Please join us for the AGM which, due to the ongoing restrictions, will be held via Zoom.

Your attendance at the AGM is particularly important this year as we will be discussing the forthcoming referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan.  There will be information available about the Plan and the referendum.

If you wish to attend, please email us at info@fitzwest.org by 4pm on Wednesday 7th July and we will send you the necessary link, password and documents.

AGENDA

6.00pm      Welcome, report on recent work and invitation to join.  Julia Haythorn
6.15pm     ​​ Minutes of last AGM
6.20pm      Elections to the Executive.  Gwilym Harbottle
6.30pm      Presentation of accounts.  Yoram Blumann
6.35pm​ ​  Update on the Neighbourhood Plan and information about the upcoming referendum.   Nick Bailey  Q&A.
6.50pm     Update on greening and use of Tesco and CIL funding.  Gwilym Harbottle/Julia Haythorn  Q&A.
7.05pm    Guest speaker:  Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive, New West End Company on supporting the business community after the pandemic.  Q&A.
7.25pm      AOB and further Q&A.
8.00pm      Ends

Your time has come to vote in a referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan on 2nd  September 2021. Everyone registered to vote will be able to say whether they want the plan to influence planning decisions and create an improved environment for all those living in, working in and visiting the area. All businesses in the neighbourhood which pay business rates will also get a vote. The Fitzrovia Centre in Foley Street will be the polling station but you can also apply for a postal vote through this link:

https://www.westminster.gov.uk/about-council/democracy/postal-and-proxy-voting

One of the main functions of the Forum is to prepare a neighbourhood plan. This sets out a series of policies explaining how we’d like to see the area develop over the next 20 years. The plan has been based on extensive consultation and we work closely with community groups, statutory bodies and business organisations such as the New West End Company. The draft plan has been approved by an independent Examiner who has agreed it fits with other plans prepared by Westminster City Council and the Mayor of London.

We have had two very positive endorsements from Jace Tyrrell and Griff Rhys Jones:

It is only through working in partnership we will deliver improved cleaner air and a high quality street environment, with a vibrant mix of business and residential uses enhancing the built form and heritage of the area.‎ We encourage all local businesses to support the Neighbourhood Plan.

Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive, New West End Company

Please do have a look at the plan; It’s important to your future. Both businesses and residents have the opportunity to assesses it, to vote for it, and to make it happen.  If you do, it can make a real difference to what happens, because by law it must be taken into account.

Griff Rhys Jones, President, Civic Voice

The final stage is the referendum of residents and businesses. If the majority vote in favour, the plan becomes an important statutory document which the Council has to take into account when considering planning applications. It also sets out other priorities and opportunities to influence the way budgets are spent to benefit the community and local environment.

You will receive further information about the referendum on 2nd September 2021 nearer the time but please have a look at the plan on our website (www.fitzwest.org/neighbourhood-plan) and please vote ‘YES’!

We want your ideas

The problem of on-street rubbish dumping and the need for more greenery are frequently mentioned by our members as important issues for all of us living and working in Fitzrovia.

The FitzWest Forum has supported various schemes to improve waste collection and deal with fly tipping. There is still a lot of progress to be made in this area and discussions are on going with Westminster Council on ways to deal with this.

One way to combat dumping is by improving the street scape – and a relatively quick way to do this is by planting and greening. The hope is that this will both deter dumping and also bring some much needed greenery into the area.  We are planning to apply for funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)  which is a levy that local authorities can choose to charge on new developments in their area. The money is used to support development by funding infrastructure that the council, local community and neighbourhoods want.

We are very keen to for our members to suggest where potential planting could take place. With the help of the wider membership last year, we had previously identified various ‘dumping hot spots’ which you can see on the map. We have two questions for you.

1. Which of these do you think would be best suited for adding planters and greening?
2. Are there any other places you would suggest? Several sites have been identified in the central area of FitzWest – but what about the North and South?

Please comment on this page or email your ideas to us at info@fitzwest.org. We will collect all the suggestions together and select the most popular locations for our application.

Sixty-Four new hangars have been installed across Westminster and are now available for applications for an allocated space.

The council are allocating them to people who have applied and are on the waiting list.

Fitzrovia have two new ones on Great Titchfield Street and one each on the corners of Clipstone Street and Carburton Street and Great Titchfield Street

Contact cycling@westminster.gov.uk to go on the waiting list.

If you miss out on a space during this offering, then the Council  advise that Westminster plans to install a further batch of cycle hangars later in 2021 if sites can be identified and there is continuing demand for them.

