News from Westminster Labour

Harrow Road Labour Councillors step in to pay for a Christmas tree and lights

Harrow Road Ward’s Labour Councillors Ruth Bush, Guthrie McKie, and Sharan Tabari have decided to allocate £3,795 of the Harrow Road Ward Budget to provide a Christmas tree with lights, together with an additional set of lights in an existing tree, at the Prince of Wales Junction (outside the Royal Bank of Scotland). The 22 foot Christmas tree with lights and blue, star-shaped lights for an existing tree outside the Royal Bank of Scotland will be delivered through the Harrow Road Neighbourhood Partnership.

Funding for the usual Christmas tree and lights at the Prince of Wales Junction this year is not available from Westminster City Council’s Civic Enterprise Fund or Civic Streets fund or from the Harrow Road Partnership.

The Harrow Road Councillors say that the Christmas Tree will benefit the area because it will:

* ensure the precedent of the provision of a Christmas tree set in previous years is continued;

* provide a central focus to all members of the local community during the festive season;

* encourage local residents to make use of the Harrow Road shopping centre during the Christmas period;

* complement and enhance the current improvements to the streetscape in the Prince of Wales Junction that are being delivered through the Civic Streets scheme.

Harrow Road Labour Councillor Guthrie McKie said:

“Apparently the Council’s Civic Enterprise pot is empty. It is very sad to see that the Council can’t support a project that will bring so much happiness to North Paddington, particularly at this time. However the local Labour Councillors thought it important to ensure that local people, particularly children, will see their area celebrating the festive season – a time of year that will see Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christian celebrations.”

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