Conservative Manifesto Launched in Hampstead and Kilburn

Hot on the heels of the national launch Philip Hammond MP came to Hampstead and Kilburn to campaign for change. Philip spoke with local residents about the change our country needs and how a Conservative government would tackle the challenges we face. Hampstead and Kilburn is key seat the Conservatives must win to form a government.

After the launch Philip, who is the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, met with Hampstead traders to talk about the economy, protecting local shops and reducing the impact of tax on small businesses.

Shadow Minister visits the Chalcots

Chris Philp and Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps visited the Chalcot Eastate to meet local residents and hear their views. The issues discussed included the future of Council housing, reducing waiting lists and the protection of resident’s tenure. Grant spoke about how these concerns can be addressed by empowering residents and councils to make the decisions that are best for their specific circumstances.

High and High Hustings

Chris took part in the Ham & High's Election 2010 Hustings in Hampstead this week. Click the video below to see what Chris said about public services, the economy and transport.

Brent Vote for Change Day

Over thirty-five MPs and many more volunteers came to Brondesbury and Queen's Park to help deliver letters, canvass residents and find out what really matters to them. Hampstead and Kilburn is a key seat which the Conservatives must win to form a government and with so many MP's and Shadow Ministers donating their time it's clear that the Conservative Party is determined to bring change to our neighbourhood.

Belsize Sq Synagogue Hustings

Chris was at Belsize Square Synagogue to answer the questions of residents in the run up to the election. Click play below to see some of the highlights.

Gone to Pot!

Chris Philp and the Conservative Action Team in Brondesbury and Queens Park have been ensuring that potholes that have opened up after the cold weather are swiftly being filled. Streetcare have patched up the holes on the junction of Sidmouth Road and Willesden Lane and the holes on Sidmouth Road outside the shops. There are other areas that need refilling and this is being done. Unfortunately damage to tarmac will happen if there is a period where temperatures rise and fall above and below freezing as we've just experienced. We're working hard to make sure Brondesbury Park's roads and pavements are sorted out quickly and cost effectively.

If you see pot holes that haven't been marked with a white circle around them please inform Streetcare by email or by the Brent Council website.

Gone to Pot!

Chris Philp and the Conservative Action Team in Brondesbury and Queens Park have been ensuring that potholes that have opened up after the cold weather are swiftly being filled. Streetcare have patched up the holes on the junction of Sidmouth Road and Willesden Lane and the holes on Sidmouth Road outside the shops. There are other areas that need refilling and this is being done. Unfortunately damage to tarmac will happen if there is a period where temperatures rise and fall above and below freezing as we've just experienced. We're working hard to make sure Brondesbury Park's roads and pavements are sorted out quickly and cost effectively.

If you see pot holes that haven't been marked with a white circle around them please inform Streetcare by email or by the Brent Council website.

Brent Conservatives deliver on Council Tax promise

Brent Conservatives have successfully campaigned to freeze your council tax. The proposal leads Brent Council's budget proposal for this year (2010/11) as the council presses ahead with its Improvement and Efficiency Action Plan, designed to increase efficiency and enhance services across the council over the next four years. Your Brondesbury Park candidates have been campaigning for this and we've been able to deliver.

If the budget is agreed at a council meeting on 1 March 2010 the Band D council tax for Brent from 1 April will be £1,058.94, which is the same as the previous 12 months.

Conservative Councillor Bob Blackman, Lead Member for Resources, said: "We are honouring our promise to freeze the Council Tax in Brent for the forthcoming year. In this budget we are investing additional resources in front line services, making efficiency savings and conducting a dramatic transformation programme. This year in Brent services will continue to improve and the amount people pay will remain the same."

Brent Conservatives are promising to keep council tax frozen for four years. If you want more of your money in your pocket then please get in contact and help get your Conservatives into power in Brent.

Council tax payers in each London borough also help to fund the Greater London Authority (GLA), which includes the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Transport for London, the Olympics levy and the GLA itself. The GLA will meet on 10 February to consider the Mayor of London's proposal to freeze the GLA Band D contribution for 2010/11 at last year's level of £309.82. If this is accepted the overall council tax at Band D in Brent would be £1,368.76, the same as in 2009/10.

Chris Visits Queen's Park Farmer's Market

Conservative plans to empower parents

The excellent Queen's Park Community School in the heart of Brondesbury Park provides a good education for thousands of children. It's regularly oversubscribed, which means that many parents can't send their children to the school and have to make do with their second, third, or even fourth choice school for their children. Why is this? Why are there not more great schools that every pupil will have the chance to go to? Labour believes that a top-down bureaucratic system is the only way to educate our children. We disagree.

With David Cameron's plan to allow groups of parents, educational charities, philanthropists, livery companies, existing school federations, not for profit trusts and co-operatives to set up new schools in the state sector it will mean that over 220,000 new school places can be created. This would meet the demand from every parent who lost their appeal for their first choice school in our most deprived boroughs. Brondesbury Park Conservative Council Candidate Richard Holloway said, "Imagine if, rather than waiting fearfully for the letter that could mean a great education or a sub-standard education for your child there were enough great schools for every child to be admitted to their first choice school. With the Conservative Party's plan to put choices about education directly in the hands of parents and local groups it can become a reality."

