Fitzrovia – Spring sun-seeker on Charlotte Street
A plane tree twists to reap the light coming down Tottenham Street. The tree's natural beauty can be seen without the wires and cables which had been previously stapled to it during the winter months.
Since the demolition of the Middlesex Hospital, the streets surrounding the site have benefited from extra daylight. A tree on the corner of Tottenham Street and Charlotte Street has over time twisted slightly northwest, and reached over towards where the hospital once stood to take advantage of the afternoon light.
In midsummer, Tottenham Street is treated to beautiful sunsets, and the attractive buildings in Riding House Street and Candover Street can be seen. The Grade II listed All Souls’ School is visible from the south and the east, where before it was hidden. Children in their new playground enjoy the light even on the cold winter days.
People commented during the hot summer days in 2009 how there was a refreshing breeze coming down Tottenham Street to stir the humid air that gathered during the daytime and often lingered into the night. The trees also provide vital shade during the London summers. Natural heat control amongst the scourge of air-conditioning units that proliferate in Fitzrovia.
Fitzrovia – Gardeners condemn Kaupthing’s icy response
Fitzrovians condemned Kaupthing the owners of the former Middlesex Hospital site after they announced on Monday 8 March that they would not be allowing temporary gardens to go ahead. Kaupthing cited legal reasons for not continuing with the project.
A statement from Kaupthing issued through their public relations team to Fitzrovia News said: “Following a detailed review and the renewed confidence in the property market Kaupthing Bank has decided to put the Middlesex Hospital site into a formal sales process. This means that we will now not be pursuing a planning application with Stanhope.
“The nature of the sale process is such that a new owner may take possession of the site later this year, which also means that the application for a temporary planning permission for gro-bags on part of the site cannot go ahead. We understand that this will be a disappointment for the local community given the time and effort put into the project.
“In light of this, we intend to pass on all the information relating to the allotments’ project to bidders, as they may be interested in it, although we cannot guarantee this and there will be no formal obligation on a new owner to do so.”
“Following our meeting last week with Cllr Hossack we did look into the possibility of having allotments on the site for a shorter period, over this summer. We have looked into this and unfortunately it is not possible to do this for legal reasons.
“Under the Allotments Act 1950 a landlord must give a tenant of an allotment garden 12 months notice to quit the land. This means that were Kaupthing to grant the tenancies for the allotments today, vacant possession could not be legally guaranteed until this time next year. This could jeopardise any sale and could limit a potential purchaser’s options regarding the land for some time and the advice we have had is that it is not possible to contract outside of this legislation. Kaupthing does however remain committed to including details of the allotments’ proposal in the sale information.” the statement said.
This was cold comfort for all those who spent time in meetings and setting up a website to co-ordinate the project.
Rebecca Hossack said she was very annoyed: “I am furious at Kaupthing. It is absolutely outrageous. For one year I have jumped through all the hoops they have asked me to, spent an enormous amount of time, energy and money, as have dozens of people in the community. Why shouldn’t we be allowed on this land? It is not harming anyone.
“As I told them they have either the option to sell a piece of land which has a few local residents gardening contentedly in a corner, or they can sell a block of land that is blighted by fury and anger from the community and that we will make sure any potential purchaser knows the extent of our fury.
“I believe Kaupthing have broken their word. They made an agreement with us which I have honoured and on the strength of that agreement I have raised sponsorship for the grow-bags. They have a duty to honour their arrangement and if it means their property won’t be worth as much it’s too bad, it’s not all about money, it’s about people,” said Ms Hossack.
Others echoed these sentiments. Eddie Duke-Low lives overlooking the hospital site. He took Kaupthing to task about their legal arguments: “I think it’s a lame excuse. They’ve raised people’s hopes only to dash them again. I can’t see why we can’t enjoy these gardens for a short period.”
As one of the oldest residents in Fitzrovia he made a personal appeal: “Please let’s go ahead with this project. We have a number of older people who were looking forward to getting involved, planting seeds and having the pleasure of seeing things grow.
“And what about the children at All Souls’ School? They must be very disappointed. All those families looking forward to it. It’s a disgrace,” said Mr Duke-Low.
Fitzrovia – Olive Leonard is making a world of difference
Arch queen: practising diplomacy while building bridges.
