New Planters arrive in Fitzrovia

New Planters arrive in Fitzrovia

We are delighted to announce that the long talked about and frequently delayed planters have finally been installed on Hanson street, Great Titchfield Street, and Gosfield Street at the junctions with New Cavendish Street.

Great Titchfield Street Planting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These planters are funded by Neighbourhood CIL  and the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

Rebecca Heard of Fine Line Garden Design has done a wonderful job of sourcing hardy and attractive British plants and creating a very appealing  planting design. It is designed to look great now, but also to grow and fill in as the months go by.

Lots of volunteers worked hard to get the planting done – including planting  lots of bulbs  which will come up in the spring.   

We are very conscious that maintenance of these planters is incredibly important to keep them looking as good as they do now  and we have a whole roster of volunteers who are watering , clearing rubbish that might appear and doing any other maintenance.

Children from All Souls School will be helping as well and it’s great to see all ages keen to be involved.

If you would like to help out and volunteer, then please do email us: info@fitzwest.org

The various locations for the planters were chosen after a public consultation. They needed to be in places where there was space away from utilities and that  didn’t get in the way of passersby.  It was also hoped they will serve an additional purpose of discouraging on-street dumping. We are aware this may take a little while to settle in but hope that residents and businesses will help by only putting their rubbish out at the time and in the place stipulated by WCC. The times are available here.

Hanson Street Planter

 

Thanks again to the many people who have helped and supported this project.

 

Changes to traffic direction, news on new docks for hire bikes and CIL application information

There is lots happening in Fitzrovia and opportunities for you to have your say on various consultations.

 

New Traffic Order – changes to traffic direction in Fitzrovia

WCC are seeking comments on a new traffic order. Towards the end, there are detailed plans about proposed changes to Wigmore/Mortimer St and the junctions with Great Portland St and Great Titchfield Street.
 
Have a look particularly at the proposals for these junctions. Click to see the traffic order here.
 
Otherwise, there is provision for new loading bays on Mortimer St, reducing the pavement width. Overall, there will be 4 fewer residents parking spaces and four fewer bus stands (in Cavendish Place). There seems to be only one reference to cycle parking – at the western end of Wigmore St.
 
We have asked for projected figures for traffic movements after implementation on and around Wigmore/Mortimer St and are waiting to hear about that.
 
Observations and comments on the proposals should be submitted by 4th October 2023 to TrafficOrders@projectcentre.co.uk quoting the reference PCL/9333/AJ in your response.
 
 

Proposals for new docking locations for hired bikes

WCC are proposing new docks for all hired bikes in Wells, Newman, Ogle and Bolsover Streets rather than just being left on the pavements.
 
Any comments to tmo.westminster@wsp.com
 
 

CIL Newsletter

Westminster Council are producing a regular newsletter with information and updates on how to make CIL applications.
The latest edition is here: CIL Quarterly Update
 
The next submission date for CIL applications is October 2nd.
 
Well-attended AGM hears from Westminster Council and local police

Well-attended AGM hears from Westminster Council and local police

First of all, a big  thank you to over 40 local residents and businesses and all the West End Ward councillors (Cllrs Toale, Fisher and Lilley) who attended our AGM on 18th May at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre on Howland Street. The high tech facilities meant we were also able to have people attend virtually.

As well as the usual AGM business, Cllr. Geoff Barraclough and some of the Westminster Council Oxford Street team presented initial plans to change the traffic flow at Oxford Circus. There were plenty of questions and comments and an undertaking by the Council that this would be fully consulted on before implementation. There was particular concern about suggestions of changes to traffic flow on Great Titchfield Street  and the potential for increased traffic.

Our local police officer from the Safer Neighbourhood teams then gave a presentation about crime and anti social behaviour. This also generated lots of questions and gave residents a chance to chat afterwards.

Finally, there were some updates on projects that have received CIL funding. Donna Yay from  Fitzrovia Community Centre explained how the works to improve the accessibility and floor covering would not have otherwise been possible. Gwilym Harbottle told us that the New Cavendish Planters will be installed this summer – and asked for volunteers to be on the planters committee – so if anyone is interested please get in touch with Gwilym at info@fitzwest.org

The AGM minutes are available here.