Your chance to be involved

We want an opportunity for the wider membership of the FitzWest Forum to have an input into the Council decisions around planning and licensing and we are aware it is difficult for residents and businesses to keep track of the many applications that affect Fitzrovia.

So we are creating a small committee of local residents to keep an eye on applications and draw attention to ones that are important.  The committee will meet every 4-6 weeks, currently by Zoom, and discusses the implications of various applications.  It’s an opportunity to have a real input and affect on Council decisions, and great for people who don’t have a lot of time but want to be involved. This committee will then influence and shape the response of the Forum to the applications.

If you would like to be on this committee please contact info@fitzwest.org 

As part of our aim to include more members in important decisions, we have added a new page to our website

Planning and Licensing

Here you will find  links to Westminster Council Planning and Licensing applications, a list of  applications curated by Fitzrovia News and information about  particular applications that affect the area and that you may want to comment on directly to the Council.

Thank you to everyone who attended the FitzWest Forum AGM on 17th September 2020, because of the current restrictions, we held this meeting via Zoom and it was well attended.

Gwilym Harbottle, who was chairing the meeting, reported on the re-designation of the Forum and of various greening projects the Forum has been supporting.

Nicholas Bailey gave an update on the Neighbourhood Plan including the new delayed time scale owing to Covid restrictions.  We are currently waiting to hear the feedback from the independent examiner.

Full details can be found in the minutes available here.

Chris Martin of Urban Movement gave a presentation and took questions on the subject of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. The presentation is available here. 

The Executive elections took place and the full results are available in the minutes.

The results of the bicycle storage consultation by Westminster Council are now available.

Read the full details here:  Secure Cycle Storage Report 

As well as the existing bike hangar in Bolsover Street, there are now plans for 3 bike hangars in the Clipstone/Great Titchfield Street area and 1 in Clipstone Street, (all Marylebone High Street Ward).

We have suggested to WCC that there may well be demand for secure bike storage in West End Ward area of FitzWest e.g. Riding House Street, Langham Street, Hanson Street and Gosfield Street.  The  council is seeking an indication of the level of demand from bicycle owners.  Apparently WCC identify suitable locations first and then consult residents within a 25 metre radius.  So if you live on one of these roads, or anywhere else in the area that you think would benefit from secure bicycle storage then email your request to the Council:  cycling@westminster.gov.uk

ALFRESCO DINING SCHEME EXTENSION

Westminster Council initiated the alfresco dining scheme through the summer period, but are now asking for proposals from businesses in specific areas who wish to continue further, up to March 2021.  Local hospitality businesses in Great Titchfield Street and Langham Street are seeking support for a continuation of the existing arrangements for outdoor dining (a) until March 2021 and (b) permanently thereafter.

The FitzWest Forum Executive agreed we  should support a continuation of the present arrangements until the end of March 2021 provided that (i) activities should cease by 10pm; (ii) no audible music outside the premises; (iii) business owners should be asked to work on the design of their spaces.

WCC are keen to hear from residents, community groups and businesses so if you support the scheme or have any feedback then write to the Council at movementstrategy@westminster.gov.uk  They are looking for feedback as soon as possible.

It was announced earlier this month that the post office on Great Portland Street  will not be franchised and will remain a ‘crown’ branch for the time being.  The FitzWest Forum Executive welcomed this at the last meeting as it means all the services that local residents and businesses rely on will still be available.

You can read more about it in the Fitzrovia News. https://fitzrovianews.com/2020/11/25/great-portland-street-post-office-to-remain-crown-branch-after-franchise-plan-put-on-hold/

The Forum has submitted revised documentation on the FitzWest Plan and Westminster City Council has arranged a 10-week consultation period from 26th 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.

The draft Plan and supporting documentation are available on our Neighbourhood Plan page  For full information on the consultation process click here:  www.westminster.gov.uk/np-fitzrovia-west

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 in July to discuss issues of greatest concern in the area. Full details to follow.

28th May 2020

This is a topic that is often raised by local residents and continues to be an important concern for residents and businesses.  Westminster City Council want your opinion on their new Air Quality Action Plan.

City of Westminster’s Air Quality Action Plan 2019-2024

Comments on the City of Westminster’s Air Quality Action Plan 2019-2024

Public realm improvements on Riding House Street between its junctions with Nassau Street and Cleveland Street. FM Conway, service provider to Westminster City Council, has been commissioned to undertake this consultation on behalf of the City Council.

City of Westminster’s Letter

FitzWest Forum Letter to Westminster City Council