Progress on Tube Noise affecting Barbican flats

As many of you will know I have been campaigning with Barbican residents to get some action taken to reduce the noise and vibration suffered by those living above the tube line. With considerable help from Unmesh Desai, our Greater London Assembly (GLA) Member, I got a meeting date from Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport under Sadiq Khan and Deputy Chair of Transport for London (TfL). We met on 24th July in a Brandon Mews resident’s flat so that Heidi could hear for herself the disruption that the noise causes. We were joined by several residents, Adrian Bastow (Common Councillor for Aldersgate) Unmesh Desai, Mark Field MP and Tom Sleigh, Common Councillor for Bishopsgate and Deputy Chairman of the City’s Policy & Resources Committee and several officers from TfL.

We had a very constructive and informative discussion and were assured that both Heidi and TfL take the situation seriously. TfL will be looking at the possibility of speed restrictions as a short term improvement and it is great news that they will be investigating what further maintenance can be done underneath the Estate to reduce noise and vibration to properties.The track team will be packing ballast under rail joints beneath Defoe House and at a set of points and crossings located at Brandon Mews on Tuesday 6th August 01:00am – 4:00am and Wednesday 7th August 01:00 – 4:00am. The additional work may lead to an improvement for residents. We will continue to campaign for a permanent solution. Thank you to everyone involved for their commitment and hard work on this difficult issue.

What a crazy world!

From Gail Harris Labour Council Leader Norwich City Council referring to Right to Buy ‘We’re only allowed to spend 30% of receipts on building new housing and we only have 3 years to spend it - or else it goes to the government, with interest.’ No wonder we have a shortage of affordable housing.

Licensing Applications

We have few licensed premises in or close to Cripplegate ward although the City of London has 960 making it probably the most ‘licensed’ square mile in the world. Recently there have been two applications – one for a new licence and one for a change to its existing licence. The new application is for Daisy Green 2 London Wall Place, London, EC2Y 5DH. I along with other residents have objected to this application. Residents are most concerned about the prospect of drinking outside in the lovely new gardens. The variation to a licence is for WeWork on the corner of Fore street. This application is to serve wine as well as beer and cider and to allow the consumption of alcohol on the 7th floor terrace, At present all drinking is inside the premises. To allow drinking on the terrace would produce a very different situation. This terrace is opposite bedrooms in Willoughby and the consequent noise would no doubt be heard in Andrewes and Speed as well. There are 36 objections from Barbican residents including mine. The application will be heard on Tuesday 6th August at the Guildhall. I shall attend the hearing but won’t be speaking. I took advice from the City Solicitor and I would have needed to obtain dispensation from the Standards Committee to speak. Dispensations involve completing a 9 page form and having the application heard by the Standards Committee. As I was away from London last week it was not practical to go through this process. I am sure that several residents will be present at the hearing and make their views known. This is yet another reason why we need reform of the Standards Committee so that local councillors can represent their residents fully.

Some of the issues I’ve taken up in July

I continue to receive many Emails from Barbican residents expressing their opposition to the proposed expansion of the City of London Girls’ School. At the monthly meeting of Councillors and Aldermen (known as the Court of Common Council and open to the public) I spoke against approval of a loan for the school to assist with its proposal and against the development in general.

Residents of Golden Lane and the Barbican have raised several issues. These include noise from neighbours, rough sleepers, lifts not working, garage leases, plants on balconies and bus routes.

In addition I have visited St Lukes’ Community Centre in Islington at an invitation from Billy Mann of Golden Lane. Many Golden Lane residents use this excellent centre and it was good to talk to some of the members.

There have been several consultation meetings on Golden Lane to discuss issues arising from the COLPAI development and other work both in Great Arthur and the Community Centre. This is in addition to the regular Denizen meetings. I try to get to as many of these meetings as possible. I hope soon to attend a GLERA meeting to listen to the committee members and their views on the Golden Lane Estate.

The City of London Corporation in August

During August there is a break from meetings at the Guildhall. This enables Councilors to go away without missing meetings and also provides a chance to catch up on emails and residents’ concerns. I was away last week with grandchildren who are over from Japan and will be away for 2 weeks from 17th August until 2nd September. I will miss a Housing Sub Committee pre meeting and the next Barbican Residents’ Consultative Committee for which I apologise.

Mary Durcan
Common Councillor
Cripplegate Ward
City of London Corporation
(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
August 2019