Westminster Chronicle

Motorists cause 70 per cent of cycle collisions in Westminster

2013-05-17T08:00:00Z

Motorists are to blame for nearly 70 per cent of all collisions involving cyclists in Westminster, a report has revealed.

]]> Westminster Council's draft cycling strategy also shows that 93 per cent of cyclists killed or seriously injured in the borough in the past three years had been involved in a collision with a vehicle.

In the last 12 months, it was found that the driver was responsible in 68 per cent of cases, while the cyclist was to blame 20 per cent of the time. In the remaining 12 per cent, both parties shared the blame.

Since 2010, about two thirds of these collisions involved cars or taxis, about a quarter were with large or heavy goods vehicles and 12 per cent were with buses or coaches. In 2011, 30 cyclists were seriously hurt while 341 had minor injuries.

Last month Katharine Giles became the first cyclist to die on Westminster's streets in three years. She was involved in a collision with a tipper truck at the junction of Victoria and Palace streets.

The report published last week outlines proposals to improve road safety, improve driver awareness and boost the number of daily bike journeys originating in Westminster to 116,000 by 2026.

Colin Wing, chairman of Westminster Cycling Campaign, praised the report: "It is a significant policy change by the council. It recognises the importance and desirability of cycling, that people should be encouraged to do it and the council will do things to facilitate it.

"It's also done some myth-busting. For example, when there is a collision and a pedestrian, the pedestrian is at fault 60 per cent of the time. It shows cyclists aren't as dangerous as people perceive."

He added: "But we'd obviously prefer to avoid a collision in the first place through better road designs and policies, which this report addresses."

The report states that only 11 per cent of Westminster residents cycle at least once a week, which leaves the potential for 350,000 more cycle trips each day.

New pedestrian and cycle crossings on Westway at Bishop's Bridge Road, Paddington, have just opened.

Meat to return to school menus following 'stringent checks'

2013-05-16T09:32:42Z

Meat will be back on school menus within weeks following the horse meat scandal.

Pupils have been eating only fish and vegetarian meals since March after halal chicken sausages served in Westminster schools were found to have traces of pork DNA.

]]> Tests by Westminster Council following the national horse meat scandal also found lamb and pork in lean minced beef supplied by contractor Chartwells.

The same company, part of the Compass Group, will continue to supply school meals, but the council has insisted it will not use the supplier who provided the original contaminated foods.

Karen Tyerman, director for children's services at the council, reassured parents that 'stringent' checks will now be in place, including random DNA testing of meat products.

She said: "We expect meat to be back on the school menu in a phased programme.

"This is later than we originally stated... We have prioritised the quality of the new supplier over the time frame so we can restored parents' confidence in meat that is supplied to schools.

"Our new criteria require that all products will be DNA tested by Westminster Environmental Health officers and Chartwells before they are introduced to school menus."

Snap your home for international photo competition

2013-05-16T08:15:00Z

Photographers are encouraged to submit their snaps on the theme of home for a photo competition.

Accademia Apulia, based in Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, is working with Amnesty International and the European Commission, to promote cultural diversity.

]]> The theme of home hopes to break down political and cultural barriers to promote social integration.

To enter the competition by May 28, visit www.accademiapulia.org.

Artist needs help to build wooden space ship for US festival

2013-05-16T08:00:43Z

An artist whose work includes creating glowing dead rats has designed an enormous wooden spaceship for a prestigious US arts festival.

]]> Deborah Davies, from Pimlico, is fundraising to collect the £11,000 needed to build the 20ft-high Luma Module for Burning Man in Nevada's Black Rock Desert in August.

The artist-in-residence at the University of London's Centre for Creative Collaboration was selected from tens of thousands of entries around the world.

She teamed up with London architect Mark Lomas, under the collaboration Art at Acton Street, to design the whale-shaped plywood and timber craft, following this year's theme of Cargo Cult.

It will become an interactive light installation throughout the week-long event before being lit up in flames along with hundreds of other pieces.

Miss Davies, 44, said: "It's a really prestigious festival, it features some of the world's best artists. We've been reviewed in the online arts magazine Ignite."

She added: "In some ways burning the model sits really comfortably with me and in other ways it's tough. You can get quite heavy as an artist, so burning your work is quite a levelling experience.

"But I do think my team will have to sit on me when they light the match in case I try and save it.

"I like Burning Man for it's philosophy. It's got a strong spiritual practice and being attached to it is quite empowering.

"The geographical location is like the Grand Canyon, it's so vast. Even though it's quite large, the Luma Module will look like a matchbox in comparison to the vast desert."

Participants will have their 'inner light status' measured, using a device adopted by scientologists, and receive a glowing ball to fill up the sides of the ship. The more enlightened will receive a blow orb, while the less-light filled will shine a dirty green colour.

Miss Davies originally studied photography at the former West Surrey College of Art and Design and was a video producer for several years.

