Corporate Fitzrovia is hoping to attract more people into the neighbourhood during June by putting on a series of events starting with a floppy-eared, architectural installation outside Warren Street tube station, and a two-day street party.

Due to be unveiled on Thursday 6 June, “Rabbit Warren Street is a fun and bold solution which will improve the pedestrian area outside the station and encourage passers-by to ‘dive into’ Fitzrovia through eye-catching wayfinding,” states The Fitzrovia Partnership (TFP), which runs two business improvement districts covering most of the neighbourhood.

Details of the installation are being kept a secret but we are told it “will guide pedestrians to less polluted and safer pathways through Fitzrovia,” states TFP — presumably in an attempt to stop tourists getting lost or being robbed of their phone on Tottenham Court Road.

The exact location of the installation has not been revealed but the pavement on Warrren Street at the junction with Tottenham Court Road is already heavily congested and there is not much room for another piece of clutter for pedestrians to trip over.

The rabbit-themed “temporary intervention” will be revealed at midday on Thursday 6 June — “transforming the area into a pedestrian-friendly ‘meadow’.

“Local independent bars, restaurants, retail outlets will showcase their offerings, with playful themed menu items and drinks and local discounts. A live band will be present on Thursday,” states the promo material.

The main spectacle will continue on Friday but the way-finding bunny, created by architects Able Partners and Elliott Wood, outside the tube station is due to remain for the rest of the month.

This event is billed as a “re-imagining of Warren Street” and the architectural installation is the result of a competition run by TFP with the London Festival of Architecture.

It is the first part of a four-year collaboration between TFP and the London Festival of Architecture, which will focus on “improving gateways into Fitzrovia and testing and implementing successful public realm schemes to improve navigation and the overall experience around the area”.

TFP want to increase commercial activity in Fitzrovia East and this current marketing exercise is part of its place-making strategy first announced in November 2022.

Rabbit Warren Street will run from 12noon to 8pm on Thursday 6 June, and on Friday 7 June from 8am to 8pm where there will be stalls along the street with offerings from Warren Street businesses.

Some residents had expressed concern to the Fitzrovia News about possible smells and smoke from food cooked outside in stalls in the suspended parking bays, and if there were going to be any noisy and polluting power generators in use.

“We are still finalising the food offering with the businesses, but so far, the only food being cooked in the street will be from The Feathers pub.

“All the others have indicated that they will cook inside their premises and serve outside. There will be no generators as power will be run from each venue to their stall — if required,” says TFP in a statement to the Fitzrovia News.

On Friday 7 June from 8am to 3pm there will be free cycle checks with free bike registering. Donations will be taken for Fitzrovia Youth in Action for their campaign in support of Champions for Children, which provides unrestricted funding to charities working to alleviate the impact of poverty on children across London.

A number of road closures and parking suspensions will be in place in and around Warren Street from Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 June. The road closure will be from Wednesday to Friday inclusive and between Tottenham Court Road and Fitzroy Street.

Nothing is taking place in the parking bays west of Fitzroy Street except possibility The Smugglers pub which may also use a marquee in the street.

Throughout June, Fitzrovia will be a destination for the London Festival of Architecture. Fitzrovia is apparently a “new destination” for the festival. However, LFA has been here most years since at least 2010 when the Fitzrovia News even took part in it.

Timetable for events

5 June from 2pm (press): Pre-reveal of Rabbit Warren Street
5 June, 5pm-6pm: Warren Street Resident thank you by invitation
5 June, 6pm-8pm: TFP Member Pre-Reveal Party

6 June from 12pm: Launch of Rabbit Warren Street
6 June, 6pm-9pm:  Studio Lates in Fitzrovia

7 June, 8am-8pm: Rabbit Warren Street

The Fitzrovia Partnership: London Festival of Architecture — Fitzrovia Events.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2024/05/27/business-groups-rabbit-themed-design-and-street-party-on-warren-street/

#LondonFestivalOfArchitecture #TheFitzroviaPartnership #WarrenStreet

Part of Warren Street in Fitzrovia will be closed to all vehicles, and parking suspended, for part of the first week of June 2024 due to events taking place in the street.

