FN Newsletter 04-04-2023
Fashion designer Betty Jackson, artists sought, appeal to support local news, and the latest public consultations

The Easter Weekend is nearly upon us and it is lovely to see the many callery pear trees in blossom on the streets. Some local residents call the coming double public holiday “burglary weekend” due to the number of break-ins that unfortunately often occur. If you are going away please lock your home securely and ask a neighbour to keep an eye on it.
Covid still remains a public health concern with the infection rate at over two percent of the population of the UK. Please follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus. Vaccination information is on Camden’s coronavirus web page and Westminster’s coronavirus web page.
In this issue we have a lovely feature article about fashion designer Betty Jackson who has several connections with Fitzrovia; the Fitzrovia Community Centre has announced a new art project; the Camden New Journal needs your support, and we have the usual round-up of public consultations.

I should have done more news reporting over the past two weeks but I’ve not really felt like it. Things in my in-tray include… The mural at Goodge Place has been painted over by person’s unknown; people are wondering where the Banksy mural from Clipstone Street is; BBC Two has a report by journalist Nawal Al-Maghafi who seeks answers to what happened to 23-year-old Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen who was found dead in a basement in Great Portland Street after a night out in Mayfair in 2008; a bus stop on Tottenham Court Road opposite Stephen Street (pictured above) has been temporarily closed since the start of the year due to a gantry from a construction site being erected too low to clear the height of buses; the Royal Mail customer service centre in Hanson Street is under threat of closure; Camden Council is claiming that it is taking “tough action” to rid Tottenham Court Road of 19 “poorly managed and underused” phone boxes — but the rotting kiosks are still there after the 18 March deadline has passed. It also worth looking at some of the interesting archive photos of Carburton Street in 1974 and Tottenham Street 1954 in the London Picture Archive. And apparently on Saturday morning a street in Fitzrovia was renamed...
Elsewhere, London In Bits has an interesting article about Bradley’ Spanish Bar in Hanway Street; and the Architects’ Journal has a report on why demolishing a tower block in Holborn does not make sense in a climate crisis.
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
Enjoy the long weekend.
— Linus Rees, editor
The latest on our website
Women in fashion: rediscovering Betty Jackson
One of the most enduring and sympathetic personalities in fashion’s fight-back against male dominance is Betty Jackson. In the mid-1980s she was a familiar figure on Tottenham Street. Read more.
Community centre seeks artists to create a personal portrait of the neighbourhood
The Fitzrovia Community Centre in Foley Street is seeking artists to take part in a project to create a portrait of the neighbourhood to be exhibited this summer. Read more.
Camden news publisher appeals for donations to preserve its future
New Journal Enterprises which publishes the Camden New Journal is appealing to its readers for financial donations to preserve its future during the toughest period ever faced by the newspaper industry. Read more.
Public consultations
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, March 2023
Westminster Council has validated a number of planning applications in Fitzrovia West so far during March 2023. Read more.
Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, March 2023
Camden Council registered planning applications so far during March 2023 in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East. Read more.
Licensing temporary event notice applications (TENs)
Some of the late events either applied for or approved. Not a complete list. Just some of the TENs we have noticed in Camden’s public licensing register. Westminster Council’s TEN register is currently not working. There is no opportunity for the public to comment on TENs.
Simmonds, 28 Maple Street, event until 3am on 7, 8, 9, 10, 29 and 30 April, and 1 May;
Vault 139, 139-143 Whitfield Street, event until 3am on 9 April;
Elysee Restaurant, 33 Percy Street, event until 1.30am on 8 and 9 April.
What do you think of Camden's Green Space Maintenance Service?
Camden Green Spaces are reviewing the Grounds Maintenance service and would like to hear your views on what's working well, where we can improve the service and how you would like green spaces to be managed in the future. Find out more.
Printed newspapers
Our latest printed newspaper, Fitzrovia News, is available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, along with the weekly Camden New Journal and the Westminster Extra. We also have a newspaper archive.