8/13/2019 News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #385

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In this edition:

Greg Hands M.P.s DiaryWebsite of the Week:The Chelsea Society andThe Fulham SocietyHands in the media:Watch Greg Hands M.P. onthe BBC Politics ShowLondonBenefits Cap "Exodus" failsto materialise inHammersmith & FulhamPhoto news:Boris Bikes coming toFulhamHammersmith and Fulhamtops London league for

biggest fall in crimePhoto news:Nick RossNew Pedestrian and CycleBridge from Battersea toChelsea Harbour is givenplanning approval452m Earl's Courtregeneration packageagreedHands in the papers:

Streit um LondonsLuxusimmobilien: My Kelleris my CastleHow to contactGreg Hands M.P.

Issue 385 Monday 25thNovember 2013

Since the last edition, Greg:

Laid a wreath at Fulham War Memorial, for Fulhams

Remembrance Sunday commemoration, in a service led by

All Saints Vicar, Fr. Joe Hawes.Was guest commentator on the BBC London Sunday Politics

Show, discussing the Governments welfare reforms, crime in

London and cycling in the capital.

Attended and addressed (briefly) the Annual General Meeting

of the Fulham Society, held at Lady Margaret School, Parsons

Green.

Meta group of concerned governors and parents from Sulivan

Primary School, Fulham. For Gregs submission on the

Councils proposed merger of Sulivan and New Kings Schools,

see here.Met Londons Deputy Mayor Stephen Greenhalgh with other

London MPs to discuss the future of Victim Support services

in London.

Welcomed the Serbian Presidents Foreign Policy Adviser,

Mr Popovic, to the House of Commons. The Serbian

community in the UK is centred in Fulham.

Carried out his extensive duties as the Governments Deputy

Chief Whip.

Attended the Parsons Green & Walham Conservatives lunch

with guest speaker, Nick Ross, former presenter of BBCCrimewatch.

Attended a charity performance of Handel's Messiah in a

packed St Luke's Church, Chelsea, with proceeds going to

West London Churches Homelessness Concern.

Announced a new location for Gregs advice surgeryfor local

Chelsea and Fulham residents, at Fulham Library, on Fulham

Road, close to Parsons Green tube. Gregs surgeries are now

generally weekly, on Monday mornings, at either Fulham

Library, or Peter Jones, Sloane Square. To make an

appointment, email mail@greghands.com or telephone 0207219 5448.

Websites of the Week:

www.chelseasociety.com

www.fulhamsociety.orgThe websites of the Chelsea Society and of the Fulham Society,

the leading amenity societies for our local communities. Gregattended the AGM of the Fulham Society last week, and hopes toattend the AGM of the Chelsea Society this week.

Hands in the media:

Watch Greg Hands M.P. on the BBC Politics

Show London

Sunday 24thNovember 2013

Benefits Cap "Exodus" fails to materialisein Hammersmith & FulhamAn exodus of housing tenants affected by the benefits cap from one ofthe nations most expensive boroughs has failed to materialise,according to the local council.Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) is one of the most expensive places torent, or buy, in the UK and there were fears from some quarters thatthe Governments cap on taxpayer-funded housing payments couldforce waves of people into less expensive parts of the country.

However figures, released by the council today (November 15), showthat out of 546 households in temporary accommodation affected bythe caps, just ten have had to relocate into areas outside H&F.In 344 cases, or well over half of the cases in H&F, the councilsuccessfully negotiate a lower price, within the new subsidy, withprivate landlords. Another 180 people have been successfullyrehoused in properties that are affordable under the Governmentstougher new rules with 152 cases remaining in H&F and just 18cases resettled in neighbouring boroughs.

