FN Newsletter 21-09-2024

Mid-September 2024 round up of news, features and comment

The press release sent out by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on 16 September.

“A week is a long time in politics”, said Harold Wilson. And a lot can happen in just a few days especially if you are the leader of Westminster Council. On Monday afternoon I was tipped off by a journalist who wanted to make sure I was aware of what Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was due to announce the following day. I’m glad they did, as it came out of the blue.

For the very next day on the roof of the John Lewis building on Oxford Street Sadiq Khan stood with deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and stated that he was going to take away Oxford Street from the control of Westminster Council and instead create a Mayoral Development Area to push through his vision to pedestrianise the whole street, from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road.

Adam Hug, leader of Westminster Council, was only told about this on Thursday the previous week and was quite understandably furious. Not only that, he and Labour activists in Westminster were also fighting a by-election in the very ward that Oxford Street lies in — West End. One activist told me this announcement by Khan could cost Westminster Labour party the election which was held on Thursday. And so it did. Tim Barnes won the ward seat for the Conservatives.

An alliance of residents’ groups has also written to Sadiq Khan raising concern about his pedestrianisation plans.

Health: Covid cases have fallen since the summer. However, cases will likely rise again as autumn progresses. 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.

As usual we have a round up of the local news and public consultations below.

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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Comment

Khan’s Oxford Street pedestrianisation plan is missing important details

This weeks’s surprise announcement by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of his intention to pedestrianise Oxford Street by taking control away from Westminster Council has been tall on grandstanding and short on detail. So what is he up to?

News

Oxford Street: Westminster Council leader seeks answers from Mayor of London

Westminster Council’s Labour leader has spoken publicly for the first on Sadiq Khan’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street, saying he wants questions answered “to our satisfaction” before any further developments or decisions are made.

Tim Barnes regains seat on Westminster Council after winning West End by-election

The Conservatives have taken a West End council seat from Labour, with Sadiq Khan’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street among the issues raised on the doorstep. However, only 1,284 people even bothered to vote.

Break-in at Banksy ‘Breakout’ exhibition

A scrum of media gathered on the pavement outside the Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street in Fitzrovia after news reports of a “heist” on Sunday in which a Banksy artwork was stolen then returned by the police a few days later.

Camden Council announces extra £3.6mn for health and social care services

Older residents, carers and those in need of assisted living are set to benefit from more funding for adult social care (ASC) as Camden Council announces an extra £3.6mn for its services over the next year.

Camden schools’ budget squeezed by up to £25mn from inflation

Camden Council is predicting a budget squeeze for schools of up to £25mn by 2025, a new report has revealed.

Primary schools in Westminster face financial challenge as pupil numbers fall

More than a quarter of Westminster’s primary school places are empty, as the council warns of the financial implications of falling pupil numbers.

‘Where are the cycleways?’ asks Westminster campaign group

A London cycling campaign group has slammed its local council for “delay after delay after delay” in delivering safe cycling routes.

North Middlesex and Royal Free hospital trusts to merge at end of year

North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust is set to complete its merger with Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust by the end of this year, bosses have confirmed.

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.

Licensing application: Clipstone, 5 Clipstone Street

Woodhead 17 Ltd has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises at Clipstone, 5 Clipstone Street, on the corner with Bolsover Street in Fitzrovia West.

Camden seeks views on making ‘streateries’ permanent on Charlotte Street

Camden Council has launched a public consultation on whether to make the open air eating and drinking pens on lower Charlotte Street a permanent feature along with other changes, and is also canvassing opinion on longer term plans proposed by The Fitzrovia Partnership Business Improvement District (BID).

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, September 2024

Camden Council has registered more than 50 planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, since the beginning of September 2024.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, September 2024

Westminster Council has validated a handful of planning applications so far during the month of September 2024 in Fitzrovia West.

News from elsewhere

Labour battle of wills over Oxford Street

An unprecedented alliance of neighbourhood groups launched a fightback after the Mayor of London announced the rebirth of his Oxford Street pedestrianisation legacy project.

MP: Short-term lets blight rental market

A mother has been moved more than 12 miles away from the Westminster school where she works and her daughter attends because of the housing crisis and is facing giving up her job because of the “four-hour commute”.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be out this weekend sometime in December 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.