You can download the Conservatives' plan for education at www.conservatives.com

Tinseltown caught on camera

Just before Christmas, Cllr Kirsty Roberts finally saw her campaign for CCTV on Heath Street succeed. Since Tinseltown opened its doors the area has been plagued by late-night nuisance. Kirsty and Chris have worked with residents to end this problem.

Talking of the long battle Kirsty said, "I am thrilled that we have finally achieved this first step to victory, and much praise should go to the small group of residents who have been steadfast in working with me on this."

"At times I think we all felt deflated, especially when Lib Dem Executive for Community Safety, Cllr James King, publicly refused our pleas for help in the Ham & High. We are all hugely grateful to the Executive for Environment, Cllr Chris Knight, who has been instrumental in this success."

The camera is now operational and Kirsty is in close contact with residents to monitor the impact it is having

East Heath Playground

First of all, a big thank you for all your support and feedback in Stephen Stark's campaign to improve the playground facilities at the junction of Downshire Hill and East Heath Road.

It became clear from Stephen's campaign that what parents and users of the playground wanted was the installation of another piece of play equipment for the slightly older child. This is of particular benefit to parents having two or more children, so that they may still take their younger child to a safe playground whilst keeping their older child interested and challenged. The placement of another piece of play equipment would also retain the green spaces, which are a popular feature to the playground.

Stephen said, "I'm delighted that the City of London has listened to residents and have set out its ideas for a new piece of play equipment in response to the concerns raised."
Other issues raised with Stephen by residents during his campaign, such as the waterlogged ground in the playground and the lack of benches, have already been fed back to the City of London and Stephen will continue to keep you updated on progress.

Let's Win with Letwin

 Oliver Letwin MP last night visited the Hampstead & Kilburn constituency to support Chris Philp's campaign to be elected as the next Conservative MP for the area. Oliver Letwin, now Chairman of the Conservatives' Policy Commission, stood as the Conservative candidate for Hampstead back in 1992 when he was narrowly beaten by labour's Glenda Jackson, who is still the MP.

Oliver Letwin said, "This is a seat that the Conservatives must win to form a Government. Voters here can directly decide whether Gordon Brown stays in power or David Cameron takes over. Please support Chris Philp. Otherwise, you may wake up after the election and find Gordon Brown in power for another 5 years." He added, "Hampstead & Kilburn is in the front line of the battle to change the Government. A vote for any party other than the Conservatives risks leaving Gordon Brown in power. That's why I'm here this evening."

Chris Philp, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate said, "It's great that that Oliver has come here today to support our campaign. The Conservatives want to reform state education and the NHS to make them as good as they can be. It is vital to get a Conservative Government to fix the mess in public finances that Labour has created. Voters in Hampstead & Kilburn, a knife-edge marginal, can help make that decision"

Chris visits West Hampstead Women's Centre

Chris Philp was invited to take a tour of the West Hampstead Women's Centre in Cotleigh Rd today. Centre manager Rukshana Chishpi showcased the centre, which now offers a range of services and activities for women in one place. Rukshana gave Chris an in dept explanation of the services that the Centre provides - which include counselling, therapeutic and practical activities. Chris was very impressed with the Centre, and the support it provides. Its shows how local people, with support from Camden Council and many local charities (like the Hampstead Wells and Camden Trust) can deliver great support services to vulnerable communities.

The Centre relocated to Cotleigh Road 2 years ago and offers drop-in support for women experiencing problems, including domestic violence. They provide advice, run support groups and classes for all women and also information on healthy living, claiming benefits and reducing debt.

School Place Success

The governing body of Primrose Hill primary school last night agreed to take an additional class of Year 1 children in September 2010. This arrangement will provide permanent school places for all the children currently at Courthope Education Centre plus 3 others who have temporary school places at Emmanuel.

The children at Courthope are those who were without the offer of a reception class place on 9 July 2009. At that time there were 64 children with no school place after every available place in a Camden primary school had been taken into account.The Courthope centre was set up to enable Camden to meet its statutory obligation towards these children. The families involved live mostly in wards in the NW of the borough. There are currently 25 children at the centre who are due to move into Year 1 this September.

Primrose Hill primary school will receive funds to improve the school buildings, create an additional classroom within the existing buildings, and fund the teaching posts for the new class for the next 6 years. Part of the proposal is to bring the old school keeper's house back into use as a resource for parents, which should bring a benefit to the whole school community.

Conservative Eco-Warriors

The Carbon Army has arrived in Hampstead this week - to be exact, at Waterford Close and the sheltered housing there! Conservative Cllr Chris Knight, and Conservative council candidate Stephen Stark for Hampstead Town, were there to lend their support.

The objective for the day was to clear an area of overgrown shrubs and plants, and putting in three apple trees, three cherry trees, blackcurrant bushes and rhubarb plants. The Carbon Army was supported by four 16 year-old B Tech horticultural students from Quintin Kynaston School. They even had time to dig over the residents' vegetable patch. Their teacher, Ian Green, was absolutely delighted to be involved so that his students could gain valuable experience.

Cllr Chris Knight and Stephen Stark agreed that this is a brilliant idea, worthy of support. Not only does it open up unused space and improve the environment but it gives work experience to young people.

