SOHO
Soho Neighbourhood Plan
At the recent referendum on 2nd September, 91 per cent of residents and 89 per cent of businesses voted in favour of the Soho Neighbourhood Plan.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/battle-soul-soho-stays-nightlife-21476569
The Future of Soho streets
West End Labour Candidate Patrick Lilley is quoted in this article by Charles Wright on the future of Soho streets. Patrick says:
“The needs of residents as well as those of our many businesses both need listening to. Our residents do want to see the area prosper. The vast majority have lived happily alongside our gay bars, restaurants and theatres for years. We all love Soho. I think I am the first person to run for council who has a background in LGBT club and event promotion. No one could fairly say I am anti-fun!”
https://www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wright-what-is-the-future-for-the-streets-of-soho/
Rubbish Dumping
We have urged the Council to take action to deal with the increased rubbish dumping in Soho and the West End. Alongside residents, we are calling for strong action against rubbish dumpers. We have also called for the pavements along Brewer Street, Old Compton Street and Rupert Street to be deep cleaned. West End Labour Candidate Patrick Lilley is quoted in this local press article:
Public Toilets
Robin Smyth of Soho Dairy in Berwick Street makes a compelling case for more public toilets in Soho and the West End
Helicopter Noise
The West End Labour Action Team has sent a letter to the Leader of the Council and the Mayor on behalf of many local residents calling for an end to the regular helicopter noise.
“Loud noise is one of the biggest threats to wellbeing in the City of Westminster and especially for those residents who live in the West End neighbourhoods of Soho, Mayfair and Fitzrovia.
Residents have been disturbed by extremely loud noise caused by increased helicopters circling both day and night. We call up Westminster Council to speak up for residents whose lives are blighted by loud helicopter noise day and night.
We invite the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to explain the use of helicopters and to consider alternative and less disruptive methods of policing. We call upon the Civil Aviation Authority, the National Police Air Service, and the Metropolitan Police to justify the number of evening and night flights by police helicopters in terms of arrests and successful operations for the expense. We call upon all interested authorities to consider better options to the use of helicopters.”
Soho Faces
Photographer John Claridge’s exhibition SOHO FACES opens at the House of St Barnabas in Greek St, Soho, W1D 4NQ, on Thursday 7th October.
https://spitalfieldslife.com/2021/09/30/john-claridges-soho-faces-x/
FITZROVIA
Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Plan
At the recent referendum on 2nd September, 79 per cent of residents and 86 per cent of businesses voted in favour of the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Plan.
https://fitzrovianews.com/2021/09/04/fitzrovia-west-plan-wins-approval-in-referendum/
Oxford Circus pedestrian piazzas
Plans to part-pedestrianise Oxford Street by creating two pedestrian piazzas at Oxford Circus have been axed by the Council following widespread opposition voiced by residents who were concerned that it would lead to traffic being displaced to residential streets north and south of Oxford Street. We have welcomed this decision which is a victory for common sense following the recent £6 million Marble Arch Mound fiasco.
Residents have contacted us to say:
“I heard with colossal relief the announcement on the News that the plan for a pedestrianised Oxford Circus have been postponed – let us hope permanently. I am so grateful to the whole Labour Team for working so hard to investigate the financial and impact details of this scheme, because both the cost and the effect of dispersing traffic into narrow and often residential streets totally incapable of coping with it seem never to have been fully investigated nor the findings revealed.”
Holcroft Court
We have again urged the Housing Department to take action against the regular anti-social behaviour at Holcroft Court. Residents say:
“For the fourth night running we have people in the communal gardens of Holcroft Court, some of these individulas do not live in Holcroft. For those whose property faces the communal this is becoming a regular inconvenience. Residents on this side of Holcroft do not have double glazing.
Bad behaviour breeds behaviour and absolutely nobody from Westminster Council is taking any responsibility in addressing this. Nobody is making an effort to manage these problems and at some point there will be a serious incident.”
Carburton Street
A number of residents in Carburton Street have expressed concerns about plans to designate the street a ‘play street’. Residents say:
“We are concerned on several counts with the proposals to turn Carburton Street into a ‘play’ street. With no access for vehicles, we are concerned about hospital transport, rubbish collections, deliveries, emergency services not being able to get through. People are concerned that no consultation has been carried out and that these plans will be pushed through against residents wishes. We already struggle to get items delivered and often have to pay congestion charge on top of delivery costs, and if firms have to park further away will make getting large items delivered almost impossible.”
The Council has told us that there are no plans to turn Carburton Street in to a play street.
MAYFAIR
Mayfair ‘Green Route’
Consultation has begun Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum’s project to create a Green Route through the heart of Mayfair, connecting Park Lane and Hyde Park to Regent Street and the area’s existing green spaces to create a meandering green thread and transform the hard urban landscape. You can view and comment https://www.mayfairforum.org/current-projects
Hanover Square
The gardens on Hanover Square have reopened to the public following an extensive redesign. The garden redesign is the first of a series of public realm improvements for the Square. The remainder of the project will be unveiled once the new Elizabeth Line has been completed.
New Bond Street/Grafton Street/ Bruton Lane
Plans for an 11-storey, 84-bed hotel at 8-14 Grafton Street, 22-24 Bruton Lane and 163-164 New Bond Street have been cancelled after the developer pulled out. The site consists of three predominantly office buildings which would have been demolished to make way for the hotel development, which also included flats and shops.