FN Newsletter 07-06-2025

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

Welcome to all the new subscribers who have been recommended by the Camden New Journal.

There is a lot going on in the neighbourhood during June: the Fitzrovia Arts Festival, the London Festival of Architecture in Fitzrovia, and it’s Pride Month.

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Look after your and others’ health: Covid cases have remained at relatively low levels but it still has an adverse health impact on most people who catch it, and there continues to be misconceptions about the disease. Wear a face mask if you are indoors in public spaces. Measles is also on the rise in London.

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

Labour selects West End ward candidates

The Labour Party in the City of Westminster has selected Sarah Littleton and Tim Lord along with existing councillor Patrick Lilley to fight the West End ward in next year’s council elections.

Business group seeks more hours and space for eating and drinking

A Fitzrovia business advocacy group is seeking to increase the amount of space for outdoor eating and drinking on offer across the neighbourhood, despite the problem of noise nuisance for local residents and the obstruction of footways it often creates.

Campaign groups ask Historic England to list YMCA building

A heritage charity and a London campaign group have applied to list the building formerly home to the world’s first YMCA following its closure earlier this year.

Roof extension and terraces planned for Gresse Street and Rathbone Place building

Gresse Street Limited, part of the Great Portland Estates group of companies, has applied to Westminster Council for planning permission for the extension and alteration of 1-15 Gresse Street, and 12-13 Rathbone Place.

Construction lorries to use side streets for Tottenham Court Road project

Residents living in side streets in Fitzrovia will have to endure more than two years of lorry traffic for a construction project on Tottenham Court Road.

New waste and recycling collection times for Tottenham Court Road

Camden Council has brought in new rubbish and recycling collection times for businesses and residents on Tottenham Court Road.

Camden Council seeks help with watering newly-planted street trees

Despite the recent rain, this spring has been one of drought which means Camden Council’s tree officers are now asking people to help water newly-planted street trees.

Overnight dog kennels could disturb Great Portland Street residents

An application to Westminster Council for permission to use a former stationery shop on Great Portland Street as overnight boarding kennels for dogs has raised concern.

Woolff art gallery to leave Charlotte Street and relocate

The Woolff Gallery is to leave Charlotte Street having spent nearly 18 years putting on art exhibitions, and will open new premises later this summer.

Health agency issues measles warning for London region

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning of continuing outbreaks of measles.

Features

Notes from an urban gardener: May is a gift from heaven

Admiring my garden is the surest way to my heart, better even than complimenting my outfit or a piece of my prose, writes Sue Blundell.

London Festival of Architecture in Fitzrovia 2025

Taking place throughout June, LFA in Fitzrovia is a series of events and installations revealing the thinking behind the practice of shaping the built environment.

Fitzrovia Arts Festival 2025

The Fitzrovia Arts Festival will be held from Saturday 21 to Friday 27 June.

Installation: The Forest Within, at The Fitzrovia Chapel

An immersive, meditative experience influenced by birdsong, and woodland clearings.

Public consultations

• Licensing application: London Cocktail Club, 4 Great Portland Street

• Licensing application: Charlotte Street Magazines, 66 Charlotte Street

• Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, May 2025

• Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, May 2025

• Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, June 2025

• Changes proposed for pedestrian crossings in The Regent’s Park

Local democracy reports

Olszewski affirms his support for EDI and DEI policies

Camden Council’s leader has affirmed his support for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies.

Camden headteachers raise alarm over borough’s schools sliding into deficit

Camden headteachers have warned the council they are being forced to meet pupils’ needs in “extreme ways” while being told to balance their shrinking budgets.

Westminster Council gives lifetime tenancies to all its social housing residents

Westminster City Council will be shifting to lifetime tenancies for all council tenants after its previous strategy of flexible fixed-term agreements resulted in “limited” success in freeing up homes.

Westminster Council tenant compensated for eight months without a working kitchen

A tenant forced to survive on ready-made meals for eight months because the council left them with no working kitchen will be paid nearly £6,500 in compensation.

TfL to press ahead with central London bus service changes

The 30 and 205 routes will both be restructured affecting trips between Paddington, Marble Arch and Euston, while additional journeys will be added for the 27.

Some homeless children in London spend entire childhoods in temporary accommodation

Homeless children are in some cases spending their entire childhoods in temporary accommodation (TA) across London.

Camden Council confirms new chief executive

Camden Council has approved the appointment Jon Rowney as the Town Hall’s new chief executive.

Councillors raise concerns about discharge of vulnerable patients in North London

Councillors have told a North London mental health trust to better demonstrate how it is improving amid concerns around the discharge of vulnerable people.

News from elsewhere

‘Dylan said: teach me that!’ Martin Carthy on six decades of Scarborough Fair – and his new solo album

‘I found myself looking into Dylan’s face’ … Martin Carthy performing at the King & Queen, Foley Street.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be available shortly 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 have an archive of the Camden and Westminster printed editions.

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