Support for Queen's Park council grows

The idea grew from a determination to protect the legacy of the Queen's Park Forum, which saw its funding cut by 100 per cent last year.

For many years, the volunteers on the forum have played a key role in revitalising the severely deprived neighbourhood of Queen's Park.

Angela Singhate, chair of the forum and the campaign, said: "The campaign has shown just how passionate people in Queen's Park are about their local community.

"The council will provide a level of local government that gets a wider range of people involved in the democratic process."

Campaigner Julia Harrison added: "We're a unique and committed community."

To set up a community council, at least 10 per cent of residents on the electoral roll needs to support the idea but campaigners in the Queen's Park ward have achieved double this figure with 1,500 signatures.

The petition was handed in to Westminster Council on Monday.

Councillor Colin Barrow, leader of Westminster Council, said: "We always welcome people wanting to get involved in shaping their communities to make it a better place to live and work.

"A review will now be carried out to ask the wider community in Queen's Park about the idea of a parish council.

"We will consult other bodies such as schools and voluntary organisations as well as established local forums such as residents' associations to see what their views are of the proposal that has been put forward.

"At the end of the review, we will then publish our recommendation setting out if a parish council is appropriate for this area."

* For more information, see www.campaign4queenspark.org.

COMMUNITY COUNCILS

What is a community council?

The lowest tier of local government, formed of unpaid volunteers from Queen's Park who help shape services in the area, without overlapping on the role of Westminster Council.

This includes taking up local issues, improving services and giving residents a greater voice.

It is not party-political and acts in the interests of everyone living in the area.

Who will pay?
The community council could be funded in different ways.

The campaign has already raised more than £100,000 from charitable trusts, or it may be funded by a small precept added to council tax bills.

What happens now?

Over the next year, Westminster Council will have the power to decide whether to give the go-ahead by carrying out further consultation within Queen's Park.

There is a meeting for community groups on May 18, and a public meeting for residents on June 18 hosted by campaign organisers.