To celebrate the Queens Jubilee and make the most of the long Bank Holiday weekend, residents of Westbourne Green are holding a Picnic in the Park, on Sunday 3rd June from 12-3pm and invite everyone to join them!

The Diamond Jubilee is to celebrate that the Queen has reigned for 60 years, and people around the  country and the world will be commemorating the occasion. The Picnic in the Park in Westbourne Green will be a chance to get together with your neighbours for a fun and relaxing afternoon in the park.

Please bring a picnic and games for you and your family, and decorations to brighten up the park. No cooking is allowed in the park however, so no barbeques or stoves etc please.

Residents are holding a planning meeting on Tuesday 1st May from 6.15pm at the Stowe Centre, please do come down if you want to get involved in organising this event.

On Wednesday 25th April, on a dark and wet night, 8 local residents ventured to City Hall to see the candidates for the London Mayoral election being held to account. The event was organised by London Citizens, of which PDT is a member institution. Over the last 6 month, London Citizens have put togehter a ‘people’s manifesto’ of the most important issues for londoners, put togehter through a listening campaign which we took part in.

The main issues for people living in North Westminster were about decent and affordable housing, opportunities for young people, and crime and safety. These issues were reflected what came out of the other London boroughs, showing that no matter where we live, citizens of London are facing the same issues.

During the evening, the candidates were asked whether and how they would act on the various aspects of the manifesto. What were they going to do to create safe havens for young people across the city? What were they going to do to train and create a brighter future for young people? What were they going to do to lift a fifth of working people in London out of the poverty trap of the basic wage to a meaningful ‘living wage”? What were they going to do to provide a solution to ever-rising rents, deteriorating conditions and the ‘social cleansing’ that is besetting London’s housing market?

It was an interesting evening and a chance to see the candidates speaking for themselves. What was really impressive was the diversity of the audience. London Citizens had brought together people of all ages, colours, religions and cultures to truly represent our diverse city. You can watch a video of  what happened at the Assembly here

Westbourne residents should have recently had the latest copy of our local bulletin, Westbourne People, delivered to them. If you did not you might not be on our mailing list, so please contact gary@pdt.org.uk with your name and contact details to be added.

Alternatively, you can download a copy by clicking here: Bulletin April2012

On 3rd May 2012 Londoners will vote for a new London Mayor. Current mayor Boris Johnson from the Conservative Party is going up against former mayor Ken Livingstone from the Labour Party and Brian Paddock from the Liberal Democrats as well as other candidates. The position of London Mayor has more and more power over local issues such as transport, housing, police and the environment, as well as promoting London to the world as a tourist destination and through events such as the Olympics. See www.londonelects.org.uk for more information.

The polls predict a very close result between the main candidates.  That means this is an election when each person’s vote really can make a big difference. But for thousands of Londoners, there’s a risk they won’t get a say because they haven’t registered to vote by 18th April - that’s just two weeks from today!

Could you have forgotten to register to vote? It’s easy to overlook it if you’ve recently moved home or become an EU citizen. But registering is easy. It takes 5 minutes on the About My Vote website – click here to fill in, print out and post the form before the deadline:
https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/electoral_registration_applica.aspx

It’s not always easy to decide who to vote for. Some Londoners have already decided. Other people are still making up their minds, and some people might decide not to vote at all. But being registered doesn’t mean you have to vote. It just means that you’ve got the choice when election day arrives.

The registration form just needs your name, address and nationality – click here to register:
https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/electoral_registration_applica.aspx

Using your vote is such an important part of living in a democracy. This is an opportunity to play a part and see that the things that matter most to you as a Londoner are dealt with how you want them. We at Westbourne Forum encourage you to register to vote, and to think about voting on 3rd May in the election.

Check out the new changes to the garden thanks to a fantastic day of volunteering! Have a walk along Alfred Road and see for yourself. There is now a wonderful new mural that has brightened up a boring concrete wall no end. Plus there is now a bark covered area that can be used for outdoor learning, new smaller beds, a raised bed, more hedging and three new apple trees!

As you may know, Westminster Council has identified the Westbourne Green area as the location for a Masterplan, to look at improving local housing, community facilties, parks and businesses.
The plan is currently being worked on using ideas from consultation in the community and at an exhibition last summer. During February, there will be four focus groups to look further into some of the main issues raised by residents last year. They are:

Parks and open spaces
A meeting and walkabout the local area
Saturday 4th February 2012, 11am-12.30pm

Harrow Road
The environment, shops, traffic and other issues that affect the character of the ‘neighbourhood centre’
Tuesday 7th February, 6.30-8.30pm

Parking and garages
Considering the future for parking in the neighbourhood
Thursday 23rd February, 6.30-8.30pm

New homes
What new housing in the area should be like
Monday 27th February, 6.30-8.30pm

All groups will be held in the foyer of the Stowe Centre, and rea and coffee will be provided. Please attend as many as you like to let us know your views. If you cannoth attend but would still like to have a say, please contact the Westbourne Team on 0207 266 8220 or westbourne@pdt.org.uk, or drop into the Stowe Centre any week day.

Please join us at the Westminster Academy garden for the following gardening sessions:

Wednesday 25th January 3.30-5pm

Harvest winter veg and help us plan for the coming growing season

Tuesday 7th February 3.30-5pm

Work at the garden and learn about organic gardening

Tuesday 14th Feb 12-3pm Half term gardening day!

Fun for all the family. Sow seeds, make decorations and learn about organic gardening

Tuesday 28th Feb, 2-5pm

Tend to the garden and learn about organic gardening

Everyone is welcome! Just turn up on the day. All equipment is provided but please wear warm clothing and suitable shoes. For more information please contact Charlotte on charlotte@pdt.org.uk or 0207 266 8252

Please come along to our first garden session of 2012!

We will be down on the plot from 1-3pm on Saturday 14th January. We will be having a sort out and tidy, and making plans for the coming growing season!

All welcome! Equipment is provided and no skills are necessary.

For those who haven’t been before – the garden is on Alfred Road directly next to Westminster Academy. Walk down Alfred road from Harrow Road and you will see the garden on your left, behind a low green fence. There is a gate in the fence on the far corner near the playground as you turn off towards the railway footbridge.  For a map of Alfred Road click here

Westbourne Forum have been working on a project to improve the Westbourne shopping parade on Harrow Road for over a year, and on Thursday 8th December we celebrated the end of the project with coffee and croissants at the Blue Nile Bakery.

For years, residents had been saying the parade looked tatty. Then. despite a strong local campaign, national cuts forced the closure of the post office. Westminster Council pledged £60,000 for measures to help the shopping parade, and asked Westbourne Forum to work with the shopkeepers to deliver the scheme.

A common design for 22 new shop signs, plus a new colour scheme, has given the parade more identity, whilst keeping the character of the different shops. The shopkeepers were also offered expert advice on how to improve sales. Helen Kay and Sheba Begum from Westbourne Forum have worked closely to support the shopkeepers throughout. On top of this we helped get agreement to sort out the  old pavement – the Council then took the lead, with funding from Transport for London.

Shamseldin Mahmoud from the Blue Nile says ‘it’s made the parade more presentable and it feels a more professional environment for my business. Helen and Sheba from the Forum have been great, listening to us and respecting our ideas’.

Our thanks go to the support of the stakeholders and of course all the shopkeepers whose cooperation and enthusiasm made the project such a success!

PDT’s annual review and accounts for the year 2011 is now available.

Please click on the image about to download.