News from Westminster Labour

Labour launches 10 point plan for a fairer Westminster

With May’s Council elections just a few months away, Labour Councillors have announced a 10 point plan as part of our consultation with local residents.

Safer roads – we will consult residents on introducing a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas. This will cut accidents by 40%, save 8 lives and 600 injuries every year, as well as saving £50 million a year in hospital, police, ambulance and other costs.

Fairer Parking – we will cut the cost of a Residents’ Parking Permit by £10 a year and scrap the motorbike parking charges which have been so controversial and divisive. We will end the practice of parking ticket targets for parking wardens and scrap the plans to charge residents to park on single yellow lines in the evening.

A greener Westminster – we will increase re-cycling points all over Westminster, including more recycling points for small electrical goods. We will encourage all major stores to follow the example of Holland & Barrett and stop giving plastic bags to shoppers. We will introduce a programme to insulate homes to cut fuel bills and carbon emissions.

Cutting out waste – we will save over £3million a year of your money by cancelling the Civic Dinner, halt private health insurance for senior staff, abolish staff bonuses, reduce the staff canteen subsidy and slash the Council’s massive self-congratulatory publicity and ’spin’ budget.

New homes – we will build new affordable homes for local families in all parts of Westminster, including Chelsea Barracks, North Wharf Road and the long-vacant site at the corner of Church Street and Edgware Road. We will improve housing managements for tenants and lessees by overhauling City West Homes and making them more accountable.

Safer streets – we will crack down on anti-social behaviour, knife crime and dangerous dogs by closer working with the Police at all levels, in particular with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams. We will provide more opportunities for teenagers to engage in leisure and sports activities. We will extend the dog-socialising classes across Westminster to encourage responsible dog ownership.

Dignity in old age – we will give older people a voice in Council decision making by setting up an Older Persons Scrutiny Committee and inviting representatives from older people to advise the Council on services. We will campaign to ensure that the Freedom Pass is safe.

A clean environment – we will take rapid action on fly-tipping, graffiti and dog mess, including prosecuting irresponsible dog-owners. We will restore the free bulky rubbish collection service.

Schools to be proud of – we will support primary school head teachers by providing them with the support and advice they need, including help for children with special needs. We will work closely with secondary schools and the Academies so that every teenager can reach their full potential.

Jobs and the Westminster economy – we will work closely with local business, big and small, so that local residents get the opportunity to apply for vacancies and get the training they need. We will provide advice and assistance, including premises, to those residents who want to start their own businesses.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said:

“These 10 points are based on the issues that local people have brought to us over the last few months through our day-to-day involvement with local residents. We believe this a practical, sensible and affordable set of priorities that will unite our diverse communities.”