We’re delighted to have a guest author for our six monthly ward newsletter – Rev. Bertjan van de Lagemaat, Minister of the Dutch Church.
Broad Street Ward News – 2019 June
The newsletter covers the fascinating role the Church plays in our ward and City community, as well as their most successful Kingsday.
London has always been a city of commerce and a city of food. The City of London Corporation’s wholesale markets, Billingsgate, Smithfield and New Spitalfields, have been at its heart for centuries and have adapted to the City’s changing needs for generations. The City Corporation now has an opportunity to bring all three markets together for the first time at Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham to ensure that they can continue to serve future generations.
We welcome your comments at this important moment for the markets to ensure the proposals reflect the needs of customers and stakeholders. Give your opinion here.
Further Background
On 25 April, a decision was taken for the City Corporation to move ahead with a proposal to consolidate the three wholesale markets, to a new site at Dagenham Dock.
Following the decision, an initial public consultation to seek the views of a wider range of stakeholders on the principle of consolidating the markets, the City Corporation’s vision and the preferred option in Dagenham will launch today and will close on Tuesday 6 August 2019. A consultation portal dedicated to the consolidation of the markets is now live at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/wholesalemarkets and stakeholders can submit a consultation response online.
In early July, The Museum of London will launch its public consultation on the latest new museum plans for West Smithfield ahead of submitting a planning application at the end of the year. The consultation will consist of two displays, one on site at London Wall and one on site in Catering Meats/Unit 307 at West Smithfield, showing the latest architectural visuals and the most recent plans for the museum.
If you are interested in finding out more about this project, you would be particularly welcome at a senior stakeholder drop-in session being held from 6.00pm to 9.00pm on 4 July in Smiths of Smithfield. The plans will be on show and it is an opportunity to meet the project and design teams.
We were so delighted to see the Dutch Church and Dutch Centre celebrating King’s Day with a Friday, 26 April, evening event and a street market from 14:00 on Saturday, 27 April – https://www.dutchchurch.org.uk/dutch-centre-nieuws/#uk
King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima
There were opportunities to have stalls and displays. And let’s not forget that King Willem-Alexander celebrated his 52nd birthday, giving us an excuse to post a royal photo (learnt that from the Daily Mail!).
The day itself was fantastic. 1,200 people turned up. There was a great selection of food, beer, and genever. Children had a great time completing a series of games. And of course now there are plans for next year – an instant City of London tradition begins.
MINUTES OF THE WARDMOTE
HELD AT NOON ON WEDNESDAY 20th MARCH 2019
AT FURNITURE MAKERS’ HALL, LONDON EC2
We are delighted to announce that our distinguished Deputy, John Alfred Bennett, was awarded an MBE in the New Year‘s Honours List:
“Lately Chairman, Board of Governors, Guildhall School of Music and Drama. For services to the City of London and Education.”
We extend our sincere congratulations to him for recognition of his many years of civic work, moreover his recent work as Chief Commoner (see year in photos here).
The City of London Corporation is consulting on two important policy documents setting out proposals for the future development of the City.
City Plan 2036
The City Corporation’s draft Local Plan, City Plan 2036, contains policies on a wide range of topics relevant to the planning and development of the City, including offices, housing, open space and greening, shops, culture and community services.
You can view the full document by visiting www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/cityplan2036. Comments can be submitted via the website or by writing to localplan@cityoflondon.gov.uk. The Local Plan consultation will close on 28 February 2019.
Transport Strategy
The City Corporation’s draft Transport Strategy sets out proposals for the design and management of the City’s streets over the next 25 years to ensure the Square Mile remains a great place to live, work and visit.
You can view and respond to the Transport Strategy proposals by visiting www.citystreets.london. The Transport Strategy consultation will close on 13 January 2019.
Today TfL published research about the economic benefits of the Healthy Streets Approach, as part of a new hub which is available online here: tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/economic-benefits-of-walking-and-cycling
Research shows that when streets and public spaces in London’s town centres and high streets are improved, retail rental values increase, more retail space is filled and there is a 93 per cent increase in people walking in the streets, compared to locations that have not been improved. The research has also found that people walking, cycling and using public transport spend the most in their local shops, 40 per cent more each month than car drivers.
The online hub will be kept up to date with research and statistics from TfL and others, highlighting the economic impact that street improvements can have. Current material on the hub includes:
This research shows the importance of walking and cycling to high streets and local economies, which is why TfL is working to create high streets that are designed for people, inclusive and easy to access by foot or cycle.
One way we are encouraging people to walk more is through Go Jauntly, a discovery and wayfinding app for walking. Go Jauntly, recently selected as the winner of the Mayor’s Active Travel Innovation Challenge, enables people to enjoy self-guided routes with directions, photos and facts along the way. This Christmas the app will showcase local town centres, highlighting unique shopping opportunities across London and encouraging people to shop local. The free app is available to download on the iTunes app store.
To the Ward of Broad Street,
As Alderman for your Ward, I thought I would write and bring you up-to-date with news.
First, you should be receiving our Broad Street Ward Newsletter every six months. If not, or you would like to receive it electronically, please do contact me.