Warren Street will be closed to all motor vehicles between Tottenham Court Road and Fitzroy Street from Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 June 2024 for events organised by The Fitzrovia Partnership, according to a temporary traffic order issued by Camden Council.

Parking bays between Tottenham Court Road and Fitzroy Street will be suspended for 24-hours-a-day from Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 June due to “events”, according to notices placed by Camden Council.

There will also be no access to Warren Street from Whitfield Street or Grafton Mews.

From Fitzroy Street to Cleveland Street the road will remain open and diversions will be in place.

However, parking bays will also be suspended between Fitzroy Street and Conway Street, according to notices on the street.

Residents and business owners are advised to check the street notices for up-to-date information. The latest Camden road closure information can be found here.

Residents in Warren Street were sent a letter about the road closure in early May. Fitzrovia News is asking for more details of the events and will be reporting on these when we have them.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2024/05/27/warren-street-road-closure-and-parking-suspensions-june-2024/

#CamdenCouncil #TheFitzroviaPartnership #traffic #WarrenStreet

The Fitzrovia Partnership business group is inviting residents to express a view on what improvements they would like to see for the streets of the neighbourhood.

Residents, along with business owners, workers and visitors, are invited to a “drop-in session” at The Building Society in Whitfield Street on Wednesday 24 April, to express their views directly to The Fitzrovia Partnership.

The Partnership is also asking people to complete an online survey, where you can give your views on the state of Fitzrovia’s streets and what you would like to see improved.

Options on the survey include removing clutter from the streets, wider footways, timing deliveries and “last-mile” freight, pubic drinking fountains, improved cycling facilities, and better street cleaning and maintenance.

“We want to hear from residents, business owners, workers and visitors on how you would like to enjoy Fitzrovia,” they say.

The Fitzrovia Partnership runs two business improvement districts (BIDs) under a public-private partnership with Camden and Westminster councils.

The Partnership provides business services to its members including street wardens run by My Local Bobby.

The BIDs are funded by a levy on the commercial rates from more than 420 of the largest businesses in Fitzrovia.

Aside from raising money through a levy on the business rates, BIDs can also apply for a variety of public funds, as well as influence the policy making and decisions of local councils.

The Fitzrovia Partnership, sustainability and public realm infrastructure drop-in session, between 12pm and 7pm, Wednesday 24 April 2024, at The Building Society, 55 Whitfield Street, London W1T 4AH. Sustainability and public realm infrastructure survey.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2024/04/19/fitzrovia-business-group-invites-residents-to-suggest-street-improvements/

#businessImprovementDistrict #CamdenCouncil #TheFitzroviaPartnership #WestminsterCityCouncil

Camden Council, its waste contractor Veolia, and The Fitzrovia Partnership, have been running a poster campaign to “Keep Fitzrovia Clean” over the past few weeks.

“It is illegal to dump your waste on the street,” says Camden.

“This includes recycling and rubbish bags that are put out at the wrong time or in the wrong place.”

If rubbish or recycling is dumped or put out at the wrong time, those responsible “could receive a £400 fine for fly-tipping”.

Camden says residents and businesses must put bins, bags, and boxes, out for collection at street level “within one metre of the entrance of your property”.

The instruction for residents is clear: put your bags out between 9pm and 7am for collection. In many streets this means putting out rubbish, recycling and food waste on a Sunday evening after 9pm for collection from 7am on Monday morning. Or get a £400 fine.

But what about businesses? Bags are put out at all times of day. And there is an awful lot of them. Complete with bin juice leaking out all over the pavement — often outside someone else’s property or at the base of a tree.

There is no one set time and it varies from company to company. When we took a walk about at 7pm on Monday 4 March we found piles of rubbish in Tottenham Street, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Street and Warren Street. An hour later it was the same.

One resident told us: “It’s a bit of a shambles”.