AGM next week – 18th May – come in person or join on Zoom

AGM next week – 18th May – come in person or join on Zoom

We want to have as many people as possible so please share this with your neighbours and local businesses.

Find out about the changes to Oxford Circus traffic flow, hear about the exciting CIL funded projects,  and meet your local  police officers, part of the  Safer Neighbourhood Team. They will update us on issues of local drug dealing and anti social behaviour.

Email info@fitzwest.org for the Zoom link.

Annual General Meeting on Thursday 18th May at 6pm at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, 25 Howland Street, W1T 4JG which will also feature:

We look forward to welcoming you and for you to have a chance to meet your neighbours over a glass of wine.

AGENDA

1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies
2. Minutes of the last meeting. Available on Fitzwest website: https://www.fitzwest.org/
3. Election and re-election of Executive members. Any member can stand for election. Please let us know via email if would like to stand.  Candidates should be prepared to say briefly why they should be elected. If you can’t attend please send a few lines about who you are and why you should be elected.
4. Amending the constitution. Proposal: to amend the constitution so as to reduce the AGM quorum from 20 to 10 and the Executive quorum from 6 to 5. These changes would require a 75% majority of those voting. 10% of members can always call a general meeting to reverse such a decision.
5. Presentation of accounts
6. Proposed changes to traffic flow at Oxford Circus – Oxford Street Team, Westminster Council
7. Dealing with anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in FitzWest – Safer Neighbourhood Team
8. Updates on current CIL projects
9. Any other business

AGM next week – 18th May – come in person or join on Zoom

Invitation to AGM including Oxford Circus information session

Dear Members

All members of the Forum are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 18th May at 6pm at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, 25 Howland Street, W1T 4JG which will also feature:

  1. a presentation from Westminster Council and discussion about the changes to Oxford Circus traffic flow and how this will impact Fitzrovia
  2. a chance to hear about how the police are dealing with increased drug dealing on our streets

We look forward to welcoming you and for you to have a chance to meet your neighbours over a glass of wine.

If you are not able to attend in person, then a zoom link will be available for you to join virtually.  Please click here to request the link by email.

 

AGENDA

1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies
2. Minutes of the last meeting. Available on Fitzwest website: https://www.fitzwest.org/
3. Election and re-election of Executive members. Any member can stand for election. Please let us know via email if would like to stand.  Candidates should be prepared to say briefly why they should be elected. If you can’t attend please send a few lines about who you are and why you should be elected.
4. Amending the constitution. Proposal: to amend the constitution so as to reduce the AGM quorum from 20 to 10 and the Executive quorum from 6 to 5. These changes would require a 75% majority of those voting. 10% of members can always call a general meeting to reverse such a decision.
5. Presentation of accounts
6. Proposed changes to traffic flow at Oxford Circus – Oxford Street Team, Westminster Council
7. Dealing with anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in FitzWest
8. Updates on current CIL projects
9. Any other business

CIL News and AGM date

Successful CIL application for funding

Fitzrovia Community Centre has been awarded £22,583 to fund further developments and refurbishments. The project will cover the laying of new flooring, increased security and health and safety measures, and small furnishings. This project is part of a wider programme to make the community centre more accessible and welcoming, to meet the growing need for community centres and programmes in the local area. The cabinet member report also highlighted that community uses such as a community centre is identified as a priority infrastructure type in local CIL policy.

You can read the full Cabinet Report that includes all Westminster applications here.

Update on other CIL projects

New Cavendish Street planters

This project has been extremely slow to come to fruition due to the lengthy road safety assessments and access plans which are being done by Conways on behalf of WCC. Rest assured, the Forum is constantly asking for information as we are keen to get the planters in position as soon as we can.

AGM – Thursday 18th May 2023

Our AGM will be at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre on Howland Street at 6pm on Thursday 18th May 2023.

Full details to follow, but the focus will be on the new WCC plans for Oxford Street. Come and find out plans to change traffic flow and pavement size at Oxford Circus and how this will affect Fitzrovia. Have your say about the plans. There will also be updates on CIL applications for funding plans for our area.