When I was passing the vacant launderette site on Cleveland Street last week, I caught sight of a little handwritten note taped to the wall (pictured above). Whoever wrote it asks: where are the services for local residents? Lost our launderette. Sad days. Fitzrovia has always been changing but it is indeed sad to see such a useful facility like this go. And it could be lost forever. There’s no shortage of expensive coffee shops in the neighbourhood. But shops and facilities for residents are getting priced out.
Also going is the community church at the Clubhouse on Cleveland Street. (I’ll also be writing about the history of the Clubhouse site later in the year.)
We could lose the greenery and nature habitat from Crabtree Fields. Camden is now holding a “community workshop” to hear people’s ideas on the future of this important public open space. The park needs looking after not destroying.
Covid continues to remain a major threat to health. Although hospital admissions and cases have declined recently, deaths are up, and the disease has damaging long term impacts. Please follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus.
If you want to get in touch with us to tell us what you think of our reporting, have a question, or would like to contribute to Fitzrovia News please email us at news@fitzrovianews.com
— Linus Rees, editor
The latest on our website
Community church to close after more than 40 years of Sunday services
Camden ‘discussing the final terms’ with UCLH Charity after losing in High Court over social rented homes
Launderette site on Cleveland Street could be lost to a cafe
Goodge Street held up as an example of the problem of clutter on London’s streets
Community workshop to thrash out ideas on the future of Crabtree Fields
Westminster Council launches night-time safety certificate for businesses
Public consultations
Licensing application: Officina 00, 67 Whitfield Street
Licensing application: Afuri, 22-24 Torrington Place
Afuri UK Limited has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence at 22-24 Torrington Place.
Licensing application: Noodle and Snack, 145 Cleveland Street
Licensing application: Spearmint Rhino, 161 Tottenham Court Road
Licensing application: Kef, 42-48 Great Portland Street
Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, October 2023
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, October 2023
Westminster Council validated planning applications during October 2023 in Fitzrovia West.
Camden wants residents’ views on motor vehicle parking
Westminster Council seeks views on developing an evening and night-time plan
Printed newspapers
Our November printed newspaper is out. The next edition is out in December and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, along with the weekly Camden New Journal and the Westminster Extra. See the newspaper archive for back issues of Fitzrovia News. We aim to produce a two-page, printed issue at least four times a year.