Camden’s Keep Fitzrovia Clean campaign appears to be doomed to failure.

In addition, Camden’s residential, commercial waste and clear bag recycling collection did not happen in Warren Street, Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy Square and Tottenham Street as expected on Monday 4 March. Collection was however in progress on Tuesday morning — 24 hours late.

Food waste was, however, collected on Monday morning on time.

Across the neighbourhood bags were left out for nearly 36 hours, with many ending up getting broken and nibbled at by animals overnight. In many places rubbish was strewn all over the pavements making the already challenging job for the street sweepers even more difficult.

This happens from time-to-time if there is a problem and collections run 24 hours — or more — late.

By 9.30am on Tuesday morning the streets were looking pretty clean with most bags off the streets, after the residential and business collection was done by Camden’s contractor Veolia, and by the private collectors overnight. But by 11.30am the rot had set in again with bags piling up, mostly commercial waste and recycling.

Camden says businesses should put their rubbish out “shortly before collections” but admitted that it is difficult to control.

Both Camden and The Fitzrovia Partnership offer a waste and recycling collection service and would prefer that local businesses used one or the other’s collections in an effort to consolidate the removals and vehicle movements.

However, the market for collection of waste and recycling is so competitive that a number of firms are able to operate in the neighbourhood, meaning numerous waste vehicles rattling through the neighbourhood at all times of day and night.

There is a lot of talk about recycling and waste consolidation but little in the way of any action.

Councillor Adam Harrison, cabinet member for a sustainable Camden, said the council is trying to get businesses and residents to change their behaviour.

“The campaign is asking residents and businesses to be considerate with the impact their waste has on the streets of Fitzrovia.

“For residents, this means placing bags out at the specified times each week while businesses should only do so shortly before collections.

“The large number of companies that operate in the area is not something the council can control, unfortunately, and having a multiplicity of firms involved has a negative effect.

“We are grateful to Fitzrovia News readers for the part they play in addressing this issue.”

However, Fitzrovia News understands that Camden environmental enforcement officers carry out spot checks on “enviro-crime” and have fined many businesses for dumping, with some repeat offenders being issued with fines of thousands of pounds.

The problem of business waste and recycling management is also recognised by The Fitzrovia Partnership, which has run a business improvement district (BID) on the Camden side of Fitzrovia since 2012.

In February the Fitzrovia BID said “we are visiting selected businesses around Fitzrovia to promote a pledge campaign to do the right thing with their business waste”. Businesses who sign up to the pledge will receive a sticker to place in their window.

“We acknowledge the challenges in waste management within the area and are actively working with our members to address these issues collaboratively,” said a spokesperson.

“The Partnership is committed to improving waste collection times and is pleased to announce the upcoming introduction of a new contribution to waste management, along with a comprehensive recycling scheme.

“In the coming weeks, residents and businesses will benefit from a newly funded litter-picking service, fully supported by The Fitzrovia Partnership and its membership. An electric [utility vehicle] equipped with a washing lance is on order, set to operate a minimum of five days per week will be introduced to the area.”

A survey carried out by the Fitzrovia BID in November 2022 found that, as a whole, businesses wanted rubbish and recycling collections at various times throughout the day.

Six percent of businesses wanted to put their rubbish out between midnight and 6am, which would mean collections in the early hours of the morning, and causing a disturbance to nearby residents.

When businesses were asked about “banded collections” — two hour slots throughout the daytime and evening from 7am to 10am, 3pm to 6pm, and 9pm to 11pm — respondents were in favour of all three. But that would still mean bags being left on the street for up to nine hours during the daytime and evening.

Unlike elsewhere in the borough, Camden does not offer time banded collection times in Fitzrovia. However, some of the time banded collection times are between 1am and 3am, which would cause night time disturbance to residents.

For the time being the job of keeping Fitzrovia streets clean remains a difficult task.

