News from Westminster Labour

Westminster spy camera switch off as local action wins again

Traders and residents, with the support of their local Labour councillor, Councillor Ruth Bush, have succeeded in persuading Westminster City Council to remove a parking camera which was doing more harm than good. Customers of the much loved Breeze Café and surrounding shops on the junction of Shirland Road and Fernhead Road were forever getting parking tickets when they popped in for a take-away coffee or a paper as this unmarked camera clicked away.

Many individuals tried to get the Council to understand that the camera was not needed, and was only doing harm, without success. So local resident Leslie Barson gathered the traders together, supported by Councillor Bush, for a meeting with a Council officer. The officer actually listened, and agreed to halt the camera operation while he carried out an investigation. As a result, the Council has agreed with local people: the camera is unnecessary and will be taken down.

Commenting on the success of this campaign, Bassam Elamin, the proprietor of the Breeze, said:

“We are glad the Council has at last listened to what we’ve been saying – now we can stop running into the street to warn our customers, and get on with running the café.”

And Leslie Barson observed:

“It’s good to know that local people working together can make a real difference.”

Councillor Ruth Bush added:

“I’m very glad to have been able to support this campaign. It shows what people working together can achieve – though the camera should never have been there in the first place, it should have been clearly marked, and it should not have taken the Council so long to admit that it was completely unnecessary and harming local business.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

• Twelve questions for the next Leader of Westminster Council - 10 February 2012
• Westminster Council joint bottom of London league for Adult Social Care - 6 February 2012
• Westminster Labour calls for an 'outbreak of democracy' over election of new council Leader - 2 February 2012