Neighbourhood news, features, and comment
Firefighters say use of a disposable barbecue may have been the cause of a fire which damaged the roof of a Georgian building on Fitzroy Street this week. Fire engines in attendance outside the hotel in Fitzroy Street. Photo: Clive Jennings. On Wednesday evening the London Fire Brigade (LFB) attend a fire at the Fitzroy …
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The Bloomsbury Conservation Areas Advisory Committee (BCAAC) wants more people to visit its improved website to learn about the internationally renowned district but warns that heritage assets are facing "significant threats". BCAAC covers seven conservation areas in Central London. The website has been updated to include new information on the conservation areas (including Charlotte Street …
The Times reports that fellow Conservatives at Westminster council approved a home extension and overturned the planning department's recommendation to reject the plans. Robert Jenrick the secretary of state for housing who is currently embroiled in a row over a planning decision has some previous experience with planning matters, reports The Times newspaper. Conservative councillors …
Mike Pentelow enjoying music and a drink at the King and Queen pub in September 2018. Fitzrovia News has been overwhelmed with the number of tributes paid to Mike Pentelow, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, who died suddenly at his home on Nassau Street on 1 April aged 73. He had suffered a short illness which …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
While most hot food businesses have shut up shop due to the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown others are adapting and delivering a new service. One such business is Passyunk Avenue on Cleveland Street -- a Philadelphia-themed food, cheese steak, and dive bar named after a thoroughfare running diagonally through the dense network of downtown …
It is with great sadness that we report that Mike Pentelow, editor of Fitzrovia News, author, and friend of many in the neighbourhood died peacefully at his home on Wednesday 1 April 2020. Born in 1946, Mike moved to Fitzrovia in the early 1970s from Essex where he was a trainee journalist on the Thurrock …
Fitzrovia's two independent cycle shops are beating the large chain stores by continuing to provide a service for customers during difficult circumstances. Under new legislation cycle shops along with food shops are allowed to continue to trade as long as they follow strict social distancing guidelines to protect their customers and staff from the coronavirus. …
The publisher of the Camden New Journal, Westminster Extra, and the Islington Tribune is now putting the entire contents of the three printed, weekly newspapers online to read and download. Since last week New Journal Enterprises have produced an identical e-edition of their three local papers published on the same day as the printed editions, …
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The Fitzrovia Centre on Foley Street has announced it will help people wanting to set up mutual aid groups to match volunteers with those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic. Centre director, Pat Tulloch, wrote to their newsletter subscribers to say that "in response to the coronavirus pandemic a number of mutual aid groups have …
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A round of applause will take place tonight (Thursday 26 March) to give thanks to the NHS staff working tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers of "Clap for our Carers" are asking everyone to clap at 8pm from your front door, window, balcony, garden or wherever you are. The event follows similar rounds of applause …
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Playgrounds, community buildings and places of worship in Fitzrovia have closed to protect public health because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The closures came ahead of the government's announcement that all but essential workers must stay at home and follows the closure of schools, pubs, cafes and restaurants to stop people from spreading the virus.The …
The leaders of both local councils serving Fitzrovia have appealed for volunteers and have announced that many services they offer will need to change in response the the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. Cllr Rachael Robathan, leader, Westminster City Council, wrote to community organisations to say: "We have contingency plans in place to keep essential services running …