Another four projects are planned with others in the pipeline. Let's hope that the residents enjoy the fruits of the Carbon Army's efforts for many more seasons!

Network Rail outrage on Alexandra Road

Councillors Chris Philp and Andrew Marshall visited the Alexandra Road site that Network Rail has taken control of and met with concerned residents.

Network Rail claims it needed access to this plot of land to carry out work on a weak retaining railway wall. As a result it knocked down a wall and wiped out the communal garden of Moore Court giving no notice to residents.

Looking at the rather complex criss-crossing railway tracks from within Moore Court, it is very unclear why Network Rail needed this land - it isn't close to the affected wall, and Network Rail already has plenty of space on the Haines site which is much closer to the problem. There is no evidence on the Moore Court garden site of any access onto the railway, calling into question the explanation given to Camden officers. It seems they have just grabbed as much space as possible to give themselves maximum working room, at the expense of residents.

Andrew and Chris are now going to contact senior Camden officers to get some clarity on;

- who actually owns the garden plot and with what conditions?
- can we now enforce better working practices by Network Rail on the site, including the behaviour of its staff and contractors?
- can we get proper reassurances from Network Rail on timescale and proper restitution for the garden?
- can we get an explanation from Network Rail as to why their consultation was so poor in this case?

Andrew commented "Frankly I think Network Rail has been allowed to get away with far too much here, and I'm going to get council officers looking more closely at this and how we can retrieve things as far as possible."

Chris added "We all realise that sometimes railway work is essential, but I think we need to consider whether in an area like ours with a big railway footprint we don't need a better local forum which encourages better local engagement from Network Rail."

Car bursts into flames on Heath St

On Saturday evening a car burst into flames on Heath Street setting fire to shop fronts and affecting businesses nearby. The police, fire service and ambulance were quickly on the scene to deal with the incident and put out the fire. Heath Street and High Street at the junction with Hampstead Tube Station had to be closed off and traffic including 10 double decker rail replacement buses was brought to a halt. Police quickly redirected traffic as best they could.

Stephen Stark, conservative council candidate for Hampstead Town Ward was also at the scene. Stephen telephoned Cllr Chris Knight to advise him of the situation and Chris spoke to the police to offer the help of Camden Council as required.

Graffiti Removal Success

 The Conservatives has been successful in their campaign to rid our neighbourhood of unsightly and often offensive Grafittii. The teams in Swiss Cottage, West Hampstead, Fortune Green and Brondesbury Park have all been hard at work reporting graffiti and pushing for the council to remove it as soon as possible.

Burst Mains!

Cllr Chris Knight has been working hard to ensure that the repairs to the Heath St water main are carried out quickly and in a way which ensures it does not happen again. This is the third time the pipe has burst in three years. Local resident and councillor Chris Philp is working with Chris Knight to ensure Thames Water find a long term solution..

Gone with the wind: why Cricklewood and Kilburn deserve better Town Centre Management

"You see Cricklewood has always been messy, each council hopes the wind will blow the leaves over the road" so chuckled a typically talkative taxi driver who'd grown up in the area.

Cricklewood Broadway is unusual for such a long and important high street in being split between three councils: our Camden, Brent and Barnet. Kilburn, meanwhile, is divided down the middle between Camden and Brent.

Both high streets are vibrant and lively, and indeed old - they follow the path of the old Roman road, Watling Street.

But it can be confusing for businesses and residents where authority lies for solving local issues. A Town Centre Manager could focus on coordinating efforts between the different councils, businesses and residents to develop better and more prosperous High Streets for everyone.

And with one of London's largest ever urban re-developments in the Brent Cross Cricklewood plans under consultation they would have a vital role in the coming years in representing and balancing the views of all the stake holders.

What do you think? Do you want a better Cricklewood and Kilburn? Tell us here...

Snowcial Action

Conservative campaigners Claire-Louise Leyland and Boris Telyatnikov have called on residents to adopt a pavement in order to overcome the hazards caused by the snow and ice. Local action is necessary to stop residents from having a dangerous fall.

Getting around in London has become increasingly treacherous over the past month with snow and icy conditions making roads and pavements hard to negotiate. Conservative campaigners are urging residents to take matters into their own hands and see if they can make a difference.

Claire-Louise commented: "I was inspired into action by speaking to a resident I met while helping the Salvation army with their Christmas celebration in Chalk Farm. This plucky West Hampstead resident had braved the cold to come out for her Christmas meal. She told me about how icy the paths were where she lives in Spode Walk and how difficult her elderly neighbours found it to get out for shopping and other errands, or even to meet up with their friends at the community centre. Fears of slipping on the icy pavements kept them indoors and alone.

I would like to encourage everyone who lives and works in Camden to adopt just a small area in front of their home, or workplace and to do their bit each day to ensure that this area is kept clear."

Boris Telyatnikov commented "The Council has had more than two hundred people working around the clock to grit the priority road networt so that they can keep public transport moving. Unfortunately, they have not had enough staff available to grit all of the pavements.

There are 140 grit bins located across the borough, which can be used by the public. If each of us takes responsibility for one small area, we will be able to ensure that many vulnerable people in our community are able to go about their daily lives safely and without fear of falling."

