Dear Members,
This has without doubt been one of the most trying times I have experienced during my last twenty years in the Hyde Park Estate.
We are now into our second round of lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has already had devastating effects on some families through illness and death.
It will continue to have serious consequences for many economies in the world, including our own, with some businesses failing, and people sadly needing to find other jobs.
Some of our businesses in Connaught Village have tragically fallen victim to the effects of the pandemic. We repeat what we have said before; we are willing to help. Please contact us if you are needing support. We are here to help you, as is Westminster Council. Details are on their website.
The more immediate challenge is to do with the experimental Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme proposed by our Council. People were invited by the Council to respond to its survey, which closed on November 4th.
The HPEA attempted to stay neutral on the proposal, encouraging residents to respond to the survey and to have their say. However, your committee became increasingly concerned about the Council?s proposal.
- In summary:
- We are very concerned that the scheme is been rushed through and implemented without proper consultation with residents;
- We are aware that significant numbers of people on the Estate did not receive or did not understand the invitation to participate in the survey. In addition, it appears as if neighbouring residents who should also have been consulted, were not consulted, even though the Council, under these legal provisions, was not required to consult at all.
- We are concerned that the questionnaire itself ?shaped? response choices and was therefore significantly biased in favour of the scheme.
- We are concerned that a significant number of people may have responded as part of a pro-cycling activist group, but may not have a legitimate residential connection with the Hyde Park Estate or its neighbouring communities.
- We are opposed to residents and neighbouring residents being restricted from free travel and being ?kettled? into four small areas, with severely restricted vehicular entrance to and exit from the Estate. We are disappointed that the scheme doesn?t allow for free movements of residents? cars across the Estate.
- We are concerned that the proposed scheme will make our surrounding arterial highways, including Bayswater Road, Edgware Road, Westbourne Terrace, and our internal ?highway?, Sussex Gardens, substantially congested and impassable, increasing congestion on those roads and adding significant times to motorised vehicle journeys, including for buses.
- We regard it as unconscionable that the Council?s proposed scheme introduces a new rat run, in the middle of the estate, the very reason that they themselves rejected an early proposed scheme by ourselves when we were asked for our ideas by them.
- The Council proceeded with their proposal despite our having requested them not to do so for all the reasons listed above.
As a consequence, we felt that we could no longer remain neutral and your HPEA Committee tabled a resolution asking Westminster Council not to implement the experimental LTN. The resolution was passed in an HPEA Committee meeting by 12 votes to 1. The resolution is available on our website.
Our position on cycling remains unchanged – we are committed to promoting cycling and walking as much as possible for those who are able to. We also want to ensure the scheme doesn?t disadvantages anyone who has to or chooses to use a private vehicle or taxi. Our communal spaces and roads need to accommodate the needs of all residents.
We also remain fundamentally committed to reducing both noise and air pollution and restricting the amount of traffic using our residential Estate as a run-through. This problem, as you probably know, was substantially increased by the installation of dedicated cycle lanes in the wrong places – in Bayswater Road, Westbourne Terrace and Westbourne Street, and Sussex Gardens. We have long objected to these.
We also decry the dishonest pamphleteering and lobbying by unscrupulous people who have been causing increasing divisions in our community and who are issuing information which suggests that the only way to achieve the so-called ?Connaught Village Piazza? is to support this scheme.
The truth is, discussions about a Connaught Village Green between the Church Commissioners, the Council, the Hyde Park Paddington Forum and ourselves were well under way independent of the current proposals and remain a possibility with or without the LTN scheme being implemented, unless the Council chooses to oppose the permissions required. Please disregard these egregious lies.
We, along with our neighbouring communities, have asked the Council to engage in a broader, more open and inclusive process with all legitimate stakeholders, to find a solution that best suits all of our community.
WE URGE YOU TO LET YOUR COUNCILLORS KNOW YOUR VIEWS IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE NOT WRITTEN TO THEM ALREADY AND IF YOU SHARE ANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE VOICED HERE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT THE ?NOISY MINORITY? THAT WE HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED AS BEING.
Their addresses are:
Finally, our Honorary Secretary, Andrew Beverley, has resigned. We have thanked him for his contribution and accepted his resignation.
Please contact us with any queries or concerns at: comminications@hpea.org.uk
Best wishes to all.
Allen.
Dr Allen Zimbler
Chairman
Hyde Park Estate Association.
00447870598670
