The West End Extra has two stories in the latest issue about Fitzrovia. The paper reports on a memorial plaque to honour WPC Bertha Cleghorne who was killed on duty during an a World War 2 air raid.
“WPC Gleghorn was killed, aged 33, when a V1 missile struck the rear of Tottenham Court Road police station on the morning of June 19 1944, just days after the D-Day landings. She was buried by rubble in the attack, which also destroyed two police cars. She died from her injuries at nearby Middlesex Hospital later that day,” writes Caroline Mortimer.
On the same page there is news that Rashard (aged 10) a pupil from All Souls Primary School in Fitzrovia won a Christmas card competition organised by West End ward councillor Paul Church and judged by Westminster City Council leader Philippa Roe.
Meanwhile in the latest issue of Private Eye, Paul Dimoldenberg leader of the Labour group on Westminster City Council is quizzed over his connections to property developer Lend Lease via his PR company Quatro. The Eye says Dimoldenberg regularly berates Westminster City Council’s “evil Tories for their failure to build more social homes” and for allowing the West End to become a playground for the rich by refusing to insist on on-site affordable housing in new developments.
The Eye asks the Labour leader about Lend Lease’s plans for 137 luxury flats in Chiswick High Road in west London where the number of affordable flats has not been stated in the plans submitted to Hounslow council. Lend Lease is a deft exponent of wriggling out of affordable housing obligations. Private Eye says there seems to be some confusion about the number of affordable homes. “Good job it’s not in happening in Westminster!” they quip.
Local website and discussion forum chiswickw4.com have some comments about the Eye‘s report.