Boris visits West Hampstead

recently invited Boris Johnson to visit Hampstead and Kilburn to meet local residents and discuss some of the issues that face our neighbourhood.

We started on an icy West End Lane where we visited Jitendra Thakorlal the chairman of the local traders' association and spoke with him about the difficulties small businesses face. We then walked up West End Lane to find two Tesco lorries blocking half of the road and I told Boris about my campaign to impose huge fines on Tesco for the inconvenience and danger their deliveries cause. Next we meet with Rabbi Harris and discussed the beautiful refurbishment of Hampstead Synagogue. Finally, we walked to Moment Expresso where we escaped the cold and Boris gave an impromptu speech (see video link above) and answered the questions of local residents. 

 One of the main reasons I invited Boris here was to discuss our concerns about ongoing Jubilee Line weekend closures. Under the PFI contract inherited from Ken Livingstone it is difficult to control a private contractor; however I urged Boris to impose massive fines on the private contractor and to ensure that the jubilee line is not closed the same weekend as the Bakerloo, Metropolitan and Overground lines. I'm delighted to say Boris agreed with these points. Furthermore I mentioned that it is vital coordination is a priority when work begins on the Northern Line upgrade this year.

Queen's Park Street Stall

Tesco: your local inconvenience store

Congestion caused by Tesco lorries has become a major issue for many residents; rarely does a day pass without West End Lane, England's Lane and Heath Street being brought to a standstill by lorries parked irresponsibly as they deliver goods. This reckless parking is not only an inconvenience but a danger to motorists and pedestrians. Last month a woman was hit and injured by a motorbike on West End Lane because a Tesco lorry was obstructing the rider's view.

Unfortunately Tesco don't seem to care about the extensive problems their lorries cause. They have not attempted to manage their deliveries to minimise disruption and the £40 parking fines they receive are accepted as a minor running cost.

Tesco needs to rethink its delivery practices so that deliveries are not made during rush hour, dangerous parking is avoided and alternative entrances to the store are used when possible. To encourage this rethink Camden Council should introduce stricter parking rules for repeat offenders and HGV lorries; a £1,000 fine would be a much more effective deterrent than the current £40.

If you would like to lend your support to the campaign to get Tesco to change its ways or if you know of any other corporate parking offenders then please get in touch.

Philp campaign makes huge impact!

Chris joins residents in opposition to the third runway

Chris joined the Taplow Tenants' Association's Gardening Club to plant a tree to mark their opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.

Chris and the Conservative team tackle graffiti

Chris and local campaigner Richard Holloway are continuing to get graffiti cleared up across the ward.

Chris says "It's shocking just how much graffiti there is and it makes the whole area look shabby." Your local Conservative team have identified and reported graffiti in Tiverton Green, on Willesden Lane and in many other streets in Brondesbury Park. Richard said, "We are working with the council to get it removed and we will continue to put pressure on Brent Council to get the areas cleaned up quickly."

Chris attends Q&A with politics students in Queen's Park

Chris Philp visited a politics class at Queen's Park Community School to answer questions about the Conservative Party and his campaign to be Hampstead & Kilburn's next MP.

Chris said "It's great to see so much enthusiasm for politics from our neighbourhood's young people. I was asked some tough questions which represented the full political spectrum and show how dedicated to their studies the students are. "

Fight to keep the Royal Free's stroke unit continues

Is the Royal Free facing death by a Thousand Cuts?

The idiom "Death by a thousand cuts" has a striking definition: lots of small bad things happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.

I am beginning to wonder if the Royal Free is in danger of suffering death by a thousand cuts. Lots of small bad things have happened recently. None are fatal in themselves, but cumulatively they are highly damaging. For example, the Royal Free did not win the contract to be one of London's major trauma centres, despite having an excellent A&E service. The Royal Free is about to lose its emergency acute stroke facilities to UCLH - increasing journey times for emergency stroke patients. This comes despite the Royal Free having the second best stroke unit in the UK (out of 216) and a rating of 96%. The Physiotherapy service was contracted out to the private sector earlier this year - again, despite the fact that it is one of the best in London. The list goes on.

So perhaps it's no surprise to hear that the new Chief Executive at the Free, David Sloman, thinks that it will be "very difficult" to survive without merging the Royal Free with the nearby Whittington. Reports suggest that a merger would result in a dramatic reduction in the number of patients treated, the closure of the Whittington's A&E department, a 7% reduction in the budget of the two hospitals and staff cuts.

One of the reasons cited for the merger is the need to create a hospital that has critical mass. Well, if services at the Royal Free hadn't been cut over the last few years it would still have critical mass - without the need for a merger.

Let's be clear: the Royal Free is a great institution and must be maintained and developed as a leading hospital. It has a history going back to 1828, when it was founded on Gray's Inn Road. The Royal Free is the largest employer in the north of the Borough, with 4,600 staff. It treats 700,000 patients each year and has 900 beds.

Standards in most areas of the hospital are very high. Dr Foster recently rated the Royal Free as the trust with the lowest mortality rate in the whole country. It has renowned specialisms in liver, kidney and bone marrow transplants, in renal care, in the treatment of HIV, in neuroscience, in infectious diseases and in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer to name just a few. Of course there are always things which can be improved, but the Royal Free is generally a good hospital.

