The City Corporation announced on December 23 2024 that they and the Smithfield traders have agreed on a plan to move the market to a new location “within the M25” when the site closes. See more at the end under updates. The decision yesterday by the City Corporation to close Smithfield meat market within a … Continue reading “Smithfield Market is going – now what next?”
The Culture Mile Business Improvement District has now published a full version of its Public Realm Vision and Strategy, including ideas for major improvements to Aldersgate Street and the Barbican Gateway area. These include widening the streets, increased pedestrianisation, new cycle paths and increased lighting and signage. A preview of the vision was presented at … Continue reading “Culture Mile public realm vision now published in full”
Plans for improvements to streets and public spaces north and south of Smithfield Market are being published as uncertainty emerges about the future of the historic meat market. The surrounding public realm will be particularly important in future on two fronts: when the new London Museum opens nearby in 2026, and when/if the market buildings … Continue reading “Smithfield Market surroundings due for a make-over – sometime”
Update: The Radical Clerkenwell Reinterpreted exhibition is being restaged at The Peel Institute during February and March 2025, with a drinks reception on February 25. Details here. How can social action campaigns of the past inspire activists of today? In Clerkenwell the Marx Memorial Library (MML) has now opened an exhibition showing one way forward: … Continue reading “Radical Clerkenwell Reinterpreted with residents”
I’m looking forward very shortly to another edition of The City Courant magazine, that will celebrate the attractions of the Square Mile alongside its companion publications the Mayfarer and Covent Gardener. Last year the Courant published a souvenir edition for Bartholomew Fair. You can see it here on the Cloth Fair website I developed for … Continue reading “Another City Courant is on its way”
Update: the Culture Mile public realm strategy will be officially launched at an event on November 13 2024. According to a BBC London report from Ben Lynch on November 8 the planned move of Smithfield Market to Dagenham has been halted. Previously: £12 million vision for a more welcoming Smithfield now 10 years away The … Continue reading “Emerging vision for Culture Mile published by BID”
Two City heritage organisations – the London Museum and London Archives – have new initiatives to help people explore both their amazing internal assets and those of their neighbourhoods in Smithfield and Clerkenwell. I wonder if they might join up their approaches? That might produce something like the Museum of the Streets I suggested in … Continue reading “Exploring EC1 with the London Museum and London Archives”
Plans for a community forum in the City of London’s main residential area, featured in proposals for the Culture Mile Business Improvement District, have come down to two meetings a year. I suggest it’s now up to elected Members to consider what’s needed. I have uploaded videos from the first community event organised by the … Continue reading “No community forum for City’s Culture Mile area”
The Culture Mile Business Improvement District held its first community event yesterday evening, as I previewed in this post. Here’s feedback and ideas on how it could mark the start of better engagement with local residents. Update: Links to videos and transcripts at the end, and the latest post: No community forum for City’s Culture … Continue reading “Culture Mile community event – feedback and ideas”
I was really sorry to learn at yesterday’s Citizens Forum that councillor Brendan Barns will no longer be acting as the residents’ representative in development of the Corporation’s Destination City programme. The programme was launched in 2022 to attract more visitors, and support an economy hit by working from home. It is currently undergoing review, … Continue reading “Square Mile residents lose their special Envoy to Destination City”