Another concern was that the changes to benefits might have alteredthe number of private landlords offering their property to people onbenefits, although this has not happened.Cllr Andrew Johnson, H&F Council cabinet member for housing, said:The doom-mongers who predicted that the Governments sensiblebenefits caps, which we fully support, would result in a mass exodusof people out of H&F have been proved completely wrong. Despitehaving some of the highest property prices in the country, thispredicted departure has failed to materialise.The true story is that in the vast majority of cases we have

successfully negotiated with local landlords to support the newbenefits system by reducing their rent demands to levels within thecap. This is a win-win situation for taxpayers, who save money, andfor residents who wish to remain within in the area.In the remaining cases we are pleased that we could help residentsto remain in H&F, or a neighbouring borough, in all but ten cases.The Governments cap was brought in to reduce the nations colossal23billion housing benefit bill. This is why we support these changes,but we are also delighted that in the overwhelming majority of casestenants have been able to stay in west London. And we are equallypleased that the changes have not discouraged private landlords fromoffering their properties at rent levels within the caps.Figures showed that currently, 3.4 per cent of the working agepopulation of the borough is claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) the lowest JSA claimant rate in the borough since January 2009.There also has been a four per cent decrease in claimant numbersbetween September 2012 and September 2013.Greg Hands M.P. added "Local residents will have seen me talkingabout this on the BBC's Sunday Politics show. What the British people

want to see is a Government getting a grip on the country's welfarebills, rather than paying Labour's unlimited benefits. The case ofHammersmith & Fulham shows we can reduce costs and still protectthe vulnerable and keep poorer families in London."

Photo news:

Boris Bikes coming to Fulham

Greg Hands M.P. this week welcoming new Boris Bike DockingTerminals on Effie Road (between Eel Brook Common and

Fulham Broadway).

Hammersmith and Fulham tops London

league for biggest fall in crimeCrime in Hammersmith & Fulham is down more than anywhere else inLondon, according to the latest Met Police figures which show a 16%fall compared to last year.There were 2,169 fewer crimes in Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) inthe seven months to the start of November 2013. The impressive fallin the headline crime figure means the borough is officially safer thanever.There were 11,218 crimes in H&F between the start of April and end

of October 2013 which is 16 per cent down on 2012 when therewere 13,387 crimes over the equivalent seven months.A detailed breakdown of the stats reveals the number of robberies isdown by 16%, while burglary has fallen 22%, or 238 offences. Therewere 981 fewer offences for theft and handling of stolen goods anddrug trafficking tumbled by a quarter. Violent crimes, such as commonassault, harassment and use of an offensive weapon, decreased by11%.The news comes as H&F Council continues to spend 1.3million ayear for three squads of extra town centre beat Police with localbusinesses adding an extra 350,000 a year. The additional cashmeans the borough has 42 more Police officers than it would dootherwise.Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Deputy Leader, says, To achieve thebiggest reduction in crime across London so far this year is atestament to the hard work and dedication of some seriously goodlocal crime-fighters.Extra beat Police combined with other measures, such as thecouncils neighbourhood wardens, Parks Police and comprehensive

networks of CCTV cameras and Neighbourhood Watch groups,means H&F is now safer than ever.As part of the boroughs crime-fighting approach the police andcouncil have been inviting residents to series of ward based meetingswhich target crime on a hyper local level. The How are we doing oncrime? series of road shows sees senior police and council officialstour the borough to hear directly from residents. The events aresupported by the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime and theboroughs Neighbourhood Watch Association.Cllr Smith continues, The crime fighting road-shows have proved

invaluable in gathering intelligence and really getting under the skin ofresidents concerns. By listening more closely to residents, who knowtheir neighbourhoods like the back of their hand, we have been able totarget offenders far more effectively. We are now reaping the rewardsas crime continues to fall year after year.Greg Hands M.P. added "Under Mayor Boris Johnson and DeputyMayor Stephen Greenhalgh, crime in London is falling very fastindeed. In fact, it has fallen as fast in the last 18 months as it did in theprevious 10 years. And crime in Hammersmith & Fulham is fallingfaster than anywhere, thanks to the good work of Hammersmith &Fulham Council as well."

Photo news:

Nick Ross

Greg Hands M.P. welcomes former Crimewatch presenter NickRoss to the Parsons Green, Walham and Sands End

Conservatives, as their guest speaker, this week.

New Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge from

Battersea to Chelsea Harbour is given

planning approval

The first new Thames River crossing for more than a decade will bebuilt in the south of the borough, linking Hammersmith & Fulham withWandsworth.