I spoke to an 80 year old lady on Saturday in Swiss Cottage, who broke her arm about a year ago. She said: "The care I got at the Royal Free was outstanding. The food wasn't great, but treatment was fantastic and it is wonderful to have a hospital like this so close by."

We have spent a lot of money on the NHS. The overall budget has gone up from about £35 billion to £110 billion over the last ten years. I support that increase and I think that the NHS budget should be protected even in these difficult economic times when savings will certainly be needed elsewhere in the public finances.

But given this huge increase in NHS spending, why are we being told that outstanding services like Physiotherapy must be contracted out to the private sector? Why are we losing the country's second highest rated acute stroke service? Why are we being told that we must have hospital mergers and job losses?

The Government may have been big spenders, but they have not been wise spenders. Targets, central micro-management, excess administration and bureaucracy have meant much of the spending increases have been wasted.

With this level of NHS spending, we have paid for a service that should be both excellent and local. Rather than central Government dictating changes to services, patient choice should be at the heart of it. This is not currently happening.

So I was pleased to read in the Health Service Journal last week that David Cameron "has promised a moratorium on [hospital service] closures and re-configurations and argued that they are often driven by short term considerations rather than long term viability." It is time to stop cutting and re-organising, and to start thinking about the long-term.

The Royal Free is our local hospital. Generally, it is a good hospital. We must fight to make sure that it isn't a victim of the Government's centralising and wasteful schemes. We must fight to make sure the Royal Free never suffers death by a thousand cuts.

Jubilee fight taken to Boris

Chris Philp and Hampstead & Kilburn Conservatives have leapt into action over the chaos on London's transport network. Chris has spoken directly to senior mayoral advisors. Conservative GLA member Brian Coleman, has tabled the issue at Mayor's Questions. residents are looking to face even greater problems with transport to and from our area.

The Jubilee Line works- with resulting weekend closures- look set to continue well into the new year. Disturbingly, the Overground is going to be subjected to even worse disruption as this service will be suspended completely between April and June 2010!Overground Sunday closures will continue until 2011. The only replacement service offered is a bus that will be running every 20 minutes.

Conservative campaigners are campaigning for a new shuttle service between the Jubilee and Northern line stops to allow easier access to a running tube. Residents deserve the transport we pay for through our taxes and some of the highest fares in the world.

Our community should not be marooned for TfL's convenience.

Chris signs up to Airplot

Chris Philp registered his opposition to the third runway at Heathrow by buying a plot of land where the runaway is to be built.

Chris and the Conservatives fight for Primary School Places

Chris Philp and Conservative Cllr Andrew Mennear are continuing efforts to find a long-term solution for additional primary school places in the wider Belsize area. "Talks are continuing with local primary schools to see which may be willing to accept additional ‘bulge' classes as of September 2010," explained Andrew. "However, the most recent pupil number projections for London show that we need two new primary schools in the North of Camden - really one each side of Finchley Road. So, we're working very hard to identify sites for these schools, which could yet also include expansions of existing primaries.

"Obviously there's a cost aspect to all this - it will cost several million pounds to be able to build these schools - and I'm doing my best to persuade the Lib Dem in charge of Camden's purse-strings to recognise that this is a clear public priority."

Chris Philp says, "the shortage of school places is an important issue and we're determined to keep up the hard work until our neighbourhood's youngsters have access to the facilities they need."

Chris meets local residents in Queen's Park

Chris met with Queen's Park residents and talked with them about their concerns.

More action needed on crime in Kilburn

Fighting crime in our neighbourhood is a top priority for local Conservatives. That's why Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP came to Kilburn earlier this month to meet with local Police and residents.

Chris Grayling MP said, "Fighting crime in this neighbourhood is a top priority. I'd like to congratulate Chris Philp for successfully fighting to keep the local Police stations open - this is an important victory." He added, "I now want to see Police paperwork cut so that we get more Police on the streets. It's crazy that only about 10% of the Borough's Police Force are on the streets at a given point time. They should be catching criminals, not catching up with paperwork. He added, "I would also like to see the Police have powers to give trouble makers immediate community service orders for minor offences."

Tesco: your local inconvenience store

Congestion caused by Tesco lorries has become a major issue for many residents; rarely does a day pass without West End Lane, England's Lane and Heath Street being brought to a standstill by lorries parked irresponsibly as they deliver goods. This reckless parking is not only an inconvenience but a danger to motorists and pedestrians. Last month a woman was hit and injured by a motorbike on West End Lane because a Tesco lorry was obstructing the rider's view.

Unfortunately Tesco don't seem to care about the extensive problems their lorries cause. They have not attempted to manage their deliveries to minimise disruption and the £40 parking fines they receive are accepted as a minor running cost.

Tesco needs to rethink its delivery practices so that deliveries are not made during rush hour, dangerous parking is avoided and alternative entrances to the store are used when possible. To encourage this rethink Camden Council should introduce stricter parking rules for repeat offenders and HGV lorries; a £1,000 fine would be a much more effective deterrent than the current £40.

If you would like to lend your support to the campaign to get Tesco to change its ways or if you know of any other corporate parking offenders then please get in touch.

