FN Newsletter 06-12-2024

Early December 2024 round up of news, features and comment

Dec 06, 2024

I’d like to thank all those who showed their support for The Fitzrovia News last month by making a donation. This newsletter and our website are free to read but if you are able to make a payment to help cover our costs it would be appreciated.

Please also consider making a donation to the Soup Kitchen which provides food, warm clothing, and much more for those in need.

Our main story in this issue is the shocking news of the pending closure of the the Central YMCA Club on Great Russell Street and the campaign to keep it open. Many readers have been in touch with us about this.

We have the usual round up of council reports and public consultation.

Health: Covid cases have stabilised over the past two weeks but are likely to rise again this month. Wear a face mask if your are indoors in public spaces, get vaccinated, and follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus. Hospitalisation rates for flu are climbing.

Our next email newsletter will be out around 20 December, and our final printed news-sheet of the year will be available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre from 6pm this evening.

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

Have a great weekend.

— Linus Rees, editor

News

Campaign launched to save the Central YMCA Club

View of the entrance to the Central YMCA Club on Great Russell Street.

After the shock announcement on Monday of the closure of the world’s first YMCA, located in Great Russell Street, a campaign to save the historic and much-loved club has been launched.

Public toilets at Great Portland Street to remain closed

Public toilets outside Great Portland Street station, which are owned by Westminster Council, are not part of a £12.7mn improvement programme and are to remain closed with their future use remaining uncertain.

Features

Exhibition: ‘Immerse’ by Jason Shulman, at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

A major new exhibition entitled “Immerse” by British artist Jason Shulman is on show at the Rebecca Hossack art Gallery from this month.

Comment

Diary: slow news seeks old Sunday, Virgin takes place of CBS, and changes of senior executives at business group

At the end of the summer Dr Julie Grail was appointed as interim chief executive of the Fitzrovia Partnership to knock things (or heads) into shape at the business improvement district.

Public consultations

Licensing application: Atto, 88a Cleveland Street

View from the street of a shop front to a restaurant.

Xground Holdings Limited has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence at Atto, 88a Cleveland Street, in Fitzrovia.

Planning applications

Local democracy reports

BBC allowed to bar ‘unvetted’ public from Radio Theatre and Media Cafe

Map showing public access areas at Broadcasting house.

The BBC will no longer allow “unvetted” members of the public into areas of Broadcasting House, after Westminster Council approved the broadcaster’s application to modify a s106 legal agreement.

Westminster Council sends homeless families out of London due to lack of temporary accommodation

Dozens of homeless families are being sent miles outside of London as Westminster Council does not have enough temporary accommodation (TA), a new Freedom of Information response has revealed.

Housing watchdog rebukes Camden Council over ‘defensive’ complaints culture

The Housing Ombudsman has criticised Camden Council’s conduct as a landlord after finding evidence of a “defensive” approach to handling residents’ complaints.

Camden Council urged to divest pension fund from arms, illegal occupation, and fossil fuels

Camden Council has faced fresh calls to pull its pension investments from companies profiting from the arms trade, illegal occupations, and fossil fuels.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be out on Friday 6 December and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street. 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 printed Camden and Westminster printed editions.