On Wednesday 20th November 2013, Hammersmith & FulhamCouncil Planning Application Committee approved plans to build thebrand new 22m foot and cycle bridge, dubbed the Diamond JubileeBridge.Palace Investments, of New Bond Street, Mayfair, hopes to create a170m-long bridge connecting Imperial Wharf and Chelsea Harbour,from the spot where The Queen boarded the royal barge for the

diamond jubilee flotilla last year, to Battersea on the south side of theThames.Cllr Nicholas Botterill, leader of the council, said: The new bridge hasthe potential to give the south of our borough a real boost byimproving the local economy, bringing jobs to the area and makingtransport links better and faster. We look forward to seeing thisexciting idea becoming reality and with 1.2m trips expected across thenew bridge a year, this will be beneficial for local residents as well ascommuters and visitors who come through the borough.The scheme, designed by architect Chris Medland of local firm One-World Design, drew scores of comments from local businesses,residents and authorities, with the majority of people and groupscoming out in favour of the crossing.The council's Design Review Panel, made up of representatives fromlocal residents associations and amenity groups, thought it was a"terrific proposal for that part of town".Original plans submitted to the council in October last year, showedthe multi-million pound bridge connected to the existing Grade II*listed Cremorne Railway Bridge better known as Battersea Railway

Bridge.However, following objections from English Heritage, the scheme hasbeen modified. Now the plan is for two new river piers to be erectedso that the jubilee bridge would stand adjacent to the railway bridge,rather than be attached to it.The bridge, made up of three spans with a design of three arches, willbe built and maintained at no cost to the taxpayer and will be open 24-hours-a-day.Wandsworth Council, the authority south of the river, approved plans

for the bridge earlier this year and the Greater London Authority mustgive final consent but, if it goes through and funding is secured, it ishoped that construction could begin next winter.To read the Planning Applications Committee agenda for November20, visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/publicaccess to view the plans, click'planning search' and enter the planning reference 2012/03582/FUL.

452m Earl's Court regeneration package

agreedAnother major milestone in the 8billion redevelopment of Earl's Courtwas reached today with agreement between London Borough ofHammersmith & Fulham, the Royal Borough of Kensington andChelsea, Transport for London (TFL) and scheme developer ECProperties LP on a 452million package of benefits for the area.As part of the Section 106 agreement EC Properties LP has agreedthat as the approved scheme is developed a new primary school,leisure centre and health facilities will be built as well as communityand cultural spaces. Thirty seven acres of green open space will be

provided, including a new five acre park and there will also besignificant improvements to the transport infrastructure includingincreased capacity at Earl's Court, West Kensington and WestBrompton Underground stations.Cllr Nicholas Botterill, Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Councilsaid: "The redevelopment of Earl's Court and West Kensington willusher in a new era of prosperity and opportunity on a scale that hasnever been seen before in west London."We have said, from the very outset, that we would only include theestates if people living on them substantially benefit from

redevelopment, followed by the wider area."This agreement can leave estate residents in no doubt that they willbe the major beneficiaries of the scheme, not only gaining brand newhomes, but also reaping the rewards of the huge raft of communityimprovements."Cllr Tim Coleridge, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea'sCabinet Member for Planning, said: "We have been involved indiscussions over many years about the redevelopment of Earl's Courtand it is good news that the developers have agreed to this verysignificant contribution to the area. It will bring great benefits to all the

residents, current and future."The community facilities will make this a great place to live and I amsure will be welcomed by everyone. A new primary school will be aboon to local parents and the leisure centre will make it easier forpeople to get to sports facilities."Gary Yardley, Investment Director at Capital & Counties PropertiesPLC, the parent company of EC Properties LP, said: "The conclusionof these negotiations adds further momentum to the Earl's Courtproject and we are pleased to have agreed this package of benefitsfor the local community. The value of this contribution represents thescale of the project and brings to life the very real benefits that thisdevelopment will bring to west London. We look forward to workingwith the local community to deliver the Earl's Court Masterplan whichwill create 7,500 new homes and 12,000 new jobs."Details of the regeneration package include:

Up to 7,500 new homes of which 1,500 are affordable and

replacement homes - 315million

Improvements to streets and public realm and the creation of

37 acres of green space, including garden squares, communal

gardens and a new five acre park - 35millionImprovements to local amenities as well as a new primary

school, community centre, leisure centre, health centre, cultural

space and money towards a cultural fund for the area. - 41.4

million

Up to 10,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created and

there will be 8million worth of employment and skills training

in the local area

There will also be significant transport improvements. 38.2

million will be spent on improving the Tube stations in the area.