London’s Transport going down the tubes

Lao Tzu, the father of Toaism, may not be someone who comes immediately to mind when we think about getting around London. But as a daily user of our City's public transport network, I am often forcibly reminded of one of his lessons: "A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."

Even armed with Lao Tzu's calming words, nothing is more frustrating than being unable to get from A to B. Which brings me to the endless weekend closures of the Jubilee line, and the fact that the same will happen to the Northern Line next year.

The Jubilee line has been closed at weekends for months now, for signalling upgrades. On some weekends the over-ground lines and parts of the Metropolitan line have been closed too. The result is that people simply can't get around, and many have had to give up their weekend plans. Local businesses in areas like West End Lane have suffered a significant decline in weekend trade too - the last thing they need at a time of economic difficulty. To top it all, we now hear that the Jubilee line weekend closures will continue until Christmas. In the 21st century, this just isn't good enough.
But let's not kid ourselves: the upgrade work to the signalling is needed. I have looked at the underground's signalling equipment firsthand. I visited the Northern Line's Golders Green depot recently, and every day when I've travelled on the tube since then, I am amazed that it works at all.

The whole signalling system at Golders Green is run by a 1970s punch-card computer. As trains move along, a drum with the punch cards rotates. The signals are actually operated by a lever system dating from the 1920s. These were designed to be pulled by hand, but have now been hooked up to the 1970s computer system via a series of pistons. If you can imagine a signalling system designed by Wallace & Gromit, it would look something like this.

So it's clear that the upgrade work is needed. But how can we avoid the disruption? Some people have proposed a total seven-day a week shutdown for six solid weeks to get the work done. This idea is well-intentioned, but sadly misguided. It would leave thousands of people simply unable to get to work. Alternative transport routes just don't have the capacity to accommodate all the Jubilee line's passengers on a working day. Some years ago, the Northern line in our area was shut completely for some weeks due to an accident. Total chaos ensued. A complete line closure for several weeks is not the answer.
To find solutions, we must start by asking why this chaos has happened in the first place. The work is being carried out by private operator Tubelines. They have consistently failed to meet their deadlines, and have now asked to have until after Christmas to complete their work. They are responsible for a grotesque failure.

Tubelines are operating under the Private Finance Initiative. Personally, I question whether PFI really works. Gordon Brown (as Chancellor) forced the PFI scheme through against opposition at City Hall. I am deeply sceptical that PFI works for this kind of undertaking. The Tube is a natural monopoly, so there is no benefit from competition. Using a PFI contractor simply increases the cost to the public through their profit margin (£73 million last year, in Tubelines' case) and their higher cost of borrowing. Another upgrade project was quoted at £7.2 billion by Tubelines. TfL estimate that the cost should be £4.1 billion.
Any idea that an operator like Tubelines does a better job is blown away by the current fiasco. I can't help but think the whole thing was conceived as a con to keep the cost off the public balance sheet. Local transport users are now paying a price through increased inconvenience. Our children will be paying the financial price for many years to come through higher fares and taxes to pay off the PFI bills.
What can we do? Firstly, I now believe that Tubelines should be massively fined for the disruption that they have caused. This will at least encourage them to sharpen up their act when it comes to the Northern Line upgrade next year. When the contract comes up for renewal, we should also look seriously at ending the PFI arrangement.

Secondly, it seems unnecessary that the almost the whole Jubilee line is closed all weekend - this coming weekend, Stanmore to Waterloo will be shut. Surely a smaller part can be closed while work is done just on that part.

Finally, closures on other parts of the transport network - such as the overground lines - should be timed so that they do not coincide with tube shut-downs. This is a simple failure of co-ordination, and turns an inconvenience into nightmare.

What Lao Tzu would make of all this nobody knows. But next time you are stuck somewhere on a journey, call to mind his words. They certainly help me calm down.

Chris takes part in hustings at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel

Chris took part in the second hustings at the Rosslyn Hill Unitary Chapel and answered questions from the audience. Click the video below to watch Chris introduce himself and explain why he is standing to be Hampstead and Kilburn's next MP.

Mitzvah Day 2009

Chris and others donated their time to good causes across Hampstead and Kilburn. Chris helped out on a food drive in Swiss Cottage and helped prepare disused land for a peace garden in Hampstead.

Haverstock Hill Street Stall

Chris and local activists run a street stall on Haverstock hill.

Tesco: your local inconvenience store

Congestion caused by Tesco lorries has become a major issue for many residents; rarely does a day pass without West End Lane, England's Lane and Heath Street being brought to a standstill by lorries parked irresponsibly as they deliver goods. This reckless parking is not only an inconvenience but a danger to motorists and pedestrians. Last month a woman was hit and injured by a motorbike on West End Lane because a Tesco lorry was obstructing the rider's view.

Unfortunately Tesco don't seem to care about the extensive problems their lorries cause. They have not attempted to manage their deliveries to minimise disruption and the £40 parking fines they receive are accepted as a minor running cost.

Tesco needs to rethink its delivery practices so that deliveries are not made during rush hour, dangerous parking is avoided and alternative entrances to the store are used when possible. To encourage this rethink Camden Council should introduce stricter parking rules for repeat offenders and HGV lorries; a £1,000 fine would be a much more effective deterrent than the current £40.

