FN Newsletter 23-03-2025

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

It’s been a bad month for those with a disability. I wrote to my MP Sir Keir Starmer to say: “I am both shocked and saddened to hear your government’s plans to cut welfare benefits for people with disabilities,” and urged him “not to go ahead with this cruel policy”. Across the constituency boundary in the Cities of London and Westminster, Rachel Blake MP said in her email newsletter: “I just want to take a moment to thank those who have gotten in touch with me about the important issue of welfare reform, I am grateful for the time you have taken to share your perspectives with me. Over the past couple of weeks there has been media reports about the changes to the welfare system and I am very sorry about the worry and anxiety this has caused. Every week, I hear from and help constituents who are struggling to receive the support they need through the benefits system,” she wrote.

Please do write to your MP on issues that you care about. You can find out how to contact your MP here. And you can check their voting record on They Work For You.

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Local charity The Fitzrovia Chapel is seeking a part-time building manager (10.5 hours a week) and a part-time duty manager (16 hours a week). Both roles offer a competitive salary and the opportunity to be part of a small team running an outstanding Grade II* listed building. Details for both positions are available here or email madeleine@fitzroviachapel.org. Applications must be received by 18 April 2025.

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Our main local story is the dreadful fire that caught alight around 7.30am in Tottenham Street earlier this month destroying a beauty salon and causing smoke damage to homes above. One man had to be rescued and taken to hospital.

More on Oxford Street, I’m afraid. Earlier this month Sir Sadiq Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This consultation is genuinely meaningful. We’re going to wait and see what people say in response to our plans… We don’t want to inconvenience residents.” Then this past week, while attending a property convention in the south of France, he told the Financial Times: “My view, frankly speaking, is that this is a street of strategic national importance, and it shouldn’t be a handful of residents on either side basically dictating what can and can’t happen,” and that he will push through his project with or without the co-operation of Westminster Council because investors and property developers needed to see their ambitions realised.

The skyline to the north of Fitzrovia will be changing after Camden’s planning committee gave permission for the demolition and rebuild of Euston Tower, despite opposition to the project due to its hugely negative environmental impact.

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Congratulations to Camden New Journal reporter Frankie Lister-Fell who was named Reporter of the Year at the UK Regional Press awards.

As always, look after your and others’ health: Covid cases have remained relatively low for the past four months. Wear a face mask if you are indoors in public spaces. Monday 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day. More than a million people globally died from TB last year, but that number is expected to rise sharply, says the World Health Organisation.

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

Firefighters tackle blaze at mixed-use building behind Goodge Street station

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters sped to Fitzrovia on the morning of Thursday 6 March to tackle a blaze in a building in Tottenham Street near Goodge Street underground station.

Oxford Street plans threaten community improvement projects in Fitzrovia West

The Mayor of London’s Oxford Street plans threaten to undermine projects to improve the environment in Fitzrovia West, says a local group which is seeking a renewal of its status as a planning forum.

Mayor’s office published conflicting maps of Oxford Street Development Area

Incorrect maps showing the extent of the Oxford Street Mayoral Development Area north of Tottenham Court Road station have been replaced with correct versions, Sir Sadiq Khan’s office has said.

Disabled teenagers denied benefit on reaching age 16

Nearly one third of teenagers with a disability living in the London boroughs of Camden and Westminster have been denied welfare benefits when they reach 16-years-old, according to a new analysis of government data.

Features

Guided medical walks in Fitzrovia this spring and summer

A series of guided walks exploring the medical marvels of Fitzrovia, with a bit of architecture and history of the neighbourhood thrown in, are being offered this spring and summer.

Public consultations

Licensing application: Dal Fiorentino, 15 Great Titchfield Street

Dal Fiorentino Ltd has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence for the basement and ground floor at 15 Great Titchfield Street in Fitzrovia West.

Licensing application: The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place

Mitchells and Butlers Leisure Retail Limited has applied to Camden Council to vary the premises licence for The Wheatsheaf pub at 25 Rathbone Place in Fitzrovia.

Westminster Council plans late-night entertainment zones

Late-night entertainment zones in Oxford Street, the Strand, and Victoria Street could be created under plans by Westminster Council to allow new live music and hospitality venues to operate away from residential areas.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, March 2025

Westminster Council has validated a number of planning applications in Fitzrovia West so far during March 2025.

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, March 2025

Camden Council has registered more than 30 planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, so far during March 2025. An appeal against a decision has also been lodged.

Local democracy reports

Camden Council allows extended hours for ‘destination’ basement bar

Camden Council has granted permission for owners of a Georgian-inspired restaurant in Charlotte Street to serve alcohol at a “speakeasy” bar into the early morning hours on weekends and some weekdays, despite objections from local residents.

Euston Tower demolish and new build gets go ahead

Camden Council has rubber-stamped plans to remake Euston Tower as a life sciences and “innovation hub”, despite opposition to the project due to its negative environmental impact.

Camden Council sets budget with 4.99 percent tax rise

Camden Council has passed its budget for the 2025-2026 year, with council tax to rise by 4.99 percent alongside millions of pounds set aside for social care, housing and cost-of-living support.

Westminster Council votes down proposal to shrink council tax rise saying budget is ‘boldly ambitious’

Westminster Council has voted down a proposal to reduce the amount council tax will rise by, as it outlined how it intends to spend taxpayer cash over the next financial year.

Legal challenge to Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street plan voted down by Westminster Council

Tory plans to set aside £250,000 for a legal challenge against Sir Sadiq Khan’s proposed pedestrianisation of Oxford Street were voted down at a council meeting on Wednesday.

Mayor Khan spends £380k on staff for Oxford Street transformation

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has filled over half of the vacancies associated with Sir Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street transformation programme, costing taxpayers £380,000 so far, a Freedom of Information request shows.

Printed newspapers

Our March printed news-sheet is out and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street. The next issue is due out in early June. 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 also have an archive where you can view the full Camden and Westminster printed editions.

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