5.5 million will be spent of new and improved bus lanes, bus

stops and service improvements and new and 3.1 million will

be spent on new and improved cycle lanes, three new cycle

hire hubs plus over 11,000 cycle parking spaces.

The redevelopment of Earl's Court will provide new homesfor peopleliving on West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates, which is part ofthe 77 acre site, with the first residents expected to move into newhomes by 2018.

Hands in the papers:

Streit um Londons Luxusimmobilien:

My Keller is my CastleDer Spiegel

Sunday 24thNovember 2013Ein unterirdischer Tennisplatz - warum nicht? Weil die meistenStadthuser keinen Platz fr Schwimmbad und Heimkino bieten,

lassen Londons Superreiche graben, gern auch mehrere Geschossetief. Die Nachbarn laufen Sturm, die Behrden wollen dem Treiben einEnde setzen.Touristen sind entzckt, wenn sie sich im Londoner Stadtteil NottingHill verlaufen. Niedliche Reihenhuschen mit Sprossenfensternverstrmen Puppenstuben-Charme. Alles wirkt so menschlich undgemtlich. Die Eigentmer der Huschen stehen jedoch regelmigvor einem Problem: Wohin mit meinem Heimkino?Londons Superreiche, die mehrere Millionen in ein Haus inNobelbezirken wie Kensington, Chelsea oder eben Notting Hill

investieren, stellen gewisse Ansprche. An- und Aufbauten sind ausGrnden des Stadtbilds aber meist nicht erlaubt. Der Trend gehtdaher zum Tiefbau: Wer es sich leisten kann, lsst schweres Gertanrcken und baut sein Traumhaus im Untergrund.Der Ehrgeiz kennt dabei kaum Grenzen. Ein amerikanischer Bankerbeantragte vier Kellergeschosse, um ein extratiefes Schwimmbad mitSprungturm unterzubringen. Der kanadische Medienmogul DavidGraham wollte sein Stadthaus dreistckig unterkellern, um endlichPlatz fr einen reprsentativen Ballsaal zu haben. UndImmobilienmakler Jon Hunt reichte Plne fr einen unterirdischenTennisplatz ein - nebst einer Garage fr seine Ferrari-Sammlung.

"Das sind keine Keller, sondern riesige unterirdischeVergngungspalste", sagte die Labour-Abgeordnete Karen Buckvergangene Woche im Unterhaus. Als sie in ihrem WahlkreisWestminster mal in ein solches Haus hinabgestiegen sei, habe siesich an das Deck eines Flugzeugtrgers erinnert gefhlt."Einige Leute stoen schon an die Erdkruste"Zur Grundausstattung der fensterlosen Luxuskatakomben zhlenHeimkino, Pool und Spa. Auch Weinkeller sind sehr beliebt. DerZuwachs an Wohnflche kann betrchtlich sein: Das unterirdische

Reich von Hedgefonds-Manager Reade Griffith umfasst rund 900Quadratmeter. Das St. Saviour's House in Knightsbridge, gerade aufdem Markt, wuchs durch zwei Kellergeschosse von 800 auf 1068Quadratmeter. Neben dem obligatorischen Pool bietet der neue Spa-Bereich eine glserne Sauna, einen Massageraum und eine "JuiceBar"."Eisberghuser" werden diese Immobilien genannt, weil ein groerTeil unter der Erde liegt und nicht sichtbar ist. "Es ist ein Wettkampf:Wer kann tiefer graben? Wer hat mehr Geld?", sagte dieSchauspielerin Ruby Wax in der BBC-Sendung "Newsnight". "EinigeLeute stoen schon an die Erdkruste." Wax wohnt in Notting Hill, wo

