FN Newsletter 07-05-2025

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

May 07, 2025

I hope our readers had an enjoyable and peaceful May Day weekend.

The Labour Party took a pasting over the past week as the local elections results around the country showed discontent with Keir Starmer and the direction of his government. Closer to home, the Camden New Journal has a report on the MP for Holborn and St Pancras being snubbed by Camden Disability Action who had opposed a possible move by his constituency office into the Greenwood Centre in Kentish Town due the proposed cuts to welfare benefits for people with disabilities. The CNJ followed that with a hard-hitting leader comment critical of Labour.

The New Journal also has a new email newsletter which is free to sign up to with extra reports in the paid-for edition. The newsletter promises extra coverage of Camden and Islington politics but sadly not Westminster. I read the CNJ and the Westminster Extra every week.

The public consultation on the Oxford Street regeneration has now closed but there will likely be more details revealed on the Mayor of London’s plans in late summer or autumn, which we will cover when we see them.

Last month I filed the company accounts for The Fitzrovia News. You can see them here.

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As always, look after your and others’ health: Covid cases have remained relatively static over the past couple of weeks but it still has an adverse health impact on most people who catch it. 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

News

Camden Council moves forward with later drinking hours plan

Councillor Jonathan Simpson sitting in council chamber at Camden Town Hall.

Camden Council’s controversial new licensing policy took a step further last week, as members gave the go ahead to plans making it easier for premises serving alcohol to stay open later.

Sainsbury’s ‘reviewing’ its future on Tottenham Court Road

Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd is “reviewing” the future of its presence on Tottenham Court Road, the company has said.

Residents’ groups tell London Assembly members why they are against Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans

Residents’ associations have slammed the Mayor of London’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street during a walkabout with Assembly Members.

Westminster Council announces free planning advice service for residents

Westminster Council has announced a free planning advice service to help residents and community groups to respond to planning applications, but it is only available to those seeking help with “major developments”.

Features

Ita Ekpenyon and the air raid shelter at Great Portland Street station

Night-time view of sign at Great Portland Street station.

During the bombing of London in World War 2 Great Portland Street underground station was used as an air raid shelter. In charge of the shelter was warden Ita Ekpenyon who lived at 146 Great Titchfield Street.

Public consultations

Local democracy reports

Shaftesbury Avenue cinema to become hotel and Cirque du Soleil theatre

View of the outside of the closed Odeon on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Camden Council has approved plans to rebuild a Grade II-listed theatre building into a hotel and circus stage, reigniting fears over the impact on local heritage.

Half of London’s short-term let properties rented out illegally

The Government is being urged to take action after new research has found that more than half of London’s short-term holiday let properties are being rented out unlawfully.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet is due out in early June and will be 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 Camden and Westminster printed editions.

News from elsewhere

Charity snubs Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over constituency office move

Keir Starmer has been blocked from moving his constituency office into a building run by a disabled organisation.

Paul Dimoldenberg: One hundred years of managing transport on Oxford Street

For the past 100 years, Oxford Street has grappled with the impact of the car on its economy, its shoppers and its environment. In this review, I look at the many attempts there have been since the 1920s – by Marylebone and Westminster councils, by the London County Council and the Greater London Council, and by London’s Mayors – to maintain its pre-eminence as “the nation’s high street” by managing its traffic in different ways.

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