Olive Leonard has been interviewing older people in Fitzrovia for a history project. “The best bit of the job is hearing people’s life stories. Its been a good reminder that a skilled interviewer needs to remain impartial in response to any strong views made by interviewees. My job is to interview people and try not to judge what they say. At times this can be difficult if someone holds exceptionally strong views on a subject, but so far so good, my diplomacy skills appear to be working,” says Olive.
You can read more about Olive’s work here: http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/uk/olive-leonard/
Fitzrovia – Fairy lights are being removed from Fitzrovia trees
Xmas lights being removed from ash tree in Charlotte Street
Lights installed in trees in the Charlotte Street conservation area were tonight (Sunday 7 March 2010) being taken down by contractors after a campaign by local residents to have them removed succeeded. Fitzrovia News previously reported that the lights had been installed in a conservation area without public consultation and without advice from Camden Council’s arboricultural officers.
The lights were installed to welcome Christmas shoppers as part of an initiative by local businesses and Camden Council. The move was not welcomed by many residents and described as an act of vandalism by some residents.
Background to this story: http://fitzrovianews.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/fitzrovia-trees-vandalised-for-fairy-lights/
Fitzrovia – Garden allotments on Middlesex Hospital site in jeopardy
Kaupthing have confirmed they intend to sell the former Middlesex Hospital site and are no longer prepared to go ahead with allowing temporary allotments to be created. Documents were sent out last week to allotment stakeholders confirming that the community project would not go ahead. However, when the company were made aware of the strength of feeling and support for a garden in Fitzrovia they have indicated they may yet consider allowing the project to go ahead.
Ms Rebecca Hossack, who has been campaigning to bring allotments onto the open space, told Fitzrovia News: “Kauthing had the courtesy to come and see me in person on Friday afternoon. They were taken aback with my arguments as to the extent of community involvement and desire to make this project work. They said their lawyers had advised them against it, I said their lawyers hadn’t spoken to the community. Anyway, I said please let us on for the summer at least, that it’s the least they could do after all the time and effort and money we’ve invested in this. They’ve promised to get back to me.”
Prior to the announcement of the sale of the site, developer Stanhope plc had agreed in principle to allow local people and All Souls’ School to have use of part of the site for temporary garden allotments. Stanhope until recently was in the process of submitting a planning application to Westminster City Council for planning permission for temporary allotments on the vacant site. Stanhope have confirmed that they intend to bid to buy the site.
Kaupthing took control of the three acre site after the previous proposals by Candy & Candy fell through due to the economic recession. Stanhope were appointed by Kaupthing to draw up plans to develop on the site.
Background information on sale of site here: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3159120&c=1#ixzz0hS25SVGB
Information about the proposed garden allotments at fitzgrovia.com
Fitzrovia – Looking for relatives of Reginald Anderson
Julie Anderson is looking for relatives or friends that may have known her father Reginald Anderson. He was born in Bolsover Street, Fitzrovia, in 1923, and passed away in March 2009. He grew up in the area and his father had a shoemakers shop on corner of Hanson Street. Julie is trying to piece together some family history and would be grateful if someone who knew him could contact her on 07528 606 141.
Fitzrovia – Stanhope may bid for former Middlesex hospital site when it goes on market
Stanhope may bid for the former Middlesex hospital site when it goes on the market. Former Middlesex hospital site in London back on market – Property Week
In the meantime Stanhope have agreed with residents in Fitzrovia to allow temporary allotments on the site subject to planning permission being granted by Westminster City Council. See Fitzgrovia.com for more information.
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Fitzrovia – Kaupthing to sell former hospital site
Kaupthing is to sell the former Middlesex Hospital site “Noho Square” says the FT http://bit.ly/9tspf8 Temporary allotments are due to be placed on part of the site in May this year.
Fitzrovia – Trees vandalised for fairy lights
A staple gun was used to nail hundreds of steel staples into Fitzrovia trees to install fairy lights to attract Christmas shoppers during December.
Mature Ash, Maple and London Plane trees in Fitzrovia, already under stress, were used to welcome seasonal customers and to promote commercial activity but without advice and permission from Camden Council’s tree officers.
Local residents also objected to the trees being used in this way, but were unaware of the damage to the trees until a Tottenham Street resident pointed it out in February.
Five trees, including a maple tree on the corner of Tottenham Street and Tottenham Court Road which already had severe damage to its bark, had steel staples driven into them to attach electrical cabling and lights. All the trees lie within the Charlotte Street conservation area. Picture of one of the trees here.
