News from Westminster Labour

Church Street’s Labour Councillors call for Lisson Green Estate improvements

Councillors call for Lucan memorial benches to be re-located.

Councillors Barbara Grahame and Aziz Toki, Church Street Ward’s Labour Councillors, have urged Westminster City Council to relocate benches which are to be moved from outside the Townshend Estate in Allitsen Road, St John’s Wood, to Lisson Green where there is currently a shortage of places where residents can sit in the Estate’s garden areas.

The Allitsen Road benches were originally sited on Allitsen Road as a memorial to the late Lord Lucan, a Whip in the House of Lords in the post-war Attlee Government, who lived in St John’s Wood and had close connections with the King’s Troop barracks. His wife, Kaitlin Lucan was a distinguished and much loved Church Street Labour Councillor from 1968-1971 and was a Westminster City Council Alderman from 1964-68.

Councillor Barbara Grahame has asked the Estate Office to arrange for the benches to be carefully relocated to Lisson Green, where the Estate Manager has said there is a need for more benches in the upgraded garden areas.

Councillor Grahame said: “Relocating these benches to Lisson Green would provide much needed seating for local residents, as well as ensure that the memory of Pat and Kaitlin Lucan lives on. They both gave a lifetime of public service to the people of Marylebone. Sadly, the benches have been neglected and need cleaning and a protective coating applied. Also the original plaque is missing so we have also asked for the names of the original dedicatees to be carved into the back of the seats.”

Councillor Aziz Toki said: “The Council is spending over £8,000 re-landscaping the area in Allitsen Road where these benches are currently located so it makes sense to re-locate the benches to Lisson Green where they can continue to provide much-needed additional garden seating.”

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