Camden Council: Recycling and rubbish collections for residents and businesses.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2024/03/08/keep-fitzrovia-clean-campaign-is-asking-residents-and-businesses-to-be-considerate/

#CamdenCouncil #rubbishAndRecycling #TheFitzroviaPartnership

Camden Council is asking residents for their views on whether to make permanent the outdoor dining and drinking spaces on Cleveland Street, Goodge Street, and Warren Street, along with a number of other changes to the streets, in a public consultation that closes on 1 November.

Camden installed outdoor eating and drinking areas known as “streateries” at various locations in Fitzrovia during the early part of the Covid pandemic to support the hospitality businesses due to restrictions on indoor eating and drinking.

“Streateries remove parking to create additional space for outdoor seating in the road for al fresco dining, protected by barriers. In Fitzrovia Streateries have been installed on Warren Street, Goodge Street and Cleveland Street first as temporary measures in 2020/2021 which were then continued as trials under Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) for a further 18 months (until December 2023),” says Camden

The streatery plans were originally put forward by the Fitzrovia Partnership Business Improvement District (BID) who lobbied Camden Council to make highway changes “to facilitate social distancing” to help businesses.

In making its decision to introduce the streateries Camden Council did recognise the concerns of residents about the increase in noise nuisance, especially where alcohol is being consumed.

“There is concern that outdoor dining can lead to noise and disturbance on the street, especially in the later part of the evening, therefore it is necessary to achieve balance between helping businesses to recover, and providing more capacity to support walking and cycling as well as protecting residents’ interests,” says a Camden report included with the decision signed off by Bloomsbury ward councillor and cabinet member Adam Harrison in the summer of 2020.

With those Covid restrictions no longer in place, the council is now holding three separate public consultations this month on whether or not to make the streateries permanent.

In Conway Street, Camden removed a streatery earlier this year after complaints from residents about drinkers blocking the footway and causing a noise nuisance. A council report on the decision stated that “the streatery exacerbates the problems” of outside drinking.

In a previous consultation on extending the streateries programme the “biggest concern among consultees was disturbances such as noise, antisocial behaviour, smoking and dropped litter which impacts on residents’ amenity. The majority of these related to Cleveland Street and Warren Street,” stated a council report in 2022.

The Charlotte Street Association residents’ group has criticised Camden Council for prioritising businesses over people living in Fitzrovia, and many residents view the council’s control of noise nuisance from outside drinking is woefully inadequate.

After the consultation, Camden says it will “carefully consider all the responses alongside other information, to help us decide whether or not to go ahead with the permanently proposed changes”.

If a decision is made to retain the streateries and the other proposals it would be done through a permanent Traffic Management Order.

Cleveland Street proposals

At Cleveland Street Camden is proposing to permanently retain some streateries, but remove others that are no longer required by businesses by making a number of changes.

Camden is proposing to make permanent the streatery spaces outside 124-126 Cleveland Street, but reduce the size by five metres; and permanently retain the streateries outside numbers 70-72, 80 and 96 Cleveland Street.

The streatery spaces outside 68, 82 and 100 Cleveland Street would be removed.

A loading bay and the hours of loading, outside numbers 74-78 Cleveland Street would be made permanent.

An island for a tree and four cycle stands would be installed outside 126 Cleveland Street, and two bike hangars for residents outside 128-134 Cleveland Street. 

A number of changes to parking restrictions would also be made to improve sight lines and visibility for all road users at the junction with Maple Street.  

Cleveland Street Streateries and cycle parking. Public consultation open until 1 November 2023.

Goodge Street proposals

At Goodge Street, Camden is planning to keep the streatery spaces outside numbers 7, 29 and 40-42  Goodge Street, and extend and make permanent the loading bay outside number 8 Goodge Street along with the waiting and loading restrictions.

A cycle lane which runs along the outside of the extended loading bay (outside Tesco at 10-16 Goodge Street) is also to be made permanent — but it will change from a “mandatory” cycle lane to an “advisory” lane.

Goodge Street streateries, loading, and cycle lane. Public consultation open until 1 November 2023.

