FN Newsletter 06-04-2025

Early April 2025 round up of news, features, comment, public consultations, and local democracy reports from The Fitzrovia News

More on Oxford Street, I’m afraid. If you are sick of reading about it, I’m also sick of writing about it. But write about it I must.

I’ve only met Councillor Adam Hug once but he seems a decent enough chap. His overturning of decades of Conservative control of Westminster Council in 2022 is no mean political achievement. He’s led a promise of a “Fairer Westminster” and listened to residents and businesses to develop a programme for improvements for Oxford Street. But instead of the Labour Party giving him support, they have from high betrayed him and his colleagues on the council — and Fitzrovia residents in the process. Those who have led the charge against him have been: mayor of London Sadiq Khan, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and now Richard Olszewski, leader of Camden Council. It was against this backdrop that West End ward Labour councillor Paul Fisher quit his party and joined the Conservatives, reducing the Labour majority on Westminster Council to just two councillors. Next year’s local elections will be a tough battle.

It gets worse. On Friday, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the government will be giving new powers to Mayor Khan to overturn decisions on alcohol sales by London councils in order to enable people to drink later into the night, and prop up the hospitality industry. Among the first to welcome this attempt at economic-growth-through-alcohol-harm is Camden’s Jonathan Simpson, chair of the council’s licensing policy committee. What a shit show Keir Starmer’s party is!

The Easter holidays have started early this year and it has been a beautiful, quiet weekend in The Regent’s Park when I took a walk yesterday morning and this morning. Life is not all bad in the neighbourhood, despite what you read in this newsletter.

It’s the end of the financial year and I will be doing The Fitzrovia News accounts next week. Thank you to everyone who has made a donation and made this publication sustainable.

As always, look after your and others’ health: Covid cases are starting to rise again. Wear a face mask if you are indoors in public spaces.

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 The Fitzrovia News please email us at news@fitzrovianews.com — and you can keep up with the latest by following us on Bluesky.

— Linus Rees, editor

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News

Camden Council appoints contractor to refurbish Crabtree Fields public park

Camden Council has awarded the job to refurbish Crabtree Fields public park to Ginkgo Landscape Contractors who are due to start on site this spring.

London Assembly warned over unanswered questions on Oxford Street pedestrianisation plan

Sir Sadiq Khan’s plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street could blight local investment, cause an uptick in crime, and still leaves unanswered questions about where buses and taxis will go, City Hall was warned on Wednesday.

Camden leader says he backs Khan’s Oxford Street plans

Camden Council leader Richard Olszewski has broken his silence on the Mayor of London’s Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans and has uncritically offered his backing, despite concerns raised by residents about motor traffic being displaced into Fitzrovia.

Camden’s licensing chief welcomes plan for Mayor of London to overrule council decisions on alcohol hours

The chair of Camden’s licensing committee has endorsed plans that could allow the Mayor of London to overturn councils’ decisions to block pubs and clubs from opening later, putting the councillor further at odds with residents’ groups in the borough.

West End ward councillor quits Labour to join the Conservatives

A councillor on Westminster Council has quit the Labour Party and joined the Conservatives citing Sadiq Khan’s “vanity projects” such as pedestrianising Oxford Street.

Features

Jennifer Kavanagh’s new book is a biography of three generations of Jewish women

Thread of Life: My Russian Legacy is a deeply personal journey through Russia, Latvia, Switzerland, Egypt, and England.

Could applied science fiction shape a Fitzrovia future?

What will our neighbourhood be like in 30 years’ time? How can we help shape a community fit for the next generation of Fitzrovians? These are the questions a new initiative seeks to answer.

Simon Danczuk talks about Dolphin Square with Marc Glendening at The Wheatsheaf

The Sohemian Society’s final event at The Wheatsheaf pub takes place this month, before the famous watering hole undergoes a refurbishment along with a change of ownership.

Stephen Oram in conversation with Eva Pascoe at Housmans bookshop

Fitzrovia-based author Stephen Oram will be in conversation with Eva Pascoe at Housmans bookshop.

Statues of musical artists Don Letts and Shirley Collins by Corin Johnson, at the Fitzrovia Chapel

Sculptor Corin Johnson pays tribute to British musical artists, Shirley Collins and Don Letts, at a new exhibition at The Fitzrovia Chapel this month.

Public consultations

Licensing application: fourth floor, 35 Gresse Street

Gresse Property Ltd has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence to serve alcohol and late night refreshment at the fourth floor of Tudor House, 35 Gresse Street in Fitzrovia.

Westminster Council plans late-night entertainment zones

Late-night entertainment zones in Oxford Street, the Strand, and Victoria Street could be created under plans by Westminster Council to allow new live music and hospitality venues to operate away from residential areas.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, March 2025

Westminster Council validated planning applications in Fitzrovia West during March 2025.

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, March 2025

Camden Council registered planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, during March 2025. An appeal against a decision has also been lodged.

Local democracy reports

Council wants assurances from NHS as Royal Free maternity ward is axed

Camden Council has called for the NHS to offer assurances to residents following this week’s “difficult” decision to close a maternity ward at a hospital in the borough.

Westminster Council agrees terms for purchasing 368 homes for temporary accommodation

Plans for Westminster Council to buy 368 properties previously leased as temporary accommodation (TA) are a step closer to becoming reality.

Police use of facial recognition technology ‘deeply concerning’ says Green councillor

Camden’s sole Green councillor has hit out at the Metropolitan Police over its “disproportionate” use of facial recognition software, as data shows the technology has mostly been deployed in areas with higher numbers of Black residents.

Printed newspapers

Our March printed news-sheet is out and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street. The next issue is due out in early June. See the newspaper archive for back issues of The 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 Camden and Westminster printed editions.

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