Editor’s Notes: The River Thames is the key to London’s past – and its future March 8, 2019 The 19th century socialist MP for Battersea, John Burns, described the Thames as “liquid history”. Today, even a short cruise from Tower Pier to Westminster offers a glimpse of the capital’s rich past – from a Saxon landing bay by Southwark Bridge to the original access point for the Old London Bridge which, by the [...]
Londoners face the biggest rise in council tax bills as rates set to rise from April March 5, 2019 Council tax bills across England are set to rise by an average of 4.5 per cent from April, with the steepest hike coming in London, new research suggests. From the start of the financial year in April, households across Britain will see an average increase of £75.60 in the yearly Band D council tax bill, [...]
Counter terror police investigating explosive devices at Waterloo Station, Heathrow Airport and City Airport March 5, 2019 Counter terrorism police are investigating after explosive devices were found at Waterloo Station, Heathrow Airport and City Airport today. The Met Police counter terrorism command said it was treating the incidents as linked. Packages containing what police said were “small improvised explosive devices” arrived at the three locations this morning. The packages were A4-sized white [...]
Sadiq Khan’s junk food advertising ban will hurt TfL and marketers, but fail to fight childhood obesity March 4, 2019 Last week, a divisive political leader brought an end to a scourge that threatened our everyday society. No, I’m not talking about Donald Trump, whose summit with Kim Jong-un unfortunately failed to achieve the denuclearisation of North Korea. I’m talking instead about London mayor Sadiq Khan, whose ban on junk food advertising on the Transport [...]
Looking for space for homes in the capital? Build over rail lines March 4, 2019 A new survey of housebuilders published last week by construction consulting and design agency McBains is depressing reading for Londoners looking to get a foot on the housing ladder. Although two thirds of housebuilders in London reported that they had built more homes over the last 12 months, those that stated a decrease cited a [...]
Mayor of London warns Londoners they may feel impact of no-deal Brexit ‘immediately’ March 1, 2019 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is set to host a meeting today to discuss the ramifications of a no-deal Brexit on Londoners, warning that it could affect supply of food medicine, health services and crucial services. Read more: Sadiq Khan asks for £5bn grant to protect housing in no-deal Brexit Khan is worried that leaving [...]
Crossrail: Bond Street station work ‘could slip beyond 2019’ February 28, 2019 Completion of Crossrail's Bond Street station could slip to "late 2019 or even beyond", Transport for London (TfL) has admitted. New TfL papers reveal that none of the Crossrail stations are fully complete and that Bond Street, regarded as one of the more complex stations to fit out, would either be finished at the end of [...]
Sadiq Khan asks government for £5bn grant to protect housing from no-deal Brexit February 27, 2019 Sadiq Khan has asked the government to provide a £5.2bn emergency grant to to buffer housing in the capital from the negative effects of a no-deal Brexit. In a letter to the housing secretary, James Brokenshire, the mayor said he remained "deeply concerned" about the impact leaving the EU without a deal would have on London. [...]
Crossrail 2 set to cost taxpayers £41.3bn, reveals London mayor February 27, 2019 Crossrail 2 is set to cost over £40bn, the Mayor of London has revealed in a budget document published earlier this week. The £41.3bn estimate for the proposed north to south London line is higher than the Greater London Authority's widely cited £30bn budget, which is based on 2014 prices. Read more: Crossrail 2 boss says [...]
500 London roads breach air pollution limits as Mayor warns of air quality crisis February 27, 2019 Almost 500 London roads and landmark locations breach air pollution limits, campaigners warned today. Read more: Westminster pledges £28m to ease traffic jams on the Strand The news comes after the Mayor of London issued a high pollution alert for the capital yesterday in response to the unseasonably warm weather. The worst offender listed in the [...]