Street Team Round-Up

Our Street Team has been busy in recent weeks, tackling environmental issues, supporting businesses, liaising with contractors and the Council, and keeping a close eye on activity across the area. 

Working seven days a week, the team provides a constant presence on the streets, identifying issues, reporting them to the relevant contacts and, importantly, following up to make sure they are resolved. 

Keeping the streets clean 

A wide range of environmental issues have been tackled recently, including fly-tipping, rubbish, graffiti, fly-posting and pavement cleanliness. 

Following a notification from St Edward’s School, the team arranged for a mattress and accumulated waste on Lisson Grove to be removed. They also coordinated the removal of fly-tipping on Rodmarton Street and, at the Dorset Square Hotel, arranged for fly-tipped items opposite the hotel to be cleared. 

On New Quebec Street, the team has continued to report dumped rubbish and support efforts to improve pavement cleanliness, while in Manchester Square they arranged pavement cleaning and the removal of fly-tipped white goods. 

The team has also coordinated a number of targeted pavement cleans, including around bins near London Business School on Marylebone Road, outside BNP Paribas on Harewood Avenue, and around the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill on Portman Square and Seymour Street. Cleaning has also been arranged on Seymour Place and Stourcliffe Street for The Portman Estate. 

Other recent activity has included supporting the removal of graffiti from hoardings outside Chiltern Firehouse and in the Wonderpass and regularly reporting fly-posting around the Marylebone Road public toilets, with offending material being removed within 24 hours. 

Keeping on top of public realm issues 

The team continues to monitor the wider public realm and report issues requiring Council attention. 

This has included reporting damaged trees for removal and helping to initiate further tree surveys, as well as monitoring issues with the area’s water fountains and following up to ensure repairs are completed. 

The team has also supported Westminster City Council City Inspectors with ongoing investigations into pigeon feeding, including gathering evidence to help inform enforcement activity. 

A broken bollard on Allsop Place, near Madame Tussauds, was another recent issue identified and followed through to repair. 

Supporting businesses through street works 

The Street Team has also been busy behind the scenes, working with utility companies and contractors to help minimise the impact of street works on local businesses. 

The team has developed a relationship between UK Power Networks (UKPN) and The Portman Estate and has recently liaised with UKPN on major works in the area. Following works on Fitzhardinge Street, the team reported a water leak in Lazard’s basement to UKPN, while they also supported the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill in discussions around UKPN’s weekend working hours, helping to reduce disruption. 

The team has additionally been liaising with contractors regarding works around Harewood Avenue and Paddington Street, working with local businesses and organisations including BNP Paribas, The Landmark London, Chiltern Firehouse and BXR. 

Monitoring e-bike parking 

E-bike parking continues to be an important issue, and the Street Team has been actively involved in discussions with Westminster City Council about the location and impact of parking bays. 

Recent activity includes the removal of virtual bays on Baker Street at Blandford Street and Allsop Place, while an impact statement has been submitted to the Council regarding the bay outside Forsters. 

The team has also provided feedback on Phase 5B and 5C of the e-bike parking programme and continues to feed into discussions about where new bays should be introduced across the area. 

A visible presence, every day 

Alongside all this activity, the Street Team continues to work closely with the Police, helping to collate evidence and providing a visible presence across the Quarter that can act as a deterrent to crime and antisocial behaviour. 

Find out more about our ongoing Area Management activities here.