FN Newsletter 07-07-2024

Early July 2024 round up of news, features and comment

Rachel Blake took the Cities of London and Westminster parliamentary seat for the Labour Party in Thursday’s general election. Tim Barnes (Conservative) was in second place, fewer than 3,000 votes behind.

Keir Starmer won his seat in Holborn and St Pancras but his majority was significantly cut.

West End ward councillor Jessica Toale won the Bournmouth West seat for Labour and will resign her seat on Westminster Council. Residents in Fitzrovia West will be able to vote in a by-election for her replacement. By-elections will also be held in Camden and a new leader of the council will be decided by the Labour group after Georgia Gould won the seat of Queen’s Park and Maida Vale.

Covid cases have risen past the positivity rate of January 2024. Please follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus. The UK Health Security Agency is also concerned about measles outbreaks, and a rise in whooping cough cases.

The Fitzrovia News will be taking it easy over the summer with our next email newsletter due out at the beginning of August.

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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The latest on our website

Rachel Blake takes Two Cities seat in historic win for Labour

Labour’s Rachel Blake has won the seat of the Cities of London and Westminster by a majority of 2,708 votes, with the constituency turning red for the first time in its history.

Starmer wins in Holborn and St Pancras with reduced majority

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has kept his seat in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency but with a significant cut to his majority.

Fitzrovia West Forum meeting hears quest for greening locations

New areas to plant trees and improve greenery are being explored by the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum, residents and business people were told at the group’s annual general meeting.

Camden publishes ‘design options’ for Crabtree Fields public park

Camden Council has published “design options” for Crabtree Fields ahead of further and continuing community engagement on a redesign of the public open space.

Anti-slavery campaigner remembered at site of former burial ground

The anti-slavery campaigner Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797) has been honoured with a permanent memorial at the site of the former burial ground on Tottenham Court Road, near a place where his remains might still lie.

Camden seeks review of London Lorry Control Scheme in freight and servicing action plan

Camden Council is seeking a review of the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS) to allow more heavy lorries to move through central London overnight and in the early morning in order to take pressure off the road system in the borough.

Covid cases rise past January peak across UK

A rise in the number of people in the UK testing positive for Covid has led to a number of hospitals reintroducing mask wearing and health professionals urging the public to be vigilant.

Public consultations

Licensing application: Mira, 110 Whitfield Street

Mira Lebanese Restaurant Ltd has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence for the ground floor and basement of 110 Whitfield Street in Fitzrovia.

Licensing application: Efes, 56 Maple Street

Efes Kebab House Limited has applied to Camden Council to vary the premises licence at the ground floor and basement of 56 Maple Street, on the corner with Cleveland Street in Fitzrovia.

Licensing application: The Italians Wine Bar, 2 Charlotte Street

The Italians Wine Food Ltd has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence for the ground and first floor plus outside areas at 2 Charlotte Street, on the corner with Percy Street in Fitzrovia.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, June 2024

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

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, June 2024

Camden Council registered planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, during June 2024.

Government consults on alcohol in licensed pavement areas

The Government has identified new options that would enable premises to more easily sell alcohol for consumption in a licensed pavement area, whilst ensuring that licensing authorities and local residents continue to have a say about what happens in their area.

Local democracy reports

Number of people sleeping on London’s streets up 19 percent in a year

A record high number of people slept rough in London over the last year — including more than 1,200 former private renters — new data has revealed.

TfL displays thousands of fossil fuel adverts while Mayor pledges a zero carbon city

More than 200 advertising campaigns for major oil and gas companies have been displayed across London’s public transport network since Sadiq Khan set out his plan to make the capital a “zero carbon city”.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be out in September 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.