We are all aware of the continuing difficult period that is being experienced by everyone across Westminster. I want to assure you that your local councillors will continue to provide whatever support or advice is needed in the coming weeks.
Many of you are contacting us, often with offers of help, for which we are very grateful. If you need our assistance, or have concerns about a vulnerable neighbour or relative, then do get in touch by e-mailing Westminster Connects or by phoning the new dedicated number 020 7641 1222 from 9am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Temporary Movement Strategy
As the lockdown restrictions ease, the Council has been developing plans to support the safe movement of people around the city when some retail premises and primary schools reopen on 1 June. The goal of your Conservative council is to help business recovery, support cycling and walking for people returning to work, and ensure residents’ interests are protected.
The strategy will be implemented in phases. All measures are designed to be temporary and will only use non-permanent barriers and traffic cones so that they can be easily adapted as circumstances change.
We are looking to provide more pedestrian space by coning off part of the current carriageway to create the space needed. We will also be putting up cones and barriers in the carriageway to increase the space available for safe cycling. Some interventions may be as straightforward as putting markings on the street to ensure social distancing.
If you have ideas that you would like to see in your local area, please let us know and we will try to include them. We are particularly keen to try out easy to implement schemes that are both cost-effective and adaptable.
Supporting Our Local High Streets
Interactive "Shop Local" Map
Your Conservative Council has created a map of local shops and businesses either physically open or offering delivery, takeaway or e-commerce, here.
The number of businesses is expanding so it is worth having another look to see who else is now open in your local area.
The map is aimed at helping residents to shop local and to support businesses in their area as part of efforts to support the recovery of Westminster’s economy.
You can have your business added by filling in the form here.
Army brings Mobile Coronavirus Testing to Hyde Park
Mobile coronavirus testing came to Westminster last week when the Grenadier Guards set up a mobile coronavirus testing site on North Carriage Drive in Hyde Park.
Council Leader Cllr Rachael Robathan and Armed Forces Champion Cllr Mark Shearer visited the site to thank the soldiers who are delivering 500 tests a day to enable key workers worried about coronavirus symptoms to return to work and support the most vulnerable in the Westminster community. Coronavirus tests are now available for anyone aged over 5 who is presenting symptoms.
You need to book a test (do not go to Hyde Park without an appointment) and that can be done here.
Fibre Broadband being rolled out across Westminster: three times faster than anywhere else in London
In the past, Westminster has struggled with some of the worst connectivity in London and, to remedy this, the Council has been working over the past few years to improve connectivity for people living and working across the City.
Westminster has succeeded in dramatically increasing the number of properties with full fibre availability, and, in a period of four months from September 2019 to January 2020 delivered connectivity to an additional 12,932 properties, three times the rate of any other London borough.
This exponential growth has allowed Westminster to climb the ranks to become the second-best borough across the whole of London for full fibre availability.
In the current climate, it’s more important than ever that local people and businesses can stay connected and continue to work. Moreover, a significant proportion of distance working, learning and shopping will continue after the pandemic has passed, and therefore this improvement in infrastructure will allow all our residents to stay connected.
Keep in Touch
Your local councillors are there to support everyone in the community and, by working together, we will get through this. Please don’t hesitate to contact us during this period. We will do all that we can to help you and your neighbours.
Cllr Rachael Robathan
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020 7730 8181
