The London Minute ⏰ Monday 7 October 2024
Food hygiene investigation, Hampstead Heath dog pond poison warning, Hackney pool's £71m refurb + Euston screen switched off
🌞 Good morning London. Here’s Monday’s London Minute.
🍕 Dozens of east London food outlets are accused of fraud after ‘displaying inaccurate food hygiene ratings’. - Guy Lynn, Eric Anderson & Stephen Menon, BBC Investigations.
🐾 Two children and a woman were taken to hospital after being attacked by four "dangerously out of control" dogs in Orpington. - ITV London News.
⮑ A local man was described as a ‘hero’ who ‘saved the day’ by stopping the dogs. - Anders Anglesey, MyLondon.
🚨 A man was stabbed near Stoke Newington High Street on Saturday morning. - Nathalie Raffray, Hackney Gazette.
✏️ Parents and school staff have hit out at Hackney Council over plans that could see the closure or merger of Sir Thomas Abney, St Dominic’s, St Mary’s and Oldhill primary schools. - Joe Steen, Local Democracy Reporter, Hackney Citizen.
🪧 At least 17 people were arrested at Saturday’s pro-Palestine march in central London, which saw tens of thousands of people call for a ceasefire and end to conflict in the Middle East. - ITV London News.
⮑ CCTV images have been published by police of people who they suspect committed ‘further potential offences which came to light on social media’.
🐾 ‘Poisonous flea powder’ is killing wildlife on Hampstead Heath, according to new research by the Heath and Hampstead Society, City of London and London Zoo experts. They’ve found ‘dangerous levels of chemicals’ in the ponds most-often used by dogs. - Dan Carrier, Camden New Journal.
🏊♀️ The 130-year-old Kings Hall Leisure Centre in Clapton is set to shut for three years for a £71m refurbishment. Local mayor Caroline Woodley described the vision as ‘beautiful proposals’, which will include a new pool, sports hall, fitness suite, communal spaces and upgraded changing facilities. - Joe Steen, Local Democracy Reporter, Hackney Citizen.
🚚 More than 40 businesses including Ocado, the AA and Openreach have called on the mayor of London to abandon plans to extend the congestion charge to electric vans. - James Tapper, The Guardian.
💰 West Ham co-owner David Sullivan says his is selling his Marylebone mansion at a £10m loss because ‘what the government is doing to the non-doms isn’t very nice’. - Jon Robinson, City AM.
💰 ‘Apply now for grant funding from Lambeth Community Fund – deadline is 16th Oct 2024’ - Brixton Buzz.
💡 Network Rail has turned off the large advertising board at Euston station as part of a review ordered by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. She told BBC London News:
"For too long, Euston station simply hasn't been good enough for passengers. That's why I've tasked Network Rail with coming up with a clear plan to immediately improve conditions for passengers. This includes a shutdown of the advertising boards from today to review their use."
💷 A change in the law means all tips and service charges paid on restaurant bills must be given to staff. ‘But on Friday night in London’s West End, most diners and restaurant staff were unaware of the change’, reports James Tapper in The Guardian.
🍽️ Eat 17, one of Walthamstow’s most popular restaurants, is set to close after 17 years - with owners blaming rising costs. - William Mata, The Standard.
🪮 Members of a community support group in Hackney are proposing new emojis to feature feature more afro hairstyles. - Mabel Banfield-Nwachi, The Guardian.
🛍️ First look: Lewisham Shopping Centre is getting a new open-air market, reports Annie McNamee in Time Out.
⮑ A new food market is due to open on Saturday in Elephant and Castle, with 100 free lunches on offer. - Isabel Ramirez, Southwark News.
🐾 Four kittens rescued by Haringey Council staff after being left abandoned in a Tottenham park are doing well, the RSPCA says. - Haringey Community Press.
📌 The London Minute Community Noticeboard
📌 “There are not one but two great events taking place at Stoke Newington Bookshop this week: on Monday 7th, a conversation on mixed race life in Britain between Jassa Ahluwalia, Emma Slade Edmondson and Nicole Ocran; and on Thursday 10th, Graham Caveney will be talking to Julie Hesmondhalgh about his cancer memoir The Body In The Library. Tickets only £3!” - Thanks to the event organiser for sharing this.
📌 What’s missing? Share your local news and events here.
📈 The most-viewed links from the last newsletter:
🚇 RMT members vote for possible strike action on the Underground.
🚨 Bus driver arrested as woman dies after being hit by double decker in Islington.
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