Brits drawn to Soho homes: 15 Hollen Street is latest development in once subversive London district January 15, 2015 In Victorian times, Soho was a murky and dangerous district. Home to London’s original red light district, it was the place where the gentry mixed with poverty-stricken artists. Nowadays, you’re more likely to bump into an advertising executive sipping a mocktail than a lady of the night, but it’s still a thriving cultural hub with [...]
Focus on Blackfriars: The rise and rise of City towers on the South Bank January 15, 2015 Of all the makeovers the City of London has undergone in the ancient heart of the capital, Blackfriars is set to be one of the most breathtaking. The opening of Blackfriars South in 2013 marked the first new train station to open on the south bank of the Thames in 120 years. Commuters will no [...]
Brighton to Victoria Train of Shame: Southern offers grovelling apology following another week of delays January 14, 2015 Southern, the company behind the Train of Shame – the 7.29am service from Brighton to Victoria which was late every day last year – was forced to apologise to customers yesterday following a week of severe delays. “We understand our passengers’ frustration and apologise for the levels of performance they are currently experiencing,” said David [...]
Blame the coalition for rising childcare costs: London’s mayor must get a grip January 14, 2015 I’m A dad to two wonderful teenage daughters, so I know that being a parent in London can be challenging. Like most Londoners, my job is hectic. I often leave home before my girls are up in the morning, and in the evening, votes and constituency meetings mean I don’t get home till late. My [...]
No snow, but Met Office puts weather warnings in place for Greater London, Kent, Oxfordshire and West Sussex January 14, 2015 London might not be getting any snow this week, but the Met Office has put out warnings that heavy rain and wind could lead to localised flooding and travel disruption. The UK's weather authority has put severe weather warnings in place for Greater London, Kent, Oxfordshire, West Sussex, Portsmouth and Southampton, saying affected areas [...]
ECJ deals bitter blow to Addison Lee as black cabs retain exclusive right to bus lanes January 14, 2015 London's black cabs have retained the exclusive right to share the capital's bus lanes as a result of a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Eventech, the owner of a minicab fleet used by Addison Lee, brought the case to the ECJ after losing at the High Court. The company decided to fight [...]
London Bus strikes: Unite union hints at more chaos for commuters January 13, 2015 Londoners face more commuting chaos over the coming weeks if the union representing bus drivers fails to get operators to come to the negotiating table. Members of the Unite union at 18 bus companies walked out for a 24-hour strike yesterday over pay and conditions, causing chaos for passengers. Transport for London (TfL) said about [...]
London cabbies demand government clampdown on Uber’s tax arrangements January 13, 2015 Over 20,000 taxi and minicab drivers are demanding the government clamp down on American taxi app service Uber in what may be the first major conflict between cabbies and Uber in London this year. The drivers, many of whom are represented by the Licensed Private Hire Car (LPHCA), say they want to put an end [...]
Here’s everything you need to know about today’s London bus strike, including the routes not affected January 13, 2015 Note: This story is from January. For February's bus strikes please go to this article. Transport for London (TfL) has insisted that a third of its bus routes are still operating as normal, despite a 24-hour strike launched today by the Unite union. Bus drivers said they wanted a single agreement to cover their pay [...]
Bus driver strike to cause chaos January 12, 2015 LONDONERS face travel misery today as 27,000 bus drivers in the capital go on strike over pay. The strike, which was due to begin at 4am, will last until the early hours of tomorrow morning, despite only 16 per cent of drivers voting in favour of the action. Unite the union called the strike because [...]