Member events start at Kendal Street Kitchen

Thanks to everyone who came to our speaker meeting at Kendal Street Kitchen on April 30. The room was packed to hear Jo Turner of the Place-shaping, Regeneration, Economy and Planning team at Westminster City Council, on the Paddington – Bayswater High Streets Programme, which aims to improve the local high streets in our area, specifically Edgware Road, Praed Street, Connaught Street, Queensway and Westbourne Grove. Members including our SEBRA neighbour John Zamit questioned what exactly the council hoped to achieve using the ?10m allocated to the programme, how the problems of crime and highly seasonal footfall could be tackled and whether the council had any capacity to deliver what businesses needed, or indeed deal with planning and licensing infringements, particularly on Edgware Road.  The  council report is here:

Westminster High Streets Programme | Westminster City Council
 and if you have further thoughts please contact Jo on 
 

• HighStreets@westminster.gov.uk
• or??paddingtonplaceplan@westminster.gov.uk

Just a reminder that security patrols paid for by the Church Commissioners via the service charges on their blocks continue to cover the Hyde Park Estate from 7 pm to 7 am. The team can be reached on 07880 680257.

 We hope to be able to use the Kendal Street Kitchen again as a venue, following the closure of Abasto, and we hope this new enterprise will be able to trade successfully here.

Many members will remember the late Alderman Anne Mallinson OBE JP of Albion Street for her work as a Westminster City councillor and for many charities.  I was able to represent the Association at her funeral earlier this year and members who remember her are invited to the service of thanksgiving at St John’s Church on Friday 17th May at 12 noon.