FN Newsletter 16-03-2023
Filming, rubbish, rubbish maintenance, Oxford Street, and the latest news and public consultations
Covid remains a public health emergency of international concern. The infection rate is now one in 40 people in England. Please follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus. How to get vaccinated is on Camden’s coronavirus web page and Westminster’s coronavirus web page.
Film crews are currently in and around Fitzroy Square to shoot a biopic about Amy Winehouse, which we warned our readers about in our last newsletter, and also reported here. We are aware of some disruption and altercations over parking in Warren Street earlier this week. The film crew has, of course, turned up with a huge diesel generator which is parked on double yellow lines, in the cycle lane and right next to a dropped kerb on the Grafton Way. Hardly a good look for the film industry which continues to show contempt for the planet, the neighbourhood, and now cyclist and pedestrian safety.
Believe it or not Camden Council actually pays a contractor to carry out maintenance of its green spaces in Fitzrovia. Though it doesn’t shell out very much. In July 2019 useless Camden parks department admitted that the grounds maintenance contract with its contractor idverde for cleaning the greenery at Whtifield Gardens was only £1,200 a year. A sum that is hopelessly inadequate for such a heavily used public open space which is open 24 hours a day, next to such a busy street and tube station. Yet it was content to spend an astounding £900,000 to rip out greenery and paving and replace it with less greenery and more hard surfaces. Poor old Crabtree Fields suffers similar neglect. Camden does more damage than good a lot of the time as I reported in early February. It only survives thanks to the efforts of volunteers. Now crappy Camden want to know your thoughts on its crappy parks maintenance. I keep promising to write more about this…
Westminster Council’s licensing committee will meet next week to review a report on the licensing service. The reports shows that licensing applications (including alcohol sales and late night refreshment) continue to increase year on year. Last year Camden reported a steady increase, too. So much for hospitality being in decline. There also seems to be an increase in the number of temporary event (known as TENs) applications. These are not open to public consultation. Only the police can comment on these and ask for them to be refused. Westminster Council does not list these applications currently as there is a “technical issue” with the temporary event notices register (a glitch not mentioned in the report on the licensing service). Camden lists them within its public register. I’m minded to start publishing a monthly list of these on our website or in this newsletter, if only to raise awareness of the extent of these applications. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
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 on our website
Westminster Council is tackling fly tipping in Foley Street with CCTV and AI
Westminster Council has installed CCTV cameras in Foley Street, Fitzrovia in an effort to thwart fly tippers at the dumping hot spot. Read more.
Film crews promise to minimise nuisance during Winehouse shoot
Film crews are in the northern part of Fitzrovia this week to shoot scenes for an Amy Winehouse biopic. Read more.
Warren Street cycle hangar to be moved to avoid (further) damage by drivers
A cycle hangar is to be moved from one part of Warren Street in Fitzrovia to another location on the street because it is repeatedly struck by drivers of motor vehicles, according to a Camden Council report. Read more.
Oxford Street to get facelift with new green spaces and seating
Oxford Street is set to get a £120mn makeover under new plans that are emerging from Westminster City Council, writes Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter. Read more.
History notes: origins of the name Fitzrovia
According to most sources, the name Fitzrovia was first used in the late 1930s and appeared in print for the first time in 1941. But it appears to have been used earlier — as much as 100 years’ ago. Read more.
Public consultations
Licensing application: Soho Poly Theatre, 16 Riding House Street
The University of Westminster has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence for 16 Riding House Street, in Fitzrovia West. Read more.
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, March 2023
Westminster Council has validated a number of planning applications in Fitzrovia West so far during March 2023. Read more.
There were some updates to the Fitzrovia West monthly list for February which were too late for our last newsletter. Full list here.
Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, March 2023
Camden Council registered planning applications so far during March 2023 in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East. Read more.
Licensing temporary event notice applications (TENs)
The Mandrake Hotel, 20-21 Newman Street, event until 3am on Sunday 26 March;
Simmonds, 28 Maple Street, event until 3am on 7, 8, 9, 10, 29 and 30 April, and 1 May;
Chez Mame, 22 Hanway, event until 2.30am on 17, 18, 24 and 25 March;
Elysee Restaurant, 13 Percy Street, event until 1.00am on 18, 19, 25 and 26 March; (11 and 12 March application was rejected);
Vault 139, 139-143 Whitfield Street, event until 3am on 9 April;
What do you think of Camden's Green Space Maintenance Service?
Camden Green Spaces are reviewing the Grounds Maintenance service and would like to hear your views on what's working well, where we can improve the service and how you would like green spaces to be managed in the future. Find out more.
Printed newspapers
Our latest printed newspaper, Fitzrovia News, is available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, along with the weekly Camden New Journal and the Westminster Extra. We also have a newspaper archive.