Her art has evolved from merging video and technology, with her most exciting project being replacing the tails of dead rats with electronics to create glowing pieces of taxidermy.

To donate click here.

Plant pots to raise money for St John's Hospice

2013-05-15T11:25:44Z

Undertakers are helping grieving friends and family while raising money for cancer patients.

Clients are able to purchase one of 10 potted plants in memory of a loved one at EA Langley Funeral Directors in Chippenham Road, Maida Vale. All funds will be donated to St John's Hospice in St John's Wood.

]]> The public are welcome to visit the garden which will be managed by branch arranger Jason Jackson.

For more information call 020 7286 8718.

Vince Cable welcomes Paddington Nissan apprenticeship scheme

2013-05-15T11:13:32Z

Students can help shape the future of car design on a new apprenticeship scheme at Nissan's design headquarters in Paddington.

]]> Business secretary Vince Cable launched the car manufacturer's clay modelling apprenticeship at Nissan Design Europe in Harrow Road last week.

The company is working with West Thames College, in Hounslow, to recruit young talent to meet the shortage of skilled sculptors who give form to the vision of car designers.

College principal Marjorie Semple said: "We are really excited to be working in partnership with Nissan on this amazing project.

"This fills a gap in the industry and opens up fantastic opportunities for young people who want to pursue a career in this sector."

Mr Cable said: "Our ambition is that the UK should have a world-class skills base so business can compete in a global market.

"We have almost doubled the number of apprenticeship starts since 2010 to over one million. We have seen strong growth in sectors that are vital to rebalancing our economy, like engineering."

Suspected illegal shisha factory uncovered in Harrow Road

2013-05-15T10:58:48Z

A suspected illegal shisha factory has been uncovered - with enough counterfeit tobacco to fill a three and a half tonne lorry.

Trading standards officers from Westminster Council found 38 boxes of shisha tobacco in a basement flat in Harrow Road last week after a woman living above was overcome by fumes.

]]> They believe it may be part of a far bigger shipment of around 100 boxes imported illegally into the UK without paying duty.

Officers said the 'industrial scale of the operation', where two cement mixers were used to churn the smoking leaves with flavouring, food dye and molasses, could be 'the tip of the iceberg'. Hundreds of sealed packets ready for sale, with no smoking health warnings, were also found.

The council has set up a shisha working group to assess how to tackle the growing problems associated with the recent boom in shisha cafes - there are now more than 100 in the borough.

Councillor Nickie Aiken, cabinet member for community protection, said: "This is a remarkable find.

"The sheer scale of what has been going on would seem to realise some of our worst fears. This looks like a very organised operation with international connections.

"For years many have questioned how the shisha market has been able to grow so rapidly, with seemingly no registered importer.

"If, as it seems to be, no tax is being paid on the tobacco the Treasury has been losing out on tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds every year.

"Not only that but as if smoking isn't bad enough as it is, this is being stirred in with concrete dust. This will prove to be shisha's dirty little secret."

Trading standards are collecting information to charge the owner of the premises.

Three estates to be regenerated in multi-million pound scheme

2013-05-08T09:18:17Z

Thousands of residents are having their say on a multi-million pound project to regenerate three estates.

Westminster Council is working with residents on plans to improve Ebury Bridge Estate, Pimlico, Church Street Estate in St John's Wood and Tollgate Gardens Estate in Kilburn Park.

]]> More than 300 homes will be refurbished or replaced in Pimlico. Designs include more environmentally sustainable properties, private outdoor space for every home, new shops and community spaces in Ebury Bridge Road, upgraded green spaces and a new children's playground.

People are still being consulted on a new community health centre to be built in Lisson Grove for the Church Street Estate.

Residents will be able to benefit from a new heating system to reduce energy bills and benefit from a new covered market square in Salisbury Street. It will home the Church Street Market and provide space for start-up businesses with 300 new jobs and 100 apprenticeships up for grabs.

And 195 new homes, a new community hall and improved communal gardens and play spaces will rejuvenate Tollgate Gardens Estate (pictured).

Councillor Jonathan Glanz, cabinet member for housing, said: "This vote represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revive these areas and to build much-needed new homes, to improve our existing housing stock, to create hundreds of new jobs, new community facilities and improve the public realm of these areas."

Residents have until next week to answer the consultation. Visit, www.westminster.gov.uk/housingrenewal.

Westminster Council offers low rent to save Pimlico Post Office

2013-05-08T09:14:03Z

Westminster Council has added its support to a residents campaign to save a Post Office in Pimlico from closure.

Councillor Jonathan Glanz, cabinet member for housing and property, has vowed to keep the Lupus Street branch's rent at the same level for the next five years in a bid to preserve the 'vital resource' for the hundreds of residents on the nearby Churchill Gardens Estate.

