Ben Lynch
@benlynch07.bsky.social
Local Democracy Reporter, covering City of London / Hammersmith and Fulham / Westminster / Kensington and Chelsea / ben.lynch@reachplc.com
New: Historic England has warned the Tower of London is at risk of being added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger unless changes are made to Corporation's draft City Plan 2040. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Tower of London 'at risk' of UNESCO danger list 'unless skyscraper plan changed'
The City of London Corporation's City Plan 2040 was expected to be adopted this summer before the Government intervened to demand further hearings
mylondon.news
New: The Square Mile's only state school may be keeping its childcare provision under a recommended funding deal. Parents have been fighting to retain The Aldgate School's service, with a decision is due to be made next week. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Campaign victory as City of London's only state school may keep childcare
The Aldgate School's childcare provision has been at risk since the City of London Corporation agreed to decommission the former centre
mylondon.news
Concerns raised in H&F over the Mayor's draft London Plan targets for new Traveller and Gypsy pitches. The Plan, which is out for consultation, has H&F as down for 24 additional sites by 2036/37. Neighbouring RBKC down for...0. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Traveller site targets slammed as one borough has 73 and neighbour has 0
Hammersmith and Fulham has been given a proposed target of 24 new pitches by 2036/37, while neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea has zero
mylondon.news
New: An investigation has been launched into the former Hammersmith Ram becoming a new discount store, seemingly without the correct planning permission. www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
West London pub turned into discount store without permission
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has confirmed it is investigating a potential breach of planning regulations after the Hammersmith Ram reopened as a shop
mylondon.news
The City of London has been accused of instructing staff to avoid communicating with employees at two cafes, Parliament Hill Lido & Highgate. Operator Hoxton Beach said this has posed logistical issues, especially following a break-in earlier this summer. www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
Café boss accuses council of ‘pettiness’ after staff 'told not to speak to them'
Staff at two popular park cafés say they are being deliberately ignored by site management even after thieves broke in and stole their cash box - the council disputes this
mylondon.news
New: We can reveal further details of a forthcoming report investigating connections between the City of London Corporation and the African slave trade. The report, a preliminary version of which we have seen, describes members as 'instrumental' to the trade's early history.
Hammersmith Civic Campus update: Popular bakery chain Gail's is set to agree a lease with H&F Council to open a café on-site. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Gail’s set to open new London café as part of Hammersmith Civic Campus
The King Street complex is to include amenities from restaurants and bars to a cinema and refurbished Town Hall
mylondon.news
The City of London Corporation incorrectly paid for a series of overseas trips, including a stay at a five-star Tokyo hotel, from an account partly funded by taxpayers. The mistakes were later realised, with all of the costs re-charged. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Stay at 5-star Tokyo hotel among trips council incorrectly billed
The City of London Corporation said no costs were ultimately met by taxpayers and all of the items were re-charged
mylondon.news
A patient at Charing Cross Hospital had an “invasive line” incorrectly inserted during an operation in May, new papers have revealed. www.mylondon.news/news/health/...
Charing Cross Hospital patient had 'invasive line incorrectly inserted'
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust apologised to the patient, who came to no harm
mylondon.news
Same here on lifts across Golden Lane Estate. These signs have now been up for so long we assume they are part of the Estate's Grade II listing!
Residents living on the Middlesex Street Estate are being advised to carry mobile phones when using the lifts in case they get trapped. This follows one woman (not the man pictured, who is the RA Chair) finding herself stuck earlier this year. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Woman trapped in lift – now residents told to carry phones 'just in case'
Residents have raised serious concerns after a woman was trapped in a lift with a broken emergency call button – only to later see notices telling people to carry a mobile phone in case they become st...
mylondon.news
Soho Parish latest: Locals bid to run school with focus on creativity to save it from closure www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Locals bid to run school with focus on creativity to save it from closure
Soho Parish would ditch "restrictive" teaching styles to use art and STEM activities to engage pupils
mylondon.news
New: After initially saying it could not remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Freedom, the City of London Corporation has now confirmed it is looking to establish a process to strip the disgraced former prince of the honour. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Andrew's Freedom of City of London can be removed, it turns out
The disgraced former prince received the Freedom in 2012 via patrimony from his father, Prince Phillip
mylondon.news
The City of London yesterday agreed a new Memorandum of Understanding with e-bike operators, including financial penalties of up to £10k for poor parking compliance and other failures. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
E-bike operators in Central London could face £10k fines under new rules
The City of London Corporation's new Memorandum of Understanding looks to introduce "stronger controls and accountability" for Forest, Lime and Voi
mylondon.news
New: A report into the City of London Corporation's connections to the slave trade, due to be published later this year, includes a section detailing how part of Hampstead Heath was purchased using funds indirectly connected to the trafficking of enslaved African people.