Warren Street proposals

At Warren Street Camden is proposing to permanently retain the the pedestrian and cycle zone on Warren Street, between the junctions with Grafton Mews and Fitzroy Street.

The zone would be permanently closed to motor vehicles except emergency vehicles, and will be used to place tables and chairs at the kerbside.

Under the plans the streatery outside 25-28 Warren Street, which includes The Smugglers Tavern pub, would also be made permanent.

Warren Street streateries. Public consultation open until 1 November 2023.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2023/10/13/views-sought-on-streateries-at-cleveland-goodge-and-warren-streets/

#CamdenCouncil #ClevelandStreet #GoodgeStreet #publicConsultations #streateries #TheFitzroviaPartnership #WarrenStreet

Around 140 businesses in Fitzrovia West are being balloted this month on a proposal to create a business improvement district (BID).

The West Fitzrovia BID ballot will be administered by Westminster Council’s electoral services.

Ballot papers are being distributed this week and need to be returned by Tuesday 31 October. The results will be published on Wednesday 1 November 2023.

The ballot was due to be held earlier this year but was postponed.

If successful, all business rate payers in the BID area with a property rateable value above £160,000 (as of 31 March 2023 using the 2017 list for all eligible ratepayers) will be compelled to pay the BID levy of one percent of their rateable value — whether they voted for it or not.

The levy, along with contributions from property owners, is anticipated to raise more than £4.2mn over the five year BID term, and the scheme will operate as a public-private partnership with Westminster Council.

Its business plan 2023-2028 The Fitzrovia Partnership identifies six “work programs” and promises to cut costs for its members, improve the trading environment, and tempt more visitors into the area.

The BID also promises cleaner streets — just like those on the Camden side of the neighbourhood which “has enjoyed the additional services provided by The Fitzrovia Partnership BID” for the past 11 years.

West Fitzrovia Business Improvement District proposal.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2023/10/04/fitzrovia-west-businesses-to-vote-on-a-business-improvement-district/

#TheFitzroviaPartnership #WestFitzroviaBID #WestminsterCityCouncil

A business services group in Fitzrovia has done a hasty about-turn on holding a ballot to create a business improvement district (BID) in Fitzrovia West, mere weeks after being given the go-ahead by Westminster Council.

On 3 May The Fitzrovia Partnership gained formal permission to hold a ballot of the largest businesses in Fitzrovia West to raise £4.2mn over five years from a levy on the business rates.

It published its “West Fitzrovia” business plan on its website and said ballot papers were due to be sent out on Tuesday 13 June, and to be returned by 5pm on Tuesday 11 July. Fitzrovia News reported this on Saturday 3 June.

However, it then came to light that The Fitzrovia Partnership had actually abandoned its plans.

“The City Council was given formal notice by the Partnership on 24 May 2023 to postpone the ballot to later this year,” said a spokesperson for Westminster Council, who said they were unable to comment on the reason for the postponement of the ballot.

Fitzrovia News understands that all the eligible businesses who would pay the BID levy were also informed of the decision to halt the ballot.

However, no public statement was made about this and its website was still promoting the June BID ballot. Residents we spoke to had not heard anything about the change of plan, either.

Fitzrovia News contacted The Fitzrovia Partnership on Monday asking for an explanation for abandoning the June ballot but we did not receive a response until today, despite numerous calls pressing them for a response.

“We have postponed the ballot until the autumn,” said Mike Fairmaner, who is leading on the West Fitzrovia BID plans.

“We have taken the view that we want to spend some more time engaging with businesses to ensure we get a good turnout at the ballot.

“I stress that during the past 18 months we have experienced a very positive response to our ambition for establishing a business improvement district in West Fitzrovia but we want to ensure a broad and full business engagement is undertaken within a changing business constituency prior to the start of the statutory ballot process.

“Hence we have decided to postpone the ballot of businesses until October 2023 with a view to the BID formally starting on 1 January 2024. This will mean a bigger mandate to deliver on all the priorities we have set out in the business plan that will remain unchanged,” he said.