]]> The residents have launched a petition, with the support of the Communications Workers Union, to stop the service being merged into existing branches in Vauxhall Bridge Road and Eccleston Street.

Mr Glanz said: "This post office is a vital resource for residents in the area, particularly elderly people who collect their pensions there.

"We have done all we can to keep the post office at this location and have this week put an offer to them to keep their rent at the same level and await a response."

For the previous story, click here.

Canalway Cavalcade festival sails into Little Venice

2013-05-07T09:51:38Z

Little Venice was awash with colour this weekend when 160 canal boats sailed into Paddington.

More than 30,000 people enjoyed the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Canalway Cavalcade on the Grand Union Canal over the bank holiday weekend.

]]> Christine Smith, a volunteer from the Inland Waterways Association which organised the festival, said: "It was the biggest turnout ever.

"The traders were very busy and all of them have been enthusiastic and want to come back next year. In our chairman's opinion it was a resounding success.

"We had at least 160 boats from all over the country. We personally came from Cheshire. We travelled 180 miles and operated 207 locks."

Morris dancers and live music entertained guests and a pageant of boats was the highlight on Saturday (4).

Tories win again in Marylebone High Street by-election

2013-05-07T08:46:16Z

The Conservatives have retained their seat in the Marylebone High Street by-election despite severe losses for the party around the rest of the country.

Iain Bott, 34, won with 921 votes cast out of 1,554 on Thursday last week, on the same day the Tories took a bashing in local council elections in England.

]]> Councillor Harvey Marshall resigned from his seat on Westminster Council last month after 23 years due to medical problems.

It was a close fight for second place with Labour's Nik Slingsby just inching ahead of Yael Saunders, chairwoman of a new Marylebone Residents group standing under the independent tag Fighting for Spaces for People, with 203 compared to 184 votes.

Liberal Democrat Jeremy Hill took fourth place with 104 votes, followed by Paul Mercieca of the UK Independence Party with 96 and the Green's Hugh Small with 50.

Mr Bott, 34, an NHS dentist from Marylebone, said of his win: "I am obviously very pleased with the result, getting nearly 60 per cent of the vote, and with a 12.5 per cent swing to the Conservatives, bucking the national trend.

"The team and I have worked hard during this campaign to get our message out, and it has been a pleasure to meet many of the residents along the way.

"I look forward to representing the residents of Marylebone High Street Ward at Westminster Council, and working hard to keep this area clean, safe, and with low council tax while protecting frontline services."

To see the candidates manifestos click here.

Missing Paddington man found

2013-05-02T12:12:38Z

Police have found missing Paddington man Mark Carter.

The 48-year-old disabled man went missing from his hostel in Paddington on Tuesday and has now been found well.

Police have thanked people for their assistance in tracing him.

Paddington Law Centre survives another year with £10,000 grant

2013-05-01T15:05:46Z

Paddington Law Centre was handed a vital lifeline with a £10,000 grant to keep it open for needy residents.

The centre, in Harrow Road, offers free legal advice to people around Westminster but was facing closure before Westminster Council stepped in.

]]> It previously received a £10,000 grant in March and £60,000 last year from the council's pot of money for community projects collected through planning agreements with big developers.

People will continue to get free advice up until April next year.

The centre is working with Westminster Action for Voluntary Engagement and Volunteer Centre Westminster to find ways to create its own income to become self-sustaining in the future.

Councillor Steve Summers, the council's community chief, said: "We have stepped in at the request of the law centre because we believe this organisation can become self-sustaining, despite the loss of grants from other agencies.

"We want to work with them to help them become sustainable and continue to provide support to community."

Boat pageant for Paddington's Canalway Cavalcade

2013-05-01T08:50:56Z

Little Venice welcomes a splash of colour this weekend at the annual Canalway Cavalcade.

A pageant of boats will float down the Grand Union Canal beneath Westbourne Grove, Paddington, at 2pm on Saturday (04).

]]> Morris dancers, stalls, children's activities and a real ale bar will entertain guests across the bank holiday weekend from 10-5pm Saturday to Monday.

An illuminated procession of boats will light up the canal from 8pm at Sunday (05).

Paddington student's fun run to help build playgrounds in Africa

2013-05-01T08:47:18Z

A student recruited her friends to complete a charity run to help build playgrounds in Africa.

]]> Nyma Beg (centre), from Paddington Academy, organised the one km race in Regent's Park.

The friends are collecting money to reach their target of £2,000 for charity East African Playgrounds.

Nyma, 18, plans to travel to Uganda this summer to help the project build play areas for needy youngsters in poverty-stricken rural areas.

She hopes to study pharmaceutical science at Hertfordshire University this autumn to become a pharmacist.

She said: "I always feel that children deserve a bit of play time, so I hope people can help me to help others and do something that I love."

She added: "My mum, all my family and my teachers have supported it."

Sponsor Nyma at www.justgiving.com/nyma-beg.