Second, I enclose a few items which might be of interest:
Third, we have made great progress in Broad Street Ward in three major areas:
Two further opportunities that might interest you:
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your support. Your members are always open to ideas for change and improvement. It’s our honour to serve you. We want to continue trying to deliver more by Working for the City, Working for the Ward, Working for You.
Sincerely yours,
Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Executive Chairman, Z/Yen Group
Your members raising your concerns about pedestrianisation in Common Council:
ITEM 11 (ii)
Question to the Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee from Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli – Court of Common Council, 19 July 2018
“My Lord Mayor,
There have been a number of notable public realm improvements for pedestrians.
I might point to the recent transformation of Aldgate Square, or the all-but-pedestrianisation and substantial improvement to Austin Friars in the finest ward in the City.
I am conscious that there are more to come, e.g. St Mary Axe & Lime Street, Bishopsgate & Camomile Street, Houndsditch & Jubilee Gardens, Great St Helen’s Link, Creechurch Lane, and Leadenhall Street.
In addition to direct pedestrian area improvements, your predecessor, Michael Welbank, introduced our informal policy of ‘Groundage’, enlarging the public realm by working with developers to increase pedestrian space by trading height for more ground level space.
Do the Chairman and the Committee intend to continue this policy?
My Lord Mayor.”
Response by the Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee, Mr Christopher Hayward CC – Court of Common Council, 19 July 2018
“My Lord Mayor,
I thank the Honourable Member for giving me notice of his question which highlights the excellent work undertaken in recent years to improve and enhance the public realm across the City, not least as he rightly points out in the finest ward in the City!
The way in which we govern the City of London’s public realm is through the City of London Local Plan which seeks to maintain and improve the City’s characteristic dense network of streets and alleyways and to deliver significant public realm improvements to streets and open spaces which enhance pedestrian permeability, inclusivity and safety.
Through the Plan we have been able to enhance existing upper level walkways and to encourage roof gardens and viewing galleries. This has led to the creation of new open spaces such as Aldgate Square, new spaces and City walkways at London Wall Place, and new public roof gardens such as at 20 Fenchurch Street and Fen Court. Many more are on the way. Future employment growth and public transport improvements will stimulate further development activity and increased pedestrian flows in the City, improving our public space right now is therefore even more important, not least for public safety.
We are currently reviewing our Local Plan to improve matters by encouraging building designs that include a wider range of public uses at street level and at higher levels such as roof top gardens and cafes. This approach will seek to re-establish historic pedestrian routes, or to create new routes through and around buildings.
New tall buildings which have intensified site occupation significantly will need to be complemented by greater provision for public movement within and near the building. In conjunction with the development of the Local Plan, the City is currently consulting on a number of initiatives to create safer and more pleasant streets and a better connected Square Mile, these include the; Transport Strategy, Eastern Cluster Area Strategy, and the Road Danger Reduction and Active Travel Five Year Plan.
As I say, within the Eastern Cluster Area, that you reference in your question, consultation is underway on a strategy to enhance the streets and spaces within this growing area of the City to enable development, provide capacity for all users of the area, create an exceptional urban environment which is attractive, welcoming and vibrant. The recently reopened One London Wall Place is an example of best practice regarding the creation of a new public space and was recently praised by your Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee, who observed that this was an area which developers should seek to emulate, and I agree with them.
We are also consulting on a Transport Strategy for the City. The proposed vision, aims and outcomes within this Strategy will summarise our aspirations for the Square Mile’s streets and how connections to the City should be improved.
Through the measures outlined, your Planning and Transportation Committee will continue to seek to improve the public realm to create a pleasant, attractive and safer Square Mile.
My Lord Mayor.”
Our annual Wardmote was held on Wednesday, 21 March 2018, courtesy of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in their magnificent Drapers’ Hall.
Civic team l to r – Beadle George Martin, Common Councilman Christopher Hayward, Common Councilman John Scott JP, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Deputy John Scott, Ward Clerk Adrian – photo courtesy of Jonathan Hindle, Chairman of Broad Street Ward Club
Just under 30 people attended for just under an hour. We discussed ward issues, most notably:
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Get Smart About Scandals: Past Lessons For Future Finance | Professor Tim Connell and Bob McDowall | 2018 |
Long Finance (March 2018), 102 pages.
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We made a number of announcements, most importantly John Scott’s imminent ascent to Chief Commoner next month, and pointed out that membership of Broad Street Ward Club is something truly worthwhile.
Christopher Hayward, in his role as Chairman of Planning & Transportation, discussed planned developments in our ward, as well as preliminary thoughts on the experimental closure of Bank junction. His presentation notes are here – Christopher Hayward CC – Wardmote 2018 – while his presentation slides are here – Christopher Hayward – Wardmote Presentation & Photos On Developments In Broad Street Ward 2018.
WARD OF BROAD STREET – WARDMOTE AGENDA 2018
Held at Drapers’ Hall, London EC2
at 12 noon on Wednesday 21st March 2018
Please stand
Please sit
Please stand
And closed with the millennia old cry from the Beadle:
OYEZ OYEZ OYEZ,
All ye good people of the Ward of Broad Street, summoned here to this Wardmote, may depart hence and give your attendance when again summoned. And hereof fail not.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
The formal minutes – 2018.03.21 Minutes – Broad St Wardmote – Drapers Hall