March E-Newsletter

1.In Parliament 2.Join your credit union! 3.Living in private rented accommodation? Read the results of my local survey (and by all means add your experiences) 4.Parking charges - Westminster under attack 5. Keeping the pressure up on basement excavations 6. The air that we breathe - why ALL Westminster should be in the Mayors Ultra-Low Emission Zone 7.Some highlights from my work around the constituency

In Parliament

This months big inbox issue has definitely been the governments late addition to the Care Bill, which allows Ministers to close hospitals or wards within weeks under new sweeping powers, even if they are not failing. Whilst some changes and even closures may be essential to enable the NHS to improve the quality of care and save lives, we need to be absolutely sure these decisions are open and transparent, and are not simply driven by financial considerations. Once again, I received hundreds of e -mails from residents asking me to oppose Clause 199 of the care Bill, and I was pleased to do so. Public opinion has also been pretty strongly opposed to the Badger Cull, and I was pleased to have been in Parliament last week to vote against this.

Your Credit Union

Most people now know about the extraordinary levels of interest charged by payday lenders. Yet more and more people rely on them to make ends meet. So why not join your friendly local Credit Union to help provide an alternative? I did:

Your Credit Union @creditunionyour Mar 12 WageDay Advance charge 7069% Rep APR on lending - against Wonga's more modest 5853%. Answer: join any one of London's great credit unions.

Find out more: @creditunionyour Supporting communities in Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster with savings and affordable loan products

Living in the private rented sector? Heres the results of my survey

Thanks to all of you who responded to my survey about experiences in the private rented housing sector. Westminster has a higher share of its population in private rented housing than anywhere else in the country (as the map below shows) so the advantages and disadvantages are very dear to the hearts of local people. Please find the link here.

Parking charges: Westminster named and shamed by Government Minister

Local residents have been struck by the inflation-busting rise in Respark charges even as the Council boasts of their cost-of-living credentials by freezing the Council Tax.

But that isnt the end of Westminsters woes, as one their own, Government Minister Brandon Lewis, slammed councils for

fleecing motorists with parking fines in illegal attempts to make money.

New figures laid before Parliament say English councils have racked up their income from parking charges and fines from 608 million in 1998 to a staggering 1.3 billion in 2011.

Fines income alone has rocketed from 316 million to 353 million since the austerity squeeze began. And London boroughs are revealed to be squeezing motorists the hardest of all. Hammersmith & Fulhams income from fines has rocketed from just 6 million five years ago to an eye-watering 17.8 million.

Hackney pulled in 5.5 million in 2011-12, which jumped to 17 million in 2012 -13. The highest grossing council is Westminster, which made 24.5 million in 2012 -13 in fines, up by 2 million since 2010-11 Read the full story here.

Keeping the pressure up on basement excavations

It looks as though basement excavations may start to be an issue outside Central London, according to this piece in the Evening Standard.

Although that isnt good news for those affected by the disruption, it may help us broaden our appeal in lobbying the government for stronger planning powers. Meanwhile, I have worked with my GLA colleague Murad Qureshi to ensure the issue is raised with the Mayor of London. Please find a link here. And I contributed to a piece for one of the first issues of the new London Live channel, which is launching soon.

The air that we breathe - a call to protect Westminsters Air quality

Polluted air is a serious health hazard, and we live among some of the worst affected roads in the whole country. You may feel there isnt much you can do about it, but you CAN help insist that the whole of Westminster is included in the Mayor of Londons Very Low Emission Zone - in line with the demands of our local Amenity Societies Association. Read my column from the local paper here.

A few highlights from my work around the constituency

Burglary in Maida Vale
Residents have been reporting an increase in both commercial and residential burglaries in Maida Vale in the last few weeks. I have been liaising closely with the Police, requesting the use of the mobile police station and increased patrols, both to deter burglars and to provide reassurance. You can read my letter here.

Speed calming in Saltram Crescent

Together with local residents and councillors, I am calling on Westminster City Council to take action to tackle speeding traffic on Saltram Crescent. A car crash in December prompted many local people to contact me to express safety fears about this stretch of road. I have written to the council to raise residents concerns and request that action is taken. Endorsing the campaign one local resident commented:

We live on the curve of the crescent and have a good view of traffic coming from both directions. Over the past six years we've witnessed a number of accidents, countless near misses, excessive speed, and several incidents of road rage (including violence). It surprises us how fast people drive down this road considering the poor visibility of oncoming traffic and that two vehicles can rarely pass without one pulling in. We wholeheartedly endorse a campaign to reduce the volume and speed of traffic on what should be a safe residential street.

Edbrooke Gardens and the (long-awaited) Harrow Road pedestrian crossing improvement
I met with Edbrooke and Goldney Road residents to discuss our ongoing efforts to improve the facilities on offer in Edbrooke Gardens and to tackle evening anti -social behaviour. Lighting improvements and a greater Police presence are planned for the summer, as is a Reclaim the Park Day for local families. I am also very pleased that the Council have finally agreed plans and funding to install a crossing at the junction of Harrow Road with Chippenham Road and Windsor Gardens. This long awaited scheme will greatly help pedestrians and cyclists in the area and will I hope mean that further tragic accidents can be avoided.

Laying down some grooves at Avenues FM

Avenues FM broadcasts for a month each year from the Avenues Youth Club - it has launched successful careers and given local young people valuable broadcast experience. I always enjoy going in, and getting the opportunity to play some music. (Heres one from my session: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ifFBUqqHfLg)

Paddington Law Centre

I spoke at the Annual General Meeting last month, and was sad to note that they will soon be gone from the Harrow Road premises that they have occupied for over 30 years. Although they will continue to run a much needed service locally, it wont be from a permanent office, and I think we will all miss them

Thanks for reading.

Karen Buck MP Website: www.karenbuck.org.uk Twitter: KarenPBuckMP Facebook: KarenBuckMP

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