SOHO
Al Fresco toilet and cleansing arrangements
Councillor Pancho Lewis has welcomed the introduction of improved West End Weekend Public Toilets and Cleansing Preparations as a result of his representations and pressure from local residents and the Soho Society.
Great Marlborough Street Public Toilets
We were disappointed to hear that the public toilets on Great Marlborough Street have been closed following a recent incident. Councillor Pancho Lewis says:
“We need a proper long-term solution to this – more permanent toilets, that are well designed and easily accessible, complemented with temporary toilets when additional toilets are needed. Plus, proactive enforcement when people urinate on the streets.
Once this is in place, closing one public toilet isn’t so much a problem. But in the absence of the above, it is. Instead of closing this toilet, I ask that extra resources are deployed to Great Marlborough Street please.”
Soho life
Leonie Cooper writes about ‘Down and dirty: the glorious return of old school Soho’
https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/soho-party-basements-es-magazine-b934293.html
FITZROVIA
Oxford Circus
Following the collapse of Arcadia last November, the former home of Topshop on Oxford Street is now up for sale for £420m. The building on Oxford Circus also houses Nike’s London flagship and footwear store Vans and was valued at more than half a billion just a couple of years ago. Potential buyers are said to be the owners of H&M and Zara.
https://www.cityam.com/bargain-bin-topshops-former-oxford-street-site-on-sale-for-420m/
Carburton Street
We applaud the efforts of local residents to brighten up Carburton Street with new planting of flowers and shrubs. It would be great if the developers of the adjacent site on Cleveland Street could contribute to the cost of additional planting in the area.
Holcroft Court
We have asked the Council to investigate a flat in Holcroft Court which residents say is being used illegally as an Airbnb letting. Residents say: “We have had to call their intercom in order to speak to them to turn their music off which they refused to do. The same property has a recent disturbance about 4 weeks ago.”
Also, following our enquiries, the Housing Office has agreed to install new communal ventilator fans to replace the current fans which are broken.
New Cavendish Street
We have raised concerns with the police and the Highways Team about this issue:
“I would like to bring your attention to the safety of pedestrians on New Cavendish Street and the surrounding streets. New Cavendish Street is one way, but cyclists are increasingly riding the wrong way down the road. These included delivery people, hire cycles cyclists who should know better and increasingly, the dreaded electric scooter. Parts of the pavement are barely wide enough for two people going in opposite directions to pass. The cyclists do not move to let you pass the pedestrians have to brave walking in the road with traffic lorries and the cyclists peddling the wrong way. I have spoken to several of the offenders only to be faced with verbal abuse.”
Let Me Take You By The Hand: True Tales From London’s Streets
Fitzrovia resident Jennifer Kavanagh writes about her forthcoming book, ‘Let Me Take You By The Hand: True Tales From London’s Streets’.