If you would like to lend your support to the campaign to get Tesco to change its ways or if you know of any other corporate parking offenders then please get in touch.

Fighting for Jubilee and Northern Line service

Ongoing weekend closures on the Jubilee line combined with some weekend closures on the over-ground lines have left residents in some parts of our neighbourhood stranded.

Chris Philp, the Conservative candidate to be our next MP, has called for private train & track operator Tubelines to be fined for the inconvenience they have caused.

Chris said, "They make nearly £100 million a year in profit, and they should be made to pay for the disruption they have caused to people's lives." He added, "In the future, we need to make sure that the overland and tube lines do not close at the same time."

Early next year work will start on repairing Northern Line signalling systems. It is vital to make sure that this work is carried out competently. Chris is meeting regularly with TfL to make sure residents' concerns are heard.

Remembrance Day reminder of the debt we owe our country's heroes

Reading the story of Korean War veteran Keith Saxton brought tears to my eyes. Keith Saxton was 76 years old when he died of a heart attack at University College Hospital seven weeks ago. He had spent the last months of his life unable to get in or out of his house because Islington Council did not get around to fitting a ramp over his doorstep. After an operation which resulted in the amputation of his leg, Mr Saxton spent six months battling to get the ramp installed. He died before it was done.

This is the story of one man who fought for his country in its hour of need, but was let down when his own hour of need arrived. These stories are too common.

As Remembrance Day approaches, it is right that we call to mind the veterans and currently serving men and women who have risked their life for their country over the years - from those who served in the world wars to those serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whatever anyone may say about the rights or wrongs of the more recent conflicts, what is beyond doubt is the courage and dedication of the UK's servicemen and servicewomen.

As a nation, we owe them a debt of gratitude. This is enshrined in the "Military Covenant." The Military Covenant is an implicit agreement between the nation and the services. It says that in recognition of the risks taken and the sacrifices made by military personnel on our behalf, we will ensure that they are properly equipped, properly looked after during and after their service and that their families are properly supported.

The Chairman of the British Legion, Peter Cleminson, put it like this recently: "Ultimately, it is the politicians who are in the unique position of sending our forces into war. They therefore have a moral lifelong duty of care to protect and support them and their families." I think he's right.

Many believe that the Military Covenant has been broken in recent years. The equipment that we have provided our troops has not been close to adequate. For example, the shortage of helicopters has certainly resulted in avoidable deaths in Afghanistan. More helicopters are out of service than are actually available for use on operations. This has meant troops travelling by road through dangerous areas have been exposed to roadside bombs. Bureaucratic waste and ineptitude have been rife in defence procurement for too long. Lengthy delays and huge overspends are the order of the day. Our soldiers suffer as a result.

The care given to returning service personnel - both physical and psychological - needs to be improved. 255 servicemen died in the Falklands war 27 years ago. Yet a further 265 committed suicide subsequently - a far higher number than would have ordinarily been expected. Proper care could have prevented the number being so high.

And we must take particular care of former service people when they grow old. As a society we need to take better care of our elder members in general - but especially so if they have served on active duty in the past.

I would like to see more explicit recognition for people who have laid their life on the line. I would like to see former service personnel who have seen active service given priority for public housing, via extra housing points. I would like to see military pensions raised in line with earnings, so that they keep pace with everything else. I would like to see better housing for military housing - much of it falls below the standards which we consider acceptable in Camden's public housing; why should serving military families be forced to accept less than everyone else?

It is almost exactly 70 years since Neville Chamberlain announced Britain's entry into the Second World War. It's 95 years since the guns of August announced the start of the first. Yet conflict is still with us today. We must be prepared and willing to fight when we need to, but do everything possible to seek peaceful solutions first if they exist.

The haunting words of the fourth verse of Laurence Binyon's famous poem remind us why:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

As I attend Camden's Civic Remembrance Service this coming Sunday at St Pancras Church, I will remember these words. And I will remember Keith Saxton's tragic story. We owe it to all who have fought in the past and who fight today to make sure that it isn't repeated.

Chris and the Conservative team fight to freeze Brent council tax

Chris Philp and the Conservative candidates for Brent Council are continuing to fight to make sure the freeze in Council tax promised is delivered by Brent Council.

Conservative Candidate Richard Grossman said, "Council Tax in Brent has risen by 149% in the last decade, the eighth-highest rise in the country. It's too high and we have pledged to freeze it to help families across Brent. It's the poor who are least able to afford these high rises."

Spedan Close gets long-awaited makeover

Residents of Spedan Close in Hampstead are getting an overdue upgrade to their homes. Camden is to start a programme this Autumn of renewing the roof gardens and carrying out repairs to windows, doors and the glazed-roof areas.

The estate, built in the 1970s, had long been neglected by the previous Labour Council, and now needs substantial repairs.

Local Conservative Councillor Martin Davies, who has been working closely with local residents and Council officers to deliver this essential work commented: "Many residents quite rightly feel very let down by the Council over the years. This work will bring their homes up to the level that we all expect in the 21st Century."

