Fiona Howie
@fionahowie.bsky.social
Interested in communities and placemaking.
It might have just been me, but I would describe the atmosphere on Oxford Street at around 5.15pm today near Bond St tube as joyous.
The British syndrome, summarised: 78% of us say our high streets are important to us. But only 28% of us actually use their local high street even once a week – and only 53% of people said they used theirs *once a month*. We won't use it, and we won't lose it.
The Queen of shops who accidentally helped wreck the great British high street
James Ball: Mary Portas tried valiantly and smartly to revive our high streets, but that was the wrong approach
inews.co.uk
“To the surprise of every Londoner that I have spoken to in the past few months, it is actually happening.”
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w agoEveryone hates Oxford Street. Will pedestrianisation save it?
"I have always found the YIMBY/NIMBY debate quite reductive." The Minister for Housing and Planning in his evidence to the @houseoflords.parliament.uk Built Environment Committee last month. committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
committees.parliament.uk
Tories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet error
Tories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet error
Exclusive: Badenoch’s flagship conference policy document cites £957bn estimate, twice the total in climate advisers’ data
theguardian.com
Actually interesting section on Reform. "To those who say 'unite the right', we are not uniting with that". Says she doesn't want to debate if her mixed-race children are English. "We must not let these people take us backwards." This is a very welcome section, which wins a standing ovation.
Researchers who study the happiness of nations often look at measures like health and wealth. But a new study considered another factor as well: Cats. Examining data from 93 countries, the study found a positive association between cats and happiness. https://wapo.st/4zf9yv1
I think #celebritytraitors might be one of the rare occasions Bluesky comes to life for me with multiple engaging in the same thing at the same time. But, I haven’t watched the first episode yet and have to catch up tomorrow. Now worried about spoilers. What to do, what to do…
In discussions I was part of while at @thetcpa.bsky.social mortgage lenders also argued they would not give mortgages on homes in high flood-risk areas. It is not just the insurance industry that was raising concerns.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · last mo.New UK homes in flood-risk areas could become uninsurable, says Aviva boss
Look, I am not going to criticise Dolly Parton for anything, let alone the name she chose for her management company, but wow did it make this story which refers to it repeatedly a disconcerting read.
Dolly Parton's manager accuses nephew who announced her death of threats and intimidation
Bryan Seaver, who announced Parton's death to the world, is accused of trying to extort her estate.
bbc.co.uk
Our Local Nature Grant empowers young people nationwide to create positive change for nature in their local environment, with up to £1000 in funding available for groups! Applications close 25 October at 11:45pm, apply for funding today: buff.ly/yj1Nf7W #GreenRoots
Tooting Common, in the drizzle, on the August bank holiday weekend.
OBR forecasts for economic growth are facing major headwinds from two directions 1) Net immigration figures are even lower than anticipated 2) heroic assumptions about Labour’s changes to the planning system are facing potential revisions www.ft.com/content/8faa...
Healey could suffer £4bn headroom hit because of lower immigration forecasts
New chancellor is seeking to reassure investors as he prepares for first Budget in October
ft.com
My mum brought me up alone. She was the parent who stayed. A council flat gave her and me the security we needed at the time we needed it most. This ill-thought through, let’s-change-the topic Reform policy was dreamt up by men, for men. news.sky.com/video/reform...
Reform defend prioritising married couples in new housing policy
Richard Tice has insisted that "marriage is a great thing" and the party is not wrong to prioritise couples over single parents for social housing.
news.sky.com
I know there is a lot of focus on how hot the tubes get when it’s hot in London but, my God, the buses are also horrific.
You would never think that the Commonwealth Games start tomorrow.
My favourite thing about the halftime show was Wayne Rooney’s review of the halftime show.
I swear to god if they put an England player on the front pages instead of Josh Kerr I'll burn down Fleet St
Must have been one hell of a team talk by Deschamps at half time.
anyway I do think that overall it would be nice for England to win, for morale
Research shows that between 2019 – when ULEZ was introduced – and 2024, estimated deaths associated with air pollution in London reduced by around 40%. Transformative policies like this can face opposition when first proposed, but public health outcomes are hard to argue with, writes Jane Burston
Burnham should use ULEZ as inspiration for bold national clean air policy
Seventy years on from the Clean Air Act, the incoming PM must put cleaner air at the heart of plans for economic growth.
politicshome.com
What better way to start a sunny Wednesday in Bournemouth than a breakfast event about Local Government Reorganisation! #LGA2026
‘For too long, the places and relationships that hold communities together have been treated as valuable, but only if budgets allow.’
PoliticsHome@politicshome.bsky.social · 4mo agoShared public spaces like libraries, parks and sports clubs help create strong communities. No longer can they be seen as nice-to-haves Writes Cllr Eamon O’Brien, new chair of the @local.gov.uk
Basically every opinion piece during July is going to be some variation of "If Burnham wants to make a real difference he needs to get behind [policy idea I've been banging on about for 12 years]"
Second time in a week at the @kiaoval.com and second time watching England vs NZ. This time #T20WorldCup