An Instagram post apparently shared by a Westminster Conservative member is being investigated by the party due to it featuring an ableist slur. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Westminster Tory member investigated over ableist Instagram post
As well as Deputy Chair of the local group, Natalia Awasty was a candidate in the Church Street ward at Westminster City Council's May elections
mylondon.news
GMB Union members at the City of London Corporation have rejected a pay offer over concerns about proposed changes to London Weighting. Strike action is not on the table for now while the union waits for an improved offer. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Union members in roles from Tower Bridge to Guildhall reject pay offer
A local GMB regional organiser said the City of London Corporation's proposal "fell short"
mylondon.news
An unusual one. The Chair of the London Assembly says he's effectively been accused of funding Russia's war machine by buying coffee and other small items in Ukraine during a trip. His account is being closed by First Direct permanently. Story by Kumail Jaffer www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
London Assembly Chair has bank account shut after 'buying coffee' in Ukraine
Andrew Boff said he has been sanctioned because he's been flagged as potentially funding Russia's war machine with his card purchases in Ukraine
mylondon.news
The UK's oldest synagogue, Bevis Marks, is consulting on proposed 'guiding principles'. These are intended to help safeguard its future following several high-profile battles with developers in recent years. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
UK’s oldest synagogue launches guide for developers building around it
Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London was founded in 1701 making it Europe's oldest in continuous use
mylondon.news
A community win from earlier this week as the City of London Corporation agreed to amended designs for the Golden Lane Leisure Centre refurbishment. The key win is the retention of the sports hall, as called for by campaigners. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Central London sports hall saved after residents push back against closure plan
The Golden Lane Leisure Centre's multi-use hall was due to be replaced under previous plans approved by the City of London Corporation
mylondon.news
Future of City of London's 'only affordable nursery' uncertain after decision delayed again www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Future of City's 'only affordable nursery' uncertain as decision delayed
The future of the primary school describes as the "only affordable nursery" in the Square Mile has been plunged into fresh uncertainty
mylondon.news
Blow for Hammersmith Bridge as it is revealed full restoration won't be possible via Gov's Structures Fund, due to requirement schemes be completed by March 31 2030. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
Hammersmith Bridge update means it won't reopen for foreseeable future
The Government has recommended Hammersmith and Fulham Council submit a bid for a "phased repair" of the bridge instead
mylondon.news
A Gov Minister has directed inspectors to hold more hearings into the City of London's City Plan, due to outstanding concerns about the Tower. Planning Chair Tom Sleigh said the decision "beggars belief". www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Tower of London concern sparks row between City Corporation and minister
Work on the City Plan 2040 has been ongoing for several years with the expectation it would be adopted this summer but it has now been delayed
mylondon.news
Serious questions being asked of H&F after 3 men died in a fire at a 'neglected' building owned by the local authority. A residents' association meeting last week saw members of the community express anger over the council's management of the property. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Council slammed after fire at 'neglected' West London building kills 3
The fire broke out at the former Over 50s Centre on the White City Estate on the evening of June 20
mylondon.news
Exclusive from Kat and I: A third of councils in London have no records of whether tenants were evicted from homes being bought for temporary accommodation. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
London councils buy temporary housing with no idea if it evicts people
EXCLUSIVE: Our investigation shows a third of councils in London are not checking if families are being turfed out so they can buy a property
mylondon.news
After more than two years of uncertainty, The Aldgate School may be able to retain its 0-2 childcare provision. City of London members are due to vote on potential ongoing funding next week. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
'Outstanding' school may have affordable childcare secured after outcry
City of London members are to vote on whether to maintain The Aldgate School's subsidy on June 30
mylondon.news
New combined Smithfield and Billingsgate market expected to be open at Albert Island in 2029. Date is dependent on a Private Bill receiving Royal Assent next year, with traders given 24 months from then to vacate the existing sites. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
New combined Smithfield and Billingsgate market projected to open in 2029
The historic markets are expected to relocate to a single facility on Albert Island in Newham
mylondon.news
Do you know what's good for soaking up rain and flooding? Trees - and London has planted at least 553,000 in the last 7 years. @benlynch07.bsky.social sent FOIs to every council to outline the efforts to rewild and decarbonise London since 2019. Interactive map 👇 www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
Interactive map shows where 550k trees planted in London in 7 years
From the most expansive open spaces to the tightest streets, London's councils are planting thousands of new trees as part of their fight against climate change
mylondon.news