Chris Philp added "It's vital that council housing across the constituency is improved. The Conservative team and I will continue our hard work to make sure the Council maintains its housing"

Kilburn Dragons' Den Final

The next generation of local entrepreneurs has been identified and nurtured through a new programme: the Kilburn Dragon's Den.

The programme was set up by Chris Philp, a local resident and the Conservative candidate to be our next MP. Chris recruited a team of mentors and over a period of weeks worked with 16-18 year olds from less privileged backgrounds. The teams, who came mostly from Kilburn and Harlesden, developed their business plans, and received coaching from professional actors on presentation skills in the weeks leading up to the final presentation.

The final was held at the Tricycle Theatre on Kilburn High Road, where the teams pitched to a panel of "Dragons". The winning team was "Student Corner" (pictured), who received £1,000 to set up a company recruiting students for holiday and Saturday jobs with local businesses. Chris Philp said, "It is so important to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and give them confidence - especially if they come from less privileged backgrounds. I set up my first business when I was 23 and started off driving the delivery van, so I know how tough it can be." Chris added "I was really impressed by the teams. They had some great ideas - and I've definitely met some of the entrepreneurs of the future."

Anger over over-development

Residents of Hollycroft, Rosecroft and Ferncroft Avenues have been ignored after they objected to the demolition, excavation and re-building of 28 Hollycroft Avenue. Hollycroft Avenue is in a conservation area, but planners ignored major concerns and granted permission to alter a lovely, large Edwardian house and install a large cement basement.

Local Conservative Councillor Martin Davies says, "I am appalled that the concerns of so many residents seem to have been ignored by planners."

Chris Philp, who successfully protected the views from Parliament Hill, commented, "Our neighbourhood is incredibly special and we need to ensure we manage development so that it stays that way."

Kilburn Dragons' Den

In 2009 Chris Philp set up the ‘Kilburn Dragons' Den. The programme aims to help local young people prepare for work and inspire them about business and entrepreneurship. In some areas of Hampstead & Kilburn over 30% of 16-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training and often they are not receiving the help and support they need. The Kilburn Dragons' Den was set up to help our neighbourhood's young people develop skills and an understanding of business, which can help them as they start to consider employment and their futures.

Working with experienced mentors from a variety of business backgrounds the young participants, aged 16 to 18, developed business ideas that could be started for under £1,000. They developed their business plans from scratch and produced some fantastic ideas. While expanding their plans the teams explored the world of business, developed valuable skills and gained a new enthusiasm for entrepreneurship.

On 15th October the final was held at the Tricycle Theatre where the teams worked with professional actors to improve their confidence and put the finishing touches to their pitch before they presented to the dragons. The competition was fierce, and eventually ‘Student Corner', a proposed recruitment company specialising in finding sixth form students part-time and holiday work, were declared the winners.

Chris Philp is thrilled with the outcome of the competition and feels it has been a huge success; "I've met some of the next generation of entrepreneurs. We must do everything we can to encourage and help them achieve their goals. Because by achieving their goals they help not just themselves, but our local society and our nation as a whole. "
As well as the Dragons' Den competition, the programme has incorporated running a CV Workshop at the Kilburn Youth Centre. Here, experienced recruiters work with individuals to create and improve their CV and interview technique to help them successfully search for work. And now the programme is working with local schools to provide students with work placements locally and in the city.

If you'd like to get involved in the Kilburn Dragons' Den in the future, either by participating in an event, or lending your expertise to others, then please get in touch.

Success for Our Local Police Stations

The fight to save our local police stations was an enormous success. The campaign, lead by Chris Philp, resulted in a U-turn decision by the Metropolitan Police Authority. The Hampstead Police Station will now stay open and Kilburn Police Station will keep its 999 police service. This is a huge victory for the community as everyone's hard-work means our neighbourhood will have a continued police presence to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour.

As part of the campaign Chris collected over 3,000 local signatures against the closures, met with Mayor Boris Johnson and the Metropolitan Police and lead a televised demonstration outside Hampstead Town Station.

Chris said ‘I thank all those who have supported us so far and it just goes to show that people power can make a difference. Our campaign is increasing momentum and our next step is to make sure that the Police Stations, many of which predate 1935, are sufficiently equipped and modernised.'

Local Conservatives fight off GP closure plans

Conservative Leader David Cameron has joined with Chris Philp and local Conservatives to spearhead the campaign to save up to ten GP surgeries in Camden and Brent from closure.

The Government plans to impose Polyclinics on Camden and Brent - meaning the closure of up to ten GP surgeries here. Doctors will be forced to move to impersonal units in large hospitals, such as UCH near Kings Cross.

This will mean that elderly and vulnerable patients may no longer be able to see GPs in their immediate neighbourhood, but will have to travel an average of three times further.

David Cameron has met with local GPs (pictured) to discuss their concerns about the Government plans. After the meeting, David said, "The Polyclinic service will be remote and impersonal. Rather than having a GP who has known patients and their conditions for many years, there will be a pool of doctors who won't really know the patients they are treating. The personal link between a GP and their patients will be broken."

Conservatives will oppose the Government's forced closures of GPs. Local Conservative Councillor Martin Davies said, "We believe that healthcare providers - including GPs and hospitals - should be given the freedom to provide healthcare services to meet local needs. Patient choice, not Government diktat, should then determine which services expand and which do not."