FN Newsletter 05-11-2024

Early November 2024 round up of news, features and comment

We were saddened to hear of the death of Amodio Falato, a long-time resident of Holcroft Court.

Enjoy the greenery and birds singing in Crabtree Fields. Because from January Camden Council is due to send in contractors to demolish the wooden pergola, rip out the climbing plants, and fell a number of trees to keep future maintenance costs to a bare minimum. But there will be a new children’s playground. And it’s costing circa £270k.

The Seven Dials Trust, an urban conservation charity in Covent Garden, is seeking a new co-ordinator on a freelance contract for an initial fixed term of 12 months, averaging 16 hours per week. Full details here.

Westminster Council has halted work on Oxford Street but continues to press ahead with changes to Mortimer Street and the road is now open again eastbound between Great Portland Street and Great Titchfield Street. In March both Mortimer Street and Wigmore Street will change from one-way to two-way traffic. Part of Great Titchfield Street between Mortimer Street and Little Portland Street will also remain closed until then. Westminster Council’s Labour councillors, it seems, are not afraid to openly criticise the Mayor of London, unlike their rather subservient Camden Council counterparts who have had nothing to say on Sadiq Khan’s plans to take control of Oxford Street and many of its surrounding streets. Or perhaps they are just thankful that it is not their multi-million pound project that has been snatched from them. A far bigger problem for Camden is the white elephant that is HS2, the Euston Station wasteland, and the Government’s budget announcement. Westminster Councillors will be thankful the multi-billion-pound weeping sore is not on their manor.

From April next year there will be a demilitarised zone along the Gower Peninsula between the Fitzrovia Partnership BID and Central District Alliance BID.

Health: Covid cases have fallen slightly over the past two weeks — but hospitalisation rates are still much higher than rates for flu — and are likely to rise again during December. Wear a face mask if your are indoors in public spaces, get vaccinated, and follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus.

As usual there are lots of planning and licensing applications to pore over.

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

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News

Crabtree Fields renovation work to start in early 2025

Work is due to start next year on a renovation of Crabtree Fields public park which will involve installing new play equipment, restoring hedges, felling several trees, cutting back greenery, and replacing the wooden pergola which has been a central feature of the open space since it was created forty years ago.

Part of Great Titchfield Street to remain closed until late March 2025

Great Titchfield Street between Mortimer Street and Little Portland Street is closed to all motor and cycle traffic until late March 2025 due to carriageway works being done of behalf of Westminster Council.

Charlotte Street open-air eating and drinking areas made permanent

Camden Council has made permanent its outdoor eating and drinking areas on Charlotte Street along with a number of other changes, in a decision taken in October.

Central District BID seeks expanded area in 2025 ballot

The Central District Alliance Business Improvement District (BID) is to hold a ballot next year on plans to renew its five-year term, with an expanded area that would take its new boundary up to Gower Street and Euston Road.

Features

Exhibition: nurses and their clothing at the former Middlesex Hospital Chapel

A new exhibition opens this month set in the former Middlesex Hospital Chapel showing the vital role nurses play in society, and illustrating their uniforms as a powerful symbol of authority, care, and professionalism.

Theatre: Why A Black Woman Will Never Be Prime Minister

Writer and performer Zakiyyah Deen’s debut play scrutinizes how intersectionality and British politics contribute to the lived experiences of Black women’s maternal journeys.

Diary: new chef, ‘boring’ galleries, perfect smiles, a podcast, and non-contact boxing for Parkinson’s

A selection of happenings in the neighbourhood during October.

Comment

Oxford Street: good planning should deliver local and national benefits

The continuing penchant for our administrations to make plans and only then consult seems to be continuing with the “leaked” map of the proposed Oxford Street Mayoral Development Area.

Public consultations

Licensing application: China Ark, 52 Fitzroy Street

Asian Food WT Limited has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence at China Ark, 52 Fitzroy Street, on the corner with Warren Street, Fitzrovia.

Review of premises licence: Sican, 26-28 Whitfield Street

An application has been made under the Licensing Act 2003 asking Camden Council to review the premises licence of Sican at 26-28 Whitfield Street.

Licensing application: Watchhouse, 56 Wells Street

Chapeau Bermondsey Limited has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence for 56 Wells Street in Fitzrovia West.

Licensing application: Spearmint Rhino, 161 Tottenham Court Road

Spearmint Rhino Companies (Europe) Ltd has made an application to Camden Council to renew its sexual entertainment venue licence for premises at 161 Tottenham Court Road.

Licensing application: 23-25 Eastcastle Street

Sisters Grimm Limited has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence for the basement and ground floor at 23-25 Eastcastle Street in Fitzrovia West.

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, October 2024

Camden Council registered planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, during October 2024. There is also an appeal against an enforcement notice.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, October 2024

Westminster Council validated planning applications during October 2024 in Fitzrovia West.

Local democracy reports

Street homeless in London rises 18 percent in a year

Rough sleeping in London has reached a record high in the first few months of the Labour government, it was revealed on Thursday.

Business group lobbies Mayor to include Soho in proposed Oxford Street development area

A group representing more than 150 businesses has called for Soho to be included in Sadiq Khan’s proposed Oxford Street development area, in a move branded “totally outrageous” by a Westminster Councillor.

Children in London with special educational needs and disabilities are being failed, finds new report

Children in London with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) are being failed by a lack of funding for schools, leading to a shortage of specialist support and a widening gap in outcomes between pupils, a new report has warned.

Westminster Council is growing its stock of property to bring down temporary accommodation costs

Westminster City Council has said it can be spending more than £200-a-night housing a homeless family in “high-cost” hotel accommodation as it strives to end the practice by next April.

Camden leader Olszewski hails ‘new future’ after chancellor commits to bringing HS2 to Euston

Council leader Richard Olszewski has declared that Camden is due to embark on a “new chapter” as the government pledges that HS2 will reach Euston station.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be out in December and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street. 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. Local weeklies the Camden New Journal and the Westminster Extra are also available outside the Community Centre and they also have an archive where you can view the full printed Camden and Westminster printed editions.