The tree lighting was commissioned by the chair of the Bloomsbury Association, and organiser of the Charlotte Street Festival, Jim Murray, who declared on his website:
“The spectacular tree lighting on Charlotte Street and Whitfield Gardens has been provided with the generous sponsorship of The Fitzrovia Partnership, Fitzroy Tavern, Gaucho, Pescatori, Siam Central, Thai Metro, La Perla and Charlotte Street Blues.”
Over the months of December and January the unsightly nails, cables, wires, and electrical junction boxes were hidden from view for most of the time because of the dark skies.
However, in the middle of February Tottenham Street resident Linus Rees noticed that the lights were still installed in the trees.
“I wondered why the lights had not been taken down in early January and then I noticed those awful cables were coiled around the poor trees and that they were attached with steel staples. So I took pictures and showed them to my neighbours who encouraged me to contact Camden Council,” said Mr Rees.
The treatment of the trees was widely condemned by residents and workers in Fitzrovia.
Anne MacGregor in Charlotte Street was angry that the trees had been defaced in this way.
“Who gave permission for the installation of lights? Will those responsible be prosecuted by Camden Council for doing so without permission? Did Camden Council or one of its agents give permission and if so, were they also ignorant of legal protections in place for unauthorised development in a Conservation Area? Will they be held responsible?
“It’s a great pity that Camden Council for all its bleating about environmental concerns did not spend more money and exercise more oversight to those they employ and we tax payers are paying for to care for the trees and landscaping on Charlotte Street – one of the last truly residential neighbourhoods in their area. The trees deserve better and so do we,” said Ms MacGregor.
Scott Macgregor described it as “vandalism to put electric lights in trees. The trees have enough of a hard time from pollution, drunks and what not, without doing this to them”.
Bloomsbury ward councillor, Penny Abraham said “It is scandalous that these poor trees were stapled.” And councillor Rebecca Hossack said: “This is awful. I feel their pain.”
Sarah from RedHed in Charlotte Place was very upset and said: “It’s awful!”
A resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, witnessed the installation of the tree lights in Charlotte Street and told Fitzrovia News:
“I saw the lights being installed around midnight at the beginning of December and I noticed that some of the tree’s branches were being torn off and thrown onto the street. I should have reported this at the time. I now regret that I didn’t,” said the witness.
Mature trees in a conservation area are protected in law under section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Any application for an installation or works on a tree must be approved by the local planning authority and this involves public consultation. The arboricultural officer of the authority must also be consulted.
Camden Council’s tree officers have stated that they were not consulted and would not have approved the use of steel staples to attach electric cabling. The tree officer dealing with the case said that they would get the cables and lights removed as soon as possible.
It seems that someone in Camden Council gave permission for the lights to be installed as electricity cables had to be run from nearby lampposts to connect with the tree lights.
Sources in Camden Council told Fitzrovia News that if the council was supporting a Christmas shopping promotion then the council could bypass certain procedures in order to advance this initiative. It seems that Camden caved in to pressure from local businesses. And in the Christmas rush, public consultation, the protection of a conservation area and greenery went out the window.
Camden Council did, however, consult with the Friends of Open Spaces, Fitzrovia, over the installation of lights in one tree in Whitfield Gardens. But the Friends voted against the proposal arguing that putting Xmas lights in the badly maintained, rat- and pigeon-infested gardens was wholly inappropriate as well as commercialisation of precious public open space.
Mr Murray, who organised the lighting of the trees, said that he would be working with Camden Council to remove the lights from the trees as soon as possible.
Mr Murray also added that he had been assured by the contractors that the method of installing the tree lighting was an approved method and that the staples were zinc and safe to use on the trees. He said that about 20 staples had been used on each tree.
However, Mr Rees carefully extracted one of the 12mm staples from the tree and confirmed the staple was steel by using a magnet. He also stated that there are about 100 staples stuck in each tree.
Fitzrovia – Penny drops out after a fine run
Bloomsbury councillor Penny Abraham will retire at the elections in May this year. Her work has been widely appreciated in Fitzrovia and she has gained respect and affection.
The Charlotte Street Association is organising a ‘Presentation Fund’ for members and all who live and work in Fitzrovia. If you would like to make a contribution to the Penny Abraham Presentation Fund it should be sent to:
The Treasurer, Charlotte Street Association, 39 Tottenham Street W1T 4RX and made payable to Charlotte Street Association, or by direct transfer to bank account: Charlotte Street Association; Sort code: 56-00-31; Account number: 72671939 Closing date 10 April 2010.
