by Julia Haythorn | Sep 8, 2025 | AGM, Greening, Our Neighbourhood, Public Space
AGM INVITATION
Thursday, 9th October, 6 pm at the Wellcome Centre, Howland Street.
All members are invited to attend The Fitzwest Neighbourhood Forum Annual General Meeting.
There is also the opportunity to attend via Zoom. Please contact us directly on info@fitzwest.org and we will send you the Zoom link.
A full agenda will follow shortly, but there will be the chance to discuss the plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street and also to hear more about funding opportunities and projects via the Community Infrastructure Levy.
GRAND UNVEILING OF THE HOLCROFT COURT ARTWORK
Tuesday 30th September, 4-8pm
A new artwork, commissioned to celebrate the lives and works of Thomas and Fanny Holcroft, and funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy will be unveiled at the Community Day at Holcroft Court, Carburton Street, W1W 5DF.
Everyone is welcome.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO WATER PLANTERS
The planters which were funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy and Tesco are still thriving, despite the hottest summer on record!
We do however need some more volunteers to help with watering on Gosfield Street and New Cavendish Street. The commitment is very small and any help – even just one day a week for 10 minutes or so – would be brilliant.
Please contact info@fitzwest.org if you are able to help.
by Julia Haythorn | May 2, 2025 | Consultations, Our Neighbourhood, Oxford Street, Planning, Public Space
REMINDER – YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT TOMORROW – 2ND MAY – TO RESPOND TO THE MAYOR’S CONSULTATION
Dear Members
We want to let you know about Fitzwest’s response to the Mayor’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.
Pedestrianisation:
We can not say if it is a good idea or not without seeing detailed plans, as we have identified some issues that need addressing:
- Congestion
- potential for 70 buses per hour both ways down Wigmore/Mortimer Street
- Goodge St/Tottenham Court Road junction – will buses be able to turn left and right out of and into Goodge St?
- taxis and ubers. Where will they pick up and drop off fares? Will it be the end of streets like Wells, Newman, Rathbone, Berners Streets?
- Increased air pollution
- Access to business and homes,
- Access to Oxford Street shops,
- Access to night buses for the many users in our area,
- Access for loading for the businesses on Oxford Street
- Crime and safety during the day and night
- Pedestrian crossing safety.
The Mayoral Development Corporation:
- We disagree with the anti democratic use of the MDC to enable this scheme which will be an expensive quango
- The MDC will have total jurisdiction over all planning decisions – routine and major.
- We think that Westminster Council can do the job more effectively
- We are concerned and puzzled by the large size of the MDC which increases the potential for undemocratic planning decisions in areas around Oxford Street as well as Oxford Street itself.
- The Fitzwest Forum and all its business and resident members worked very hard over a number of years to create the Neighbourhood Plan. This was voted in a referendum of businesses and residents and the MDC will be able to ignore it. We feel Westminster Council is better positioned to make decisions on planning matters including enforcement.
- It will also reduce the amount of CIL money available for local projects designed to enhance the quality of life in Fitzrovia
You only have until midnight tomorrow – Friday 2nd May – to respond to the consultation which is on the TFL website. Here is the link
https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/oxford-street
by Julia Haythorn | Aug 23, 2020 | AGM, Events, The Plan
THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2020 6-8PM
IMPORTANT: UNFORTUNATELY THIS MEETING HAS TO BE HELD BY ZOOM. IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, YOU MUST EMAIL US AT INFO@FITZWEST.ORG BY 4PM ON WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER AND WE WILL SEND YOU THE NECESSARY LINK, PASSWORD AND DOCUMENTS.
AGENDA
6.00pm Welcome, report on recent work and invitation to join.
6.15pm Minutes of last AGM
6.20pm Update on the Neighbourhood Plan. Nick Bailey. Q&A.
6.30pm Guest speaker. Chris Martin from Urban Movement: Creating a low traffic neighbourhood in Fitzrovia West. Q&A.
7.10pm Elections to the Executive. Three members of the Executive will be standing down and presenting themselves for re-election: Gwilym Harbottle, Ian Johnstone and Chris Shaw.
7.20pm Presentation of accounts. Yoram Blumann.
7.25pm AOB and further Q&A.
8.00pm Ends
by Julia Haythorn | Jun 12, 2020 | Consultations
The Forum has submitted revised documentation on the FitzWest Plan and Westminster City Council has arranged a 10-week consultation period from 26 May to 4th August 2020.
We encourage all residents and businesses based in the area to read the Plan and submit their comments to the Council by the closing date.
The Plan’s main objectives are to integrate new development into the heritage of the area, create more affordable housing, support small shops and businesses, improve the environment and particularly air quality, promote greening through tree planting, green roofs and creating healthy streets by encouraging walking and cycling.
For full information on the consultation process click here:
After this consultation stage, an Examiner appointed by the Council will review all the evidence and recommend any further changes to the Plan. A referendum will follow for both residents on the electoral roll and business rate payers.
All Invited……….
We are planning a public meeting and AGM in July to discuss issues of greatest concern in the area. Full details to follow.
by Julia Haythorn | Jun 7, 2020 | Uncategorized
New West End Company have released a report with ideas and plans for the safe reopening of the West End.
NWEC – West End Reopening Guidance
Westminster City Council have constantly updated information on the Coronavirus pandemic and how it affects everyone in Westminster.
Latest information from Westminster Council
