affected by this, or have views about it, please do let me know.

Inquiry calls for halt to West London Accident and Emergency closures
As the NHS enters into another winter with huge pressures on hospitals and social care (and with the London Ambulance Service put
into special measures because of concerns, an inquiry into the plans for North West London health care (Shaping a Healthier Future
- which includes St Marys) has called for a halt to closures in Accident and Emergency services. You can read about it here.

WESTMINSTER CHURCH LAUNCHES LIFE-SAVING SERVICE FOR

PEOPLE IN DEBT (From One Westminster News)
As we head into the winter months, when fuel bills rise and Christmas costs start to stack up, one central London church is taking action to help those stuck in poverty and debt.
Westminster Chapel in Buckingham Gate has partnered with the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to bring its award-winning
service to the area, opening a debt counselling centre in the heart of the capital, meaning that many stuck in the mire of debt now
have the chance to become debt-free.
Westminster Chapel manager Andy Mehigan said: Typically, debts can build up when a relationship breaks down, or someone loses
their job, or through bereavement so often when people are least able to cope with a financial headache. Were just so pleased to be
able to partner the care of our church with the financial expertise of CAPs head office in Bradford.
CAP offers an in-depth, caring service to people with unmanageable debt, regardless of age, gender, faith or background. Every client
is visited in their own home, and the charity will do all the negotiating with creditors, while local volunteers offer support to each person
face-to-face until the day they are debt free.
Research has shown that one in three callers seeking help with debt are feeling suicidal, but find huge relief through this nonjudgemental service.
To find out more visit CAP, Westminster Chapel or call 0800 328 0006

Struggling with fuel bills?

Its not (yet) been a cold winter, but even so thousands of local residents struggle with the cost of heating. This is just a reminder of
some of the places you can go for help:
Home Heat Helpline 0800 336699
Advice on how to get support from your energy supplier, including free insulation and the Warm Home Discount scheme.
Grants from the British Gas Energy Trust 01733 421060
Advice, financial help and grants to help clear energy and household debts (average grant 600) and you DONT need to be a British
Gas customer
Citizens Advice 03444 111444

Local round up
Keeping the pressure up in the campaign to rebuild the Carlton Tavern

I joined some of the dogged Carlton campaigners for a Christmas gathering outside this half-demolished pub, along with Maida Vale
Councillor Rita Begum.

Residents express concerns about impact of Lanark Road redevelopment

Dolphin Living have been chosen by Westminster to re-develop the Lanark Road site which currently includes the Lanark Centre, Paddington Boys club and a facility used by St Georges School. I welcome the new, much needed, homes and the re-building of the community facilities - but it is also important that the design is right and the impact on neighbouring residents kept to a minimum.
Some residents are campaigning for a re-think of the design, so if you would like to find out more, click here and to contact them
click here.
Update of re-development of Dora House
Heres the most recent update from Central and Cecil, owners of the two big sheltered housing blocks in St Johns Wood:
"Since writing to you earlier in the year, I am happy to inform you that C&C submitted the planning application for Dora House and 60 St. Johns
Wood to Westminster City Council on the 12 October. Our planning consultant is responding to queries from the planning officer before the submission is validated. The programme targets a planning committee in January 2016.
I thought I would use this milestone as an opportunity to update you on our public consultations and the next steps on the residents reallocation
process
Prior to submission, we held two public exhibitions at the Danubius Hotel for residents and our neighbours to review our proposals for both Lodge
Road and 60 St. Johns Wood. The first event in April was attended by over 40 local residents and neighbours, and following detail conversations
with Westminster City Council and feedback from this initial consultation, we held a second exhibition on 15th September to display the number of
changes to the private residential element.
Before the public exhibitions, we held a private event at Dora House for residents and their families to view the proposals, see how the Dora Designers work had been incorporated into the scheme, and put questions to the design team and C&C. 72 Dora residents attended the private event
and a large number gave overwhelming support for both elements of scheme.
C&C has continued to work with our residents on our proposals to redevelop Dora House and their temporary relocation. Following on from our
conversations with residents, the majority of Dora House residents have been happily relocated to other C&C locations, with a number choosing to
move independently. Of the 40 remaining residents, 22 have agreed moves and are expected to move during November, December. Another 10
offers have been made and have been accepted in principle as they are awaiting a viewing.
There are currently 8 residents without an agreed allocation. All residents have been given an offer and while we are taking every step to ensure
that residents are relocated to their preferred new home, a few residents have rejected offers.
We are still in conversation with these residents, however, we are now seeking to issue court orders by the End of November/beginning of December to facilitate the relocation process. While letters will be issued in the coming months, we do not expect action to be taken until the New Year,
however, we anticipate that most residents will have been relocated by this time.
Lastly, C&C have produced a DVD called Dora Chapters about the Dora House redevelopment which I think you may find interesting. The documentary explores key elements involved in a redevelopment, including how residents feel at different stages and work with us to find inspiring solutions. A copy of this has been sent to your office."
Whiteleys
The redevelopment of Whiteleys in Bayswater is also generating controversy (the size and impact of the scheme, including the 3 basement depth, the lack of affordable housing) of which this constituents letter is typical:
"I trust you will be bringing your good offices to bear on the many shortcomings in the full planning application for the redevelopment of Whiteleys.
There are many excellent comments made on the Westminster planning website. I share many of them especially the need for affordable housing
in the area which I worry sounds like a bit of a joke.
Minefocus on the very negative impact that the proposed increased height and inclusion of THREE basement levels will have on Kensington Gardens Square and on the character and success of the area more generally.
May I have your assurance that you will work for a redevelopment that does not destroy the character of our conservation area and of beautiful
Kensington Gardens Square?"
You can see the proposal and make comments here.

Thank you for reading and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Karen Buck MP
Website: www.karenbuck.org.uk
Twitter: KarenPBuckMP
Promoted by Robert Atkinson on behalf of Karen Buck MP at 4G Shirland Mews, Maida Hill, London, W9 3DY. The information used to supply this
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