Neighbourhood news, features, and comment
By Pat Tulloch It is the week before lockdown, I self-isolate as I have an underlying health condition that makes me vulnerable to Covid-19. At the Fitzrovia Centre we are in the business of creating social cohesion through bringing people together, it becomes clear we will be unable to maintain safety and forced to close. …
Continue reading "When this is all over we will have learned the real meaning of community"
The Fitzrovia Chapel, in Pearson Square, is hosting a virtual exhibition entitled “Portraits for NHS Heroes” showcasing portraits of NHS staff, created during the current crisis. There is some very accomplished work on display, elegantly complemented by the Chapel’s extravagant interior. The Net Gallery in partnership with Tom Croft have created the virtual exhibition at …
Continue reading "Portraits for NHS Heroes, an online exhibition at The Fitzrovia Chapel"
A friend of mine passed me a copy of Architects Journal this week which has some interesting observations on life, and valuable insights into how schools and offices will operate when they re-open. The Architects Journal: Adaptation + Workplace, 21 May 2020. "Things architects obsess about are everyone's obsession now: public space, green space, learning …
A formal public consultation on the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Plan opens today ahead of a public examination and a referendum on the planning document which will control land development in the area. "We encourage all residents and businesses based in the area to read the Plan and submit their comments to the Council by the …
Continue reading "Formal consultation opens on Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Plan"
The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association (FNA) has called on Camden and Westminster councils to consider making Fitzrovia a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), in line with the Mayor of London’s Streetspace plans to help people with social distancing and enable walking and cycling. The FNA has asked for both the Camden side and Westminster side of Fitzrovia …
Continue reading "Community group calls for low traffic neighbourhood"
An early morning stroll along Whitfield Street after officers have driven away their vehicles from outside the British Transport Police central London headquarters reveals the beautiful mosaics created nearly two decades ago. Up close it is difficult to discern what they are. But cross to the other side of the road and they emerge as …
Continue reading "Public art in Fitzrovia: On Reflection, British Transport Police headquarters"
Although galleries have been closed since March, most have beefed up their online presence enabling art lovers to get their aesthetic fix from the comfort of their laptop. Where galleries used to only have a limited selection of images from the current exhibition on their website, to encourage you to visit, they now have whole …
Branches of field maple (Acer campestre) trees reach across Goodge Street to touch each other. They were planted by Camden Council when the pavements in Goodge Street were widened earlier this century. The Council had not intended to plant any trees as part of the Street improvements. Their existence is due to our then Cllr Penny …
Continue reading "Field maple trees flourish on Goodge Street"
Plans released by the largest commercial group in the West End to steer a path to recovery when the lockdown is eased show it to be completely out of touch with the stark reality facing London. In a week when Westminster council were approving more ambitious plans to tackle air pollution and encouraging a modal-shift …
Continue reading "The New West End Company wants more car parking and no road charges"
While often (sometimes unfairly) seen as the rotten borough with regard to taking action to clean up its air, Westminster Council has now decided to "be more ambitious in its commitments to reduce air pollution". Fitzrovia News understand that reports put before the council's cabinet on Monday 11 May have been approved, paving the way …
By Barbara Corr A group of residents in City of Westminster want the council to make our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists and help maintain social distancing ahead of any lockdown being eased. Fitz West and Westminster Healthy Streets want to hear suggestions for improving the streets and have produced a map to which …
Continue reading "Help us improve the streets for walking and cycling in Fitzrovia West"
Camden Council is asking people living in the borough to put forward their ideas for making our streets better for safe travel by walking, cycling and social distancing. In some parts of the borough they have already made improvements. Now it's our turn. "We want to make it easier and safer for people to walk …
Continue reading "We need Camden to make good on its promise for safer streets in Fitzrovia"
Westminster council has issued a statement to quash rumours that other London boroughs had been housing rough sleepers in the City's empty hotels and expecting it to look after them and pick up the bill. It seems loose talk and incorrect facts were put about at a meeting in April between residents and councillors in …
Labour councillors in Westminster have called on the government to give local councils the power to stop non-urgent, noisy demolition and construction work during lockdown. "In recent weeks, many residents across the City of Westminster have written to their elected representatives -- Councillors and MPs -- to raise concerns about often non-urgent noisy construction works …
A Fitzrovia playwright and an oboe soloist will both join a cast of the many this week to produce a tribute to Beethoven, and fundraise for the NHS and musicians affected by the Covid-19 crisis. Local playwright Sue Blundell and Fitzrovia Music Festival (FitzFest) founder Dan Bates will be joined by musical director Elliott Devivo …
Continue reading "A tribute to Beethoven leads a fundraiser for the NHS and musicians"
We are saddened to hear of the death of Dave Ferris. He was from 1976 to 2001 a community development worker at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, and was part of the Fitzrovia News editorial collective. Dave was born in Canada and lived in Bloomsbury until his death in April this year. There will be an …
A giant floral display in the colours and shape of a rainbow is on display outside University College Hospital, Euston Road, to say thanks and reassure the public that the NHS is open to all patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Lobo, UCLH cancer doctor, along with her colleagues Joanna Franks and Sohier Elneil, were …
There was somewhat muted excitement for shoppers this morning as German supermarket chain Lidl opened its first central London store on Tottenham Court Road, during a pandemic. Normally I'd be thrilled about the opening of a new food store close to home but shopping has lost much of its pleasure and become one of the …
Continue reading "Muted excitement as Lidl opens its new store on Tottenham Court Road"
The developer of an underground hotel in Great Russell Street has taken the first step in seeking planning permission to squeeze an additional 42 guest bedrooms into the former car park four and five storeys beneath street level, in a move the Bloomsbury Association says is an "abuse of the planning system". Centro Planning Consultancy, …
Nickie Aiken's Bill to regulate pedicabs in London, due to be presented on Tuesday 21 April when Parliament opened, had to be postponed due to MPs having to take time to debate setting up a "virtual Parliament". The MP for Cities of London and Westminster said: "I was due to present my Bill to the …
Continue reading "Pedicab Bill postponed until Parliament begins debating members bills again"
