FN Newsletter 07-09-2024

Early September 2024 round up of news, features and comment

I hope our readers had a good summer. Fitzrovia is busy again as people return from holiday, and fresher students are due to arrive later this month followed by continuing students. It’s all go.

Since our last newsletter we have published more than 20 articles so there is a lot to catch up on if you haven’t looked at out website since early August.

An outdoor exhibition showing the final plans for Crabtree Fields will be held on Saturday 14 September. I fear for the future of this precious green space. Please do attend the exhibition.

A by-election will be held in the West End ward, which includes Fitzrovia West, on Thursday 19 September. We have profiles of the four candidates standing.

Filming is again due to take place in Fitzrovia. This time it is outside 55 Whitfield Street on Friday 13 September, with a large number of crew vehicles and equipment including power generators occupying the surrounding streets in parking bays — and they could be arriving throughout the night into the early hours of the morning.

Westminster Council is struggling to design a proper cycle route through Fitzrovia and Marylebone, as the latest proposal put out for public consultation reveals.

Planning officers are recommending approval — despite numerous objections — for a roof extension to 17-19 Foley Street which will be heard at a Westminster planning sub-committee on 17 September.

Local resident Jim Monahan will be squaring up to Camden Council in the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL on Tuesday 10 September. Supporters, including The Fitzrovia News, will be gathering on the pavement outside at 9.30am, before a brief hearing at 10.30am to find out if Monahan can proceed to a full judicial review of Camden’s decision to grant planning permission for a tower block in Bloomsbury.

Residents in Bloomsbury are furious with Camden for plans that could turn Camden Town Hall in Judd Street into a late night club.

Covid cases have fallen since the peak in the summer which saw many Olympic athletes catching the virus. However, cases will likely rise again as people return from holiday and as schools and universities welcome back pupils and students. Wear a face mask if your are indoors in public spaces and follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus. The UK Health Security Agency is also concerned about measles, Mpox, and meningitis.

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

---

The latest news

Final design plans for Crabtree Fields to be shown

People enjoy the shade in Crabtree Fields in September 2023. Photo: Fitzrovia News.

Camden Council and landscape architects DSDHA are to unveil the final plans for a makeover of Crabtree Fields at an open air exhibition at the park this month.

Filming for TV series to take place in Whitfield Street

Filming is due to take place in Fitzrovia outside 55 Whitfield Street on Friday 13 September, with a large number of crew vehicles and equipment occupying the surrounding streets in parking bays, and a road closure will be in place.

Westminster Council seeks help for new cycleway through Fitzrovia and Marylebone

Westminster Council is struggling to design a proper cycle route through Fitzrovia and Marylebone, as the latest proposal put out for public consultation reveals.

DfT and TfL had summer talks about Crossrail 2 future

Negotiations are ongoing to secure the future of a multi-billion pound railway running north-south through London, the Government has confirmed.

Camden Council tenants and leaseholders urged to take a role in housing services

An event for Camden Council tenants and leaseholders will go ahead this month to help residents to take an active role in their communities and housing services.

Camden Council to investigate a ‘basic income’ for young care leavers

Camden Council is considering giving care-experienced young people in the borough a “basic income” and is to commission an external provider to help it design a pilot project.

Business group apologises for out-of-hours noise from ‘Rabbit Warren’ removal

The Fitzrovia Partnership, which runs two business improvement districts in the neighbourhood, has apologised to residents in Warren Street after its contractors set to work demolishing a large, leporine marketing gimmick before 8am — in breach of noise pollution regulations.

E-scooter hire firm Voi in talks with London boroughs over plan to provide rental e-bikes

Thousands more rental e-bikes are coming to London’s streets as a new company attempts to compete for riders — and with a promise not to clutter the pavements.

TfL to consult on pedicabs regulation in early 2025

Transport for London (TfL) has said it hopes to consult on new pedicab regulations by early 2025, as calls grow for action to tackle rogue operators in central London.

Features

Night Stars stare down stalkers and hand out flip-flops and lollipops to get people safely home

In a stuffy central London church hall, a group of four pink-vested volunteers stand silently. It’s 11pm on a Friday night and outside waiting for them are crowds of rowdy and intoxicated revellers spilling onto Soho’s narrow streets.

The four candidates for the West End ward by-election

Four candidates will contest a single seat for Westminster City Council’s West End ward in a by-election to be held on Thursday 19 September 2024.

‘Making Her Mark’ – an exhibition by four women artists at the Fitzrovia Gallery

“Making Her Mark: Stories through print, paint and drawing”, an exhibition by four women artists, will be displayed in the Fitzrovia Gallery this autumn.

Comment

Diary: the last days of summer

Short-term letting is a damn nuisance for many residents in Fitzrovia. But those taking advantage of a brief stay in the neighbourhood’s nasty lets might also be getting more than they bargained for.

Slow news, political lobbying, and MPs’ register of financial interests

Fitzrovia-based “slow news” publisher Tortoise Media has been mulling over a lengthy article by investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan on political lobbying and the influence of think tank Labour Together along with its donations to new MPs.

Public consultations

Licensing application: Kasa Cafe, 150 New Cavendish Street

Anemos Limited has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence for Kasa Cafe London at 150 New Cavendish Street in Fitzrovia West.

Westminster Council seeks residents’ views of its draft planning enforcement plan

Westminster Council has published its new draft planning enforcement document and is seeking the views of local residents through an online survey.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, August 2024

Westminster Council validated 28 planning applications during August 2024 in Fitzrovia West, including: Orwell House, 16-18 Berners Street; Holcroft Court, Carburton Street; and 94 Great Portland Street.

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, August 2024

Camden Council registered 52 planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, during August 2024, including: 88A Cleveland Street; 335 Euston Road (backs on to 54 Warren Street); 18 Store Street, 14 Warren Street, One Bedford Avenue, 5-7 Goodge Street, 18 Goodge Street, 43 Goodge Street, 22 Charlotte Street, 39 Charlotte Street, and 213-215 Tottenham Court Road; 1-19 Torrington Place (two applications); and 67 Whitfield Street.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be out thsi weekend sometime 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.