Campaign for a new Community Council
By Clare Lees
Saturday 22 January 2011 will see the launch of the Campaign for the Queen's Park Community Council. The campaign has been set up by residents of the Queen's Park ward in Westminster who are deeply concerned that the significant improvements made to the area through the activities of the Queen's Park Neighbourhood Forum (QPNF) will stop. After 10 years, funding for the QPNF is set to be axed later this year. Many locals want to pick up the reins to ensure that the area continues to become safer and the community stronger. And one way to do this is by establishing a Community Council (CC).
A CC will ensure residents are consulted on local matters and that their voices will be heard. It is also recognised by law so its LOCAL power will not be removed. As pressure on local budgets and services will inevitably continue, the need for a powerful local lobbying voice is considered to be vital in this diverse area. Residents want to maintain the influence they have had in areas such as parking, improvements to local gardens and park, improved medical provision, community celebrations and so forth. Once established the CC will constitute residents elected as councillors who will then be able to raise funds and allocate to projects locals consider priority.
For the council to be established, a petition has to be submitted to Westminster Council who after further consultation will give the go-ahead - or not. This petition needs to be signed by at least 800 local residents who are on the electoral roll in the Queen's Park Ward of Westminster.
If you are interested and are able to sign the petition or want to find out more, the launch of the campaign is this coming Saturday (22 January) at 3 pm at the Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, London W10
By Clare Lees
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