Full statement

Crime and ASB: “What will you do to address crime and deal with anti-social behaviour on the Hyde Park Estate? Do you have any plans for increased CCTV coverage?”

Westminster Council plans to install 350 new CCTV cameras by 2030 and we would work alongside the council to ensure this happens. 200 have already been delivered.
Residents tell us that the biggest issue is not the lack of CCTV but the lack of follow‑up when problems are reported. We want the Council to work with the police so residents actually get responses, not reference numbers.
We support practical measures that make people feel safe, including visible community policing.
We also want investment in youth services and community programmes, because prevention is always more effective than enforcement alone.

Please see below an example of a Green Party Councillor tackling crime in Bristol:

In 2023, Green councillor Mohamed Makawi, whose friend had been fatally stabbed in Castle Park, proposed a motion to bring down knife crime in Bristol that was passed by full Council.

Rather than simply calling for more policing, the Green motion outlined practical solutions and addressed the social factors underlying knife violence.

It introduced simple but vital steps to save lives, such as providing emergency bleed kits and staff training for night-time venues, and providing more lighting and CCTV to fix ‘blind spots’ in areas of high knife crime.

2. Planning (double-glazing): “Many houses on the Hyde Park Estate are unable to install double-glazing due to planning constraints. This results in increased noise pollution and poor energy efficiency. What can you do rectify or mitigate this?”

We want planning rules to allow residents to live in warm, quiet, energy‑efficient homes.
We will push the Council to adopt modern, conservation‑grade double‑glazing and secondary‑glazing solutions that are already permitted in other conservation areas.
Improving insulation and reducing energy waste is essential for both climate action and household bills and we believe the Council should enable it, not block it.

I personally have also noticed an increase in noise pollution since Labour took over Westminster council. It seems a lot more construction is being allowed and whilst I appreciate this grows the economy, it feels as if residents’ needs have been neglected. I resorted to installing secondary glazing in my home after having a miserably loud building extension permitted directly opposite me. Westminster council needs reminding that people live here.

3. Airbnb: “Accommodation that is short-let illegally can cause untold misery to residents. What will you do to control Airbnbs, and ensure if they have approval that they also show appropriate insurance and pay taxes?”

Westminster Council currently has 2500 cases of illegal subletting open for investigation. This is clearly a problem that overwhelms the council and needs more staffing, which we would push for.
We will push for proactive enforcement not just responding to complaints so residents aren’t left to police the problem themselves.
Short‑lets must not undermine community stability or reduce the supply of homes for people who actually live here.
We support strict enforcement of the 90‑day rule and stronger action against illegal short‑lets that cause noise, security issues, and loss of long‑term housing.
We want the Council to require registration of all short‑let properties, with proof of insurance, safety compliance, and tax obligations.

4. Traffic: “We nearly had a low traffic neighbourhood several years ago, but instead the Council put in place measures that failed adequately to address the traffic issues. What would you do to deal with the traffic?”

We want a fresh, resident‑led traffic plan for the Hyde Park Estate that actually reduces through‑traffic rather than shifting it from one street to another.
Any scheme must be co‑designed with residents, businesses and emergency services not imposed from above.
We support measures that cut rat‑running, improve crossings, and make streets safer for walking and cycling, while protecting access for disabled people and essential vehicles.
We would also push for better enforcement of speeding, idling and illegal manoeuvres, which residents consistently raise as daily problems.
The goal is simple: quieter, safer streets where people can move around without constant congestion and pollution.