July 2006

Congestion Charge

Transport for London's annual report confirms that congestion in central London is heading back to pre-congestion charge levels. So with vast sums of our money paid to Capita to set up the scheme but no improvement in traffic flows then this sham is exposed for what it is - just another tax on Londoners. Why is Ken so against small business, why does he want to tax Londoners freedom to travel?

Ken's extension of the Congestion westwards to incorporate most of Kensington is estimated to cost £166 million. Not only is the extension unnecessary but the technology to be used by Transport for London is out of date and expensive. TfL should be using either Tag and beacon or Satellite systems which would be more efficient and cost less money.

Local businesses and local residents in Kensington, Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham have campaigned strongly against the extension, and I joined a protest rally organised by David Tarsh of Hammersmith and Fulham, where Michele Dix, Director of Congestion, from Transport for London was speaking.

Do you know a business that is going to be affected by this extension?

If you were mayor - How would you deal with the congestion in London?

Kensington High Street Odeon

Plans for the development of this site continue and Northacre / Minerva will be putting a planning application into Kensington & Chelsea Council in early September. Local residents associations have been discussing the proposed development and if you want to be kept in touch with the development plans for the Kensington High Street Odeon Cinema you can contact Northacre/Minerva at odeon@northacre.co.uk or telephone: 07786 324264.

Local facilities like cinemas, post offices, local shops help keep a community vibrant - what is happening in your neighbourhood?

PCT in cash crisis

We hear about the millions poured into the health service and yet Kensington and Chelsea Primary Care Trust, like other PCTs are struggling to balance their books. The proposal is to close the Joan Bartlett Nursing Home in Kensington, and I am attending a meeting with other local councillors to hear the plans. We have lost several local nursing homes and we are told that it is because people want different levels of care and services provided in a different way - What is your view? Should nursing homes be available locally to help residents stay near their friends and family and the neighbourhood they know?

Local Police

Talking to our Police Community Support Officers last week revealed that one of them commutes in from Essex and the other from Kent. Surely if we are really committed to local policing and encouraging local communities work with their police then we should "walk the talk" and have the political will to making housing available locally to police. This would enable those police that patrol our streets to also live in the area. They would then be able to build up far more intelligence on local behaviour and what is going on. Residents would know them and I have no doubt there would be more job satisfaction. Have you met your local police?

There has been an increase in crime recently with open windows making easy access for burglars - do take care to lock up.

Bromley & Chislehurst

Many of us helped canvas for Bob Neill who has represented Bromley on the Greater London Assembly and has also been Leader of the Conservative Group. I am delighted to see Bob elected as I know from his work on the GLA that Bob takes his role very seriously.

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