IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hogan Mews, LONDON, W2 1UP

Ordnance Survey cut mark benchmark described on the Bench Mark Database at http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm23714

St Mary's Terrace

The smaller bridge carries Harrow Road, the other bridge in the foreground is the A40 - Westway, elevated section.

Ordnance Survey cut mark benchmark described on the Bench Mark Database at http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm37916

In the period 1986/1990, Westminster Council had a very narrow Conservative majority and identified Maida Vale as one of eight boroughs where the balance of existing residents were likely to vote Labour in the 1990 local elections. Under a notorious, secret policy entitled 'Building Stable Communities' the then leader of the Council - Dame Shirley Porter - began to encourage and move local tenants, perceived to be Labour supporters, to the outskirts of London. Desirable inner London Council properties - like John Aird Court - were then let to Conservative supporters. After this blatant gerrymandering was detected by other Councils, the District Auditor conducted a detailed investigation and found that Dame Shirley had acted illegally. It was originally estimated that she was personally liable for around £42M in restitution but she had subsequently moved abroad and rearranged her finances within the family: a multi million pound inheritance from the TESCO empire. Following burgeoning legal costs, the Government decided finally to settle for £12M. To add to the injustice, when Mrs Thatcher's 'Right to buy' policy was implemented, Council tenants renting these desirable apartments found themselves in possession of a potential goldmine, with millionaires living across the street.

Pre-WWI apartments for the well-to-do of West London.

Providing pedestrian access under Harrow Road. The writing suggests you should use it to get to Little Venice, but personally I'd rather walk along the towpath. Lunchtime office workers pass maintenance men.