The Fitzrovia Partnership have been engaging with businesses in Fitzrovia West about a possible BID since 2017, according to documents seen by Fitzrovia News. They have run a BID in Fitzrovia East since 2012.

As of this evening, when we published this report, there has been no other public statement on the postponement of the ballot and their website or on social media.

#the-fitzrovia-partnership #west-fitzrovia-bid #westminster-city-council

https://fitzrovianews.com/2023/06/08/west-fitzrovia-bid-ballot-put-on-hold-until-autumn/

The West Fitzrovia business plan for 2023-2028 has been published. Image: The Fitzrovia Partnership.

Businesses in Fitzrovia West with a rateable value (RV) above £160,000 will be asked to vote this month on whether they want to create a business improvement district (BID).

The Fitzrovia Partnership, which has run a BID in Fitzrovia East since 2012, has published its business plan for “West Fitzrovia”, setting out its priorities for the district, and has been busy cajoling business owners to part with their money.

Ballot papers will be sent out on Tuesday 13 June and must be returned by 5pm on Tuesday 11 July.

The ballot will be administered by Westminster Council’s electoral services office and the results will be announced on Wednesday 12 July. The five-year BID term will run from 1 August 2023 until 31 July 2028.

If successful, all business rate payers in West Fitzrovia with a property RV above £160,000 (as of 31 March 2023 using the 2017 list for all eligible ratepayers) will be compelled to pay the BID levy of one percent of their rateable value — whether they voted for it or not.

The levy, along with contributions from property owners, is anticipated to raise more than £4.2mn over the five year BID term.

West Fitzrovia BID budget: 2023-2028. Image: The Fitzrovia Partnership.

The West Fitzrovia business plan 2023-2028 identifies six “work programs” and promises to cut costs for its members, improve the trading environment, and tempt more visitors into the area.

The largest budget item is “Environment & Place”, where its focus is on outside dining (which will include drinking), additional street cleaning, uniformed street wardens, greening, and sign-posting visitors into the neighbourhood from Oxford Street.

The BID proposal was approved by Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic development, in a decision taken on 2 May. BIDs operate in a public-private partnership with local government.

The West Fitzrovia BID and The Fitzrovia Partnership BID will be governed by a single board of between 12 and 18 non-executive directors made up of equal numbers of businesses from both areas and chosen by the membership.

David Whittleton of Arup is the current chair of the board of directors of The Fitzrovia Partnership, and its chief operating officer is Lee Lyons.

“Reporting to this board will be separate operational sub-boards, one for West Fitzrovia and one for The Fitzrovia Partnership Camden BID that will oversee the delivery of projects in their respective areas and recommend the setting of the annual budget to the overarching board,” states the business plan.

For residents in Fitzrovia West, a business improvement district will mean a change in the character of the neighbourhood — increased commercial activity, and an expansion of the evening and night time economy which will spill over into its hitherto quieter streets.

Amy Lamé, the Mayor of London’s champion of a 24-hour city, has endorsed the plans.

“I welcome the formation of the new West Fitzrovia Business Improvement District, which will use expert local knowledge to further connect businesses to those who use the area. I look forward to working with them in their efforts to support a thriving round-the-clock offer, including tackling violence against women and girls,” said Lamé.

West Fitzrovia business improvement district boundary with existing BIDs. Image: The Fitzrovia Partnership.

The proposed West Fitzrovia BID boundary borders with the existing Harley Street BID and the New West End Company BID in Westminster, and with The Fitzrovia Partnership BID and the Central District Alliance BID in Camden.

Full details: The Fitzrovia Partnership, West Fitzrovia business plan 2023-2028.

West Fitzrovia Business Plan 2023-2028, executive summary (pdf).

#business-improvement-district #fitzrovia-west #the-fitzrovia-partnership #west-fitzrovia-bid #westminster-city-council

https://fitzrovianews.com/2023/06/03/fitzrovia-west-businesses-to-vote-on-new-business-improvement-district/