immer irgendwo gegraben wird. Der Lrm lasse sich nur mitOhrstpseln aushalten, sagt sie.Im September konnte Wax einen kleinen Erfolg feiern: DieBaubehrde lehnte einen Antrag des Fondsmanagers Mark Hawtinab. Der wollte sogar die Strae unterkellern, das geplante zweiteKellergeschoss unter seinem Haus sollte bis unter den Brgersteigreichen. Wax und andere lokale Prominente, darunter RachelJohnson, Schwester des Brgermeisters, machten gegen diesen"Landraub" mobil und zwangen den Nachbarn zum Rckzug."Reihenhuser sind fr eine Palastausstattung nicht geeignet"Greg Hands kennt das Problem nur zu gut. Beschwerden berTiefbauarbeiten zhlen zu den fnf hufigsten Anliegen in seinerSprechstunde. "Die Keller werden immer grer", sagt derkonservative Unterhausabgeordnete des Wahlkreises Fulham andChelsea. "Die Bauarbeiten dauern oft Jahre." In der Zeit mssenNachbarn nicht nur mit Lrm und Staub leben, sondern hufig auchauf Garten und Parkplatz verzichten. Der Abtransport der Erdegestaltet sich schwierig, weil es von vielen Grten keinen Zugang zurStrae gibt.

Simon Jenkins, Kolumnist und Vorsitzender derDenkmalschutzstiftung National Trust, kam bereits 2011 zu demSchluss: "Die bescheidenen Reihenhuser, die den CharakterWestlondons prgen, sind fr eine Palastausstattung nicht geeignet."Das jedoch wollen viele Eigentmer nicht hinnehmen. Allein inKensington und Chelsea ist die Zahl der Kellerantrge von 13 im Jahr2001 auf 307 im vergangenen Jahr gestiegen. Die Nachfrage hat inden vergangenen Monaten noch zugenommen, weil vieleHausbesitzer ihren Keller ausbauen wollen, bevor die Bauvorschriftenverschrft werden.

Die Bezirksverwaltung hat angekndigt, mehrgeschossige Kellerknftig verbieten zu wollen. Auch sollen sie statt 85 Prozent nur noch50 Prozent der Gartenflche betragen drfen. Unterdenkmalgeschtzten Husern sollen Keller ganz verboten werden.Nach Protesten von Baufirmen liegen die Plne allerdings derzeit aufEis. Laut Gesetz muss der Bezirk gute Grnde fr ein Kellerverbotvorbringen.Angriff auf Eigentumsrechte"Das ist ein Angriff auf die Eigentumsrechte", sagt Kevin O'Connor,Chef von Cranbrook Basements. Jedem Hausbesitzer stehe es frei,

einen zustzlichen Raum fr das neue Baby oder ein Fernsehzimmerzu bauen. Von den 25 Kellern, die seine Firma im Jahr baue, seienvielleicht drei mehrgeschossig. Schrfere Regeln knnten sprbareAuswirkungen auf seine Branche haben. Der typische Garten hintereinem Reihenhaus sei viereinhalb Meter lang, sagt O'Connor. "Wenndavon nur die Hlfte unterkellert werden darf, lsst man es gleichbleiben".Der Bezirk Kensington and Chelsea will sich von dem Widerstand derBaufirmen nicht abhalten lassen. "Unsere Plne haben offensichtlicheinen Nerv getroffen", sagt der Bezirksabgeordnete Tim Coleridge. Essei an der Zeit, einen "Sinn fr Verhltnismigkeit" beim

Kellerausbau einzufhren.Der kam John Caudwell offenbar abhanden. Der Mobilfunkmilliardrwill seine beiden benachbarten Villen in Mayfair durch einen Tunnelverbinden und unter der Erde eine 1300 Quadratmeter groe Flchefr Pool, Garage, Kino und Spieleraum schaffen. Wenn dieses"Monster Mansion" fertig sei, schrieb der "Evening Standard", werdees nur unwesentlich kleiner sein als Westminster Cathedral.

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448

By email: mail@greghands.com

By post: Greg Hands M.P.House of CommonsLondon SW1A 0AA

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News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #385

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