That Was The Year That Was In Hammersmith

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Looking back at the stories that made our headlines in 2019

January

Hammersmith Set to Get Two Cycle Routes
A4 lane for 'more experienced' cyclists, as well as CS9 on King Street

Hammersmith Speedboat Killer Wins Right to Appeal Against Conviction
Despite international manhunt finding no trace of fugitive Jack Shepherd

Andy Slaughter Raises Issue of Unregulated Airbnb Lets
Following stabbing on Fulham Palace Road and arrest of 39 partygoers

H&F Local Heroes Included in New Year Honours List
Awards for two community champions and former director of Riverside Studios

February

Green Light for Billion Pound Plan to Transform Olympia
Council gives go ahead for 'arts, entertainment, events and creative business quarter'

King Street Patisserie Valerie Will Stay Open for Now
But Westfield cafe is among closures after company falls into administration

West King Street Renewal Project Gets Go Ahead
Changes to come include new look for Town Hall, cinema and over 200 homes

Was Hammersmith Man Harold Jones ' Jack the Stripper'?
BBC documentary reveals new evidence about identity of 1960s serial killer

March

Plans to Downgrade Charing Cross Hospital Scrapped
NHS to ditch controversial Shaping a Healthier Future scheme

Campaigners Celebrate Surprise Reprieve for Charing Cross
Save Our Hospitals campaigners delighted by 'huge victory'

Brexit March Gathers in Fulham's Bishop's Park
Despite council refusing permission to use the park or march in local streets

H&F Police Merge with Neighbours in New Basic Command Unit
Radical shake up creates Central West BCU with 1,800 officers across three boroughs

April

Row Escalates Over Sudden Closure of Hammersmith Bridge
Neighbours tell H&F to 'get a grip on this long-standing problem'

Giant 'Wet Wipe Reef' Found Near Hammersmith Bridge
23,000 wipes found on one stretch of the Thames foreshore

'Shock and Sadness' at Godolphin & Latymer Over Death of Pupil
15 year-old Amelie Linsey was killed with her brother by bomb in Sri Lanka

Hospital Support Workers to Protest Next Week Over Poverty Pay
Charing Cross cleaners, porters and domestic staff 'deserve more than minimum wage'

May

Hammersmith to Mark 75th Anniversary of D-Day
At St Paul's Gardens where General Montgomery planned Normandy landings

Flat Sales Surge in Hammersmith in 2019
Local agent welcomes return of 'sorely missed' first time buyers

Gwyneth Paltrow Hosts Two Day Wellness Summit in Hammersmith
Tickets to In Goop Health on sale for £1,000 to £4,500

New Hammersmith Police Station To Open Next Year
Police dispute claims £59 million facility is behind schedule

June

Town Hall and Tower Blocks go Green for Grenfell
As mark of remembrance and solidarity on second anniversary of fire

Council Confirms Bridge Repairs Could Take Up to Three Years
Work to begin after 'full diagnosis of potential problems and their causes'

Hammersmith Marks 75th Anniversary of D-Day on Saturday
At St Paul's Gardens where General Montgomery planned Normandy landings

Stunning Result for Lib Dems in Hammersmith & Fulham
Party wins most votes locally in European election by a wide margin

Lena Gardens School Closure All But Certain
Slower population growth blamed for number of pupils falling to 43

 

July

Could Hammersmith Gain a New York Style Skyline?
Competition winners' ideas include rooftop park, biodomes, aquarium and greenhouse

St Augustine's Church Wins Hammersmith Society Conservation Award
Judges also praise parklets, planting under flyover and two King Street shop fronts

Extinction Rebellion Activists Ride from Bridge to Town Hall
Ahead of H&F Council's unanimous declaration of Climate Emergency

H&F Council Earned Over £13 Million from Traffic Fines in 2018
Britain's second highest earner issued over 239,000 Penalty Charge Notices

August

H&F Council to Open New King Street Service Centre This Month
As staff move out of Town Hall ahead of long planned redevelopment

£76 Million Wasted on Plans to Close Local Hospitals
MP calls for enquiry into failed Shaping A Healthier Future programme

Hammersmith Property Sales Slow to a Trickle
But affordable new flats close to King Street prove popular with buyers

They Did It! Ravenscourt Park Glasshouses Projects Hits Funding Goal
222 backers raise over £111,000 to create weatherproof community hub

September

MP, Friends and Colleagues Pay Tribute to Penny Flood
A stalwart supporter of the Labour Party and much loved member of Neighbour Net

Town Hall Closes for Three Year Long Redevelopment
Council opens service centre in King Street and register office in Beavor Lane

First Stage of  Hammersmith Bridge Repairs Has Begun
But it is still exploring ways to raise up to £120m for three year long restoration

Michael Winner's Widow Tied Up and Robbed by His Ex-Girlfriend
Geuorgoieva from West Kensington believed she had been cut out of his will

 

October

King Street's L'Amorosa Retains Michelin Bib Gourmand
While three local restaurants gain one star including newcomer Endo at the Rotunda

Jail for Men Found in Hammersmith Street with Drugs Worth £2.7 Million
Eastern Europeans caught in Brackenbury Gardens with 22kg of cocaine in suitcase

Young Kayakers Rescue Woman Who Fell from Hammersmith Bridge
Praise for river rescue 'heroes' from London Sports Trust Blades

Plans for 'Hideous' Skyscrapers on Magistrates Court Site Withdrawn
Application pulled before planning meeting after attracting over 100 objections

November

Riverside Studios Reopen to Public
Bar and cafe now open and tickets on sale for first stage production Persona

Tideway Boring Machine Rachel Tunnels West to Acton
While connection from Hammersmith to supersewer is now complete

Hammersmith Flat Buyers Swap New for Old
Market switches from developments to traditional properties close to town centre

The Irish Cultural Centre Announce Sudden Death of David O'Keefe
Team express 'Unbearable sadness' over loss of very much loved manager



December

Andy Slaughter Retains Seat in Hammersmith Constituency
Rare bright spot during miserable night for the Labour party

H&F Council Cabinet Gives Go Ahead for Two Cycle Routes
Decision comes as TfL confirms work on Kew Bridge end of Cycleway 9 starts next week

Lumi Power Yoga Voted Hammersmith's Best Business - Again!
Pop-up store Made in H&F also triumphs in Brilliant Business Awards

£89 Million King Street Regeneration Budget Approved
Council plans to borrow to fund part of town hall redevelopment

December 31, 2019