Local residents invite you to a Community Social this coming Sunday 26th Feb @ Paddington Arts: 2-5pm

Coordinators Angela and Mel of parent support group Tell It, Parent Action say ” our local area has witnessed a number of serious incidents over the last few months and we would like to offer a balance by inviting you to come along, chill out and get to know more  people in your community.”

All entertainment is FREE and there will be a mouth watering buffet and afternoon tea as well as a Cake Baking Competition – all home made cakes, cup cakes WELCOME!

There will also be an open mic session where you can take up the chance to share your talents or simply tell us about a local organisation, event etc and  there will be a Games corner where adults and children alike can play a range of traditional games.

Please tell your family & friends to come along and enjoy a fun packed and relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Kindly RSVP to help with catering to tellitparentsactiongroup@hotmail.co.uk

Queen’s Park Campaigners have been spreading the word across Westminster of the importance to communities of the “Westminster Governance Review”.

Mayfairites and West Enders have been fired up by their free-parking success, and are supporting the parish council model as a way of having more say on local issues in their neighbourhoods too.

According to Westminster’s website the consultation ends on the 3rd February, but we’ve heard on the grapevine that a two week extension has been given.  For more about the consultation and how to take part see our article “Have Your Say!” posted on 20th January.

What the press are saying:

Guardian January 25th 2012

West End Extra January 27th 2012

Evening Standard January 25th 2012

Evening Standard January 30th 2012

For a listing of older press articles see the Talk of the Town blog post.

Further comment in the West End Extra 27th January 2012

Following The High Road

DO our friends in the north want to break away?

Diary is not talking about the Scots but the residents of Queen’s Park who will learn in May what the council’s cabinet members make of their bid to set up their own mini-government in Westminster’s most northerly district.

At first glance the idea of establishing London’s first community council, a body similar to rural parish councils, might seem as amusing as Passport to Pimlico.

But the council’s top brass should think twice before opposing it, firstly because the reintroduction of parish councils is a cornerstone of communities secretary Eric Pickles’s localism agenda and, secondly, because it could give a huge boost to an area that has in the past been neglected.

“The parish council is the lowest tier of local government,” explained QPCC campaigner Angela Singhate, who said a “precept” equivalent to the price of a bottle of water would be added to residents’ council tax each week to pay for improvements to the area.

A poster, left, has been produced to encourage residents to respond to a consultation, which ends this week.

• To make your voice heard, fill out the consultation document on the Community Governance Review page of the council’s website or email comments to cgr@westminster.gov.uk

Your second chance this winter to draught proof your windows and doors has arrived.  There are five workshops this time.  The dates and times are as follows;

Saturday 28th January  10.30am to 12.30pm

Thursday 2nd February 10.30am to 12.30pm

Monday 6th February 6pm – 8pm

Wednesday 8th February 1pm-3pm

Wednesday 15th February 6pm – 8pm

The sessions are practical and easy to follow and we can give follow up support if necessary.  For any questions please call Allison on 0208 964 8024 or email allison@pdt.org.uk

You have until the 3rd February to make your views known about the proposal for a Queen’s Park Community Council.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help improve Queen’s Park for everyone who lives here.

Campaigners, with the help of Queen’s Park Forum staff Ted and Fabian, are hosting an all day and evening drop-in information surgery for residents wanting to find out more.  Come and see us over a cup of tea at Office 1, Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue w10 on Monday 30th January.  We hope to have Somali, Bengali and Arabic speakers on hand to translate. Our aim is to help you have your say. 

For those unable to make it to the information drop-in on the 30th, we provide a short note on the two key questions that most directly concern Queen’s Park residents right now.  Dont delay, let Westminster Council know what you think: email cgr@westminster.gov.uk

Alternatively the full consultation document can be found on Westminster’s website.  But be warned – it is more than a little confusing.

The second edition of the community magazine, written, produced and hand-delivered by local residents will be coming through your letterbox in the next few days. Packed full of local news and views … keep your eyes peeled for the new edition!

“Spirit” is the Avenues’ Cheerleading Group.  This is a really positive project that shows young people doing fab things! Watch this promotional video produced by Starbucks to promote their Youth Action Campaign.  Spirit secured funding last year to pay for their uniforms. 

Sit back and enjoy!!

There was a fantastic response with presents flooding in from pupils, families and local businesses. The children decorated shoe boxes and took time out from school to deliver the presents.

A massive thank you to all the volunteers who helped run the project, Ark Atwood and Queen’s Park Primary Schools and the following local businesses who made a donation: Steve’s Newsagent, Izzy Jones, Deluxe Off License, Lane’s Jewellers, Madina’s butchers, Asian Food Centre and All Nations Tropical Foods.