A POSITIVE VOICE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE HYDE PARK ESTATE

News

Christmas in Connaught Village

Support our local businesses and pick up something special, with lots offers, gifts and events in Connaught Village and the Hyde Park Estate:

Connaught Village update

We are excited about a number of new openings coming soon to Connaught Village. Read on for the latest news. HyPER is often asked what is happening to the old Kurobuta restaurant on Kendal Street, which is currently being fitted-out. We’re pleased to say that this will be opening soon for a new all-day restaurant, which it is hoped will be open before Christmas. We can’t publish the full details yet, but we consider the new restaurant will be a great addition to the Village and we look forward to seeing it trading. Continuing on the theme of…

HyPER Remembers

To mark Remembrance Day, HyPER Chairman Andy Beverley attended the ceremony in Lancaster Gate. The service was presided over by Father Tim of St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, with Westminster Council’s Lord Mayor (Patricia McAllister) laying a wreath. Local MPs and councillors were in attendance, including Nickie Aiken MP and our local councillors Paul Dimoldenberg, Md Shamsed Chowdhury, and Judith Southern. The St James’s choir was joined by brass players offering an appropriately sombre musical accompaniment. HyPER thanks our ward councillors for the invitation to the ceremony.

Proposed Sussex Gardens junction improvements

Transport for London has released proposals for changes to the junction of Sussex Gardens and Edgware Road. The intention is to make the junction safer for vulnerable road users and more accessible and pleasant for those on foot. The proposals include: What do you think of the proposals? Read more details and respond using Transport for London’s webpage. We’d also be interested to know what you think – let us know.

Update from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

HyPER attended the 6-monthly Royal Parks stakeholder meeting on Thursday 2nd November. General update The meeting started with an update from the Chief Executive, Andrew Scattergood, who reiterated the 3 strategic priorities of the Royal Parks: to welcome everyone to the parks; to conserve and enhance the parks; and to build a secure financial future. HyPER asked how the first objective of welcoming everyone is monitored and implemented within decision making. We were informed of the Royal Parks Panel, which engages with regular users of the Parks to gain their feedback over a period of time. If you…

Majority in support of Connaught Village Green

Public meeting and consultation results The Connaught Village public meeting took place on Thursday 14th September at 2pm, being attended by approximately 40 residents. At the meeting, an overview of the results of the public consultation were presented (showing overall support from residents), as well as new data on the impact of the proposed one-way on Kendal Street. The Council also reiterated the aim of the project, which is “to improve public spaces and pedestrian accessibility by creating an enlarged outdoor space for the community with greening, seating and widespread pavement that helps reduce traffic dominance and prioritise…

Royal Parks Half Marathon road closures

Sunday 8th October will see the return of the annual Royal Parks Half Marathon. The Royal Parks have provided HyPER with information on road closures as part of this event, which we have detailed below: Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be open to the public as usual across the event weekend however, users may be directed to different gates to access the Parks on Sunday 8 October 2023. Pedestrian and emergency vehicle access across the route will be maintained at all times. More information is available on the Royal Parks Half Marathon website.

Connaught Village Green drop-in event

The council has recognised that a proportion of comments on the recent Connaught Village Green consultation raised concerns about the traffic impacts from the proposed one way section on Kendal Street. As such, the council has undertaken new traffic count surveys to consider the impacts of these proposals with the new survey data and alongside the nearby cycling proposals for Connaught Square and Porchester Place. Residents are invited to a drop-in session where officers can discuss the scheme alongside the new traffic data. The wider consultation results will also be discussed. The drop-in will be held on Thursday…

Nickie Aiken MP visits HyPER

We were very grateful last week to our local MP Nickie Aiken for visiting HyPER. We showed Nickie around the Hyde Park Estate and discussed a number of local issues. We walked the width of the Estate during the visit, starting at Sussex Place. Here we informed Nickie about HyPER’s recent success in gaining a grant for the installation of a parklet. The discussion at this location naturally turned to traffic. Local parent Esme Daley explained the road dangers of walking her children to school. We said that despite warm words from our new Labour councillors about dealing…

HyPER awarded £25k for Hyde Park Estate greening project

HyPER is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded £25k from Westminster Council’s Greening Westminster fund. The money will go towards the installation of a “parklet” on the Hyde Park Estate. These mini-gardens — which have been installed in a number of areas around London — add greening and biodiversity to roads that would otherwise be very sparse. In order to qualify for the grant, HyPER had to show that it could deliver its proposed project, as well as prove its credibility as a community organisation. We are looking forward to getting started and we want your…

Invitation to curator’s tour and brunch at Eve Leibe Gallery

We are very excited to welcome back Eve Leibe Gallery to Connaught Village, who previously were generous in hosting a HyPER pop-up party. Their new location is at 39 Connaught Street. Eve Leibe have kindly invited HyPER members to their forthcoming curator’s tour and brunch with with Sam King and Maria Dolfini, this Saturday 29th July 11am – 1pm. Seeing is Believing is London-based artist Sam King’s debut solo exhibition with the gallery in London. In his latest series of paintings, King explores our discomfort with the architecture of the body in the technological age. Confronted with the…

Paddington Area cycling consultation

Consultation is now open regarding a number of cycle infrastructure schemes in the Hyde Park Estate and Paddington area. These are all schemes that are already in existence, but that were introduced as temporary measures during Covid. This consultation is about making them permanent, including some adjustments to do so. Stanhope Terrace and Sussex Place The proposals for these streets are to make permanent the existing painted cycle lanes on the east side of Sussex Place and the south side of Stanhope Terrace. Minor alterations would be made, including extending the parking restrictions up to the roundabout on…

Take part in HyPER’s award-winning initiative to reduce air pollution

Would you like to see air quality improve for ourselves and the next generation? Then help us locate an air sensor, the first step of the project. Having won a recent competition for an air pollution monitor, we now need your help to decide exactly where to site it. HyPER is now a member of the Breathe London Network that monitors air pollution at a local level throughout London. The aim is to measure airborne pollutants and store this data centrally with Imperial College for use in City Pollution management. Please see our air pollution webpage for more…

Have your say on the future of our local high streets

Westminster Council has commenced a new High Streets Programme. This aims to support and revitalise Westminster’s high streets, making them more resilient, vibrant, and diverse, as well as ensuring a balance of spaces, amenities, and services for the local community.   The programme will begin by focusing on a cluster of high streets around Paddington and Bayswater, including Connaught Village, Sussex Place, Praed Street and Edgware Road. This is your opportunity to tell the council what places you like / dislike, how you feel about your local high streets, and to share suggestions on how they can be improved.…

Connaught Village Summer Fair throughout June

On Saturday 10th June Connaught Village will be launching Summer Village Vibes, a month-long celebration of summer coinciding with the Hyde Park Estate’s annual Open Gardens’ Weekend. Throughout the whole of June and into early July there will be events taking place in the area. Open Gardens The month kicks-off with the popular annual Open Gardens event, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to visit gardens that would normally be closed to the public. Taking place from 10am to 4pm, tickets can be booked using the National Open Garden Scheme website. Free activities on Saturday 10th June Also…

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