Piccadilly Circus billboards switched off as work begins on new state-of-the-art advertising screen

Pic:The advertising screens before they were switched off.
Staff reporter(wp/es):

The Piccadilly Lights were this morning turned off as major redevelopment work on the central London landmark began.

At about 8.30am on Monday, the Lights, the large advertising screens in Piccadilly Circus, first showed a montage of historic images before a countdown was started and the screens turned off.

The Lights have only been blank on a handful of occasions before - for the duration of the Second World War, Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965 and Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.

The screens will be replaced with one curved screen of the same size that will be the highest resolution LED display of its size in the world. The work is set to be finished by Autumn.

Six advertisers will share the screen, which will be able to live-stream video, show weather and sports results and social media feeds. 

Coca-Cola, which has had a advertising space at the Lights since 1954, has renewed its advertising deal at the Lights, with other brands yet to be announced. 

Vasiliki Arvaniti, Portfolio Manager at Land Securities, which has owned the Lights since the Seventies, said: “This is a huge day for Piccadilly Lights and though it will be a strange feeling to see them go dark, we’re incredibly excited about their future.”

Ros Morgan, Chief Executive Heart of London Business Alliance, said: “The light’s transformation into Europe’s largest single digital screen is a showcase of London’s innovation and will bring visitors an enhanced entertainment experience, whilst offering businesses a world-leading platform to engage with the 400 million people who visit the wider area each year.”

An estimated 100 million people pass through Piccadilly Circus and pass the lights annually. The first illuminated advertising space in Piccadilly Circus as a sign for Perrier which was installed in 1908.

£235m is left unused on Oyster cards..

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Money left on unused Oyster cards is increasing by £1 million a month and now stands at more than £235 million, official figures reveal today.

The number of “dormant” cards - those that have not been used for more than 12 months - has jumped to nearly 43.7 million, up two million since the end of June last year.

The figures sparked fresh demands for Transport for London (TfL) to make it easier for passengers to claim refunds.

The amount of money left on the cards has risen to nearly £236.6 million, with one of the reasons the 48-hour restriction on Oyster refunds. This means that if someone buys an Oyster card, pays the £5 deposit and puts money on it they can only claim a refund after 48 hours, which is hitting tourists and visitors to the capital.

The increase in contactless travel is another explanation.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly who highlighted the statistics, said: “Fourteen years since the start of Oyster the amount left on dormant Oyster cards has reached a staggering level with TfL now sitting on a massive cash pile of a quarter of a billion pounds.

“TfL should never forget that this is the public’s money they are holding and people should be able to reclaim it as easily as TfL take money from passengers in the first place.”

Ms Pidgeon added: “Ending the 48 hour restriction facing passengers before they can claim back their deposit and any remaining balance on a card is long overdue, and is just one of the many changes TfL need to make to ensure that people can easily get back their own money left on unused Oyster cards.”

A recent report by the watchdog London TravelWatch examining the impact of the Tube ticket offices closures recommended changes to the system including the removal of the 48-hour restriction.

It stated: “Passengers currently have to wait 48-hours from purchasing an Oyster card before being able to get back their deposit and any remaining balance on the card.

“This does not represent good customer practice especially for visitors to London who are only here for a short period of time.

“It should be possible for customers to get a refund on their Oyster card whenever required.”

Shashi Verma, TfL’s chief technology officer, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that our customers can get back the credit on their Oyster cards if that is what they want.

“That is why we regularly publish the amount of credit on cards and how people can obtain a refund whenever they wish.

“These can be obtained from any Tube station ticket machine, our Visitor Information Centres or by contacting our customer team on 0343 222 1234.”

Woman robbed in 'homophobic' attack outside Nando's restaurant in South London Denmark Hill

Pic:  A woman was mugged outside a Nando's restaurant in Denmark Hill
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A woman was grabbed by the neck and mugged during a homophobic attack outside a Nando’s restaurant in south London, police said.

The victim, a 37-year-old woman, was robbed outside the chicken restaurant in Denmark Hill late at night.

Scotland Yard she was approached by a group outside the restaurant between 10.15pm and 11.15pm on Friday, December 30.

Police said that one of the group, a woman, made homophobic slurs towards the victim before grabbing her around the neck and forcing her to hand over her belongings.

The suspect then threatened the victim and fled the scene.

Detectives from Lambeth Community Safety Unit are appealing for anyone who was in or around the area and may have seen the incident, or the suspect fleeing the scene, to contact police.

A 36-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of robbery in connection with the investigation.

She has been released on bail until late February pending further enquiries.

British Airways cabin crew set to stage three-day strike later this month

Pic:British Airways cabin crew have announced a three-day strike 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

British Airways cabin crew will stage a fresh 72-hour walk-out, it has been announced.

Staff will strike from January 19 in a dispute over pay, the Unite union said on Thursday.

The action comes as part of a long running dispute over the wages of more than 2,500 “mixed fleet” members of the union.

Unite said a recent survey revealed almost half of the new cabin crew had taken on a second job to make ends meet, with some saying they had to sleep in their cars between shifts because they could not afford the petrol to drive home.

Two thirds admitted to going to work unfit to fly because they could not afford to be off sick.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: "British Airways should be under no illusion about our members' determination to secure a settlement that addresses their concerns over poverty pay. 

"Seeking to squeeze ever more from cabin crew and making passengers pay for services which were once complimentary is a sad state of affairs for an airline which once described itself as the 'world's favourite'.

"We would urge British Airways to avoid the inconvenience and disruption of industrial action by meaningfully addressing levels of poverty pay which are causing financial worry and distress to 'mixed fleet' cabin crew."

Unite said over 800 mixed fleet cabin crew workers have joined the union since the start of the dispute, taking membership to over 2,900.

Chelsea's new £500m stadium will be one of 'world’s best football arenas'

Pic:Chelsea's New redevelopment stadium
Staff reporter(wp/es):
Chelsea's new 60,000-seat arena will be one of the world’s premier football stadiums when it opens in 2021, jubilant council leaders said today.

Owner Roman Abramovich’s £500m rebuild of Stamford Bridge, designed by the team who created Beijing 2008’s lauded Birds’ Nest, was given unanimous backing by councillors in Hammersmith and Fulham.

It means the current 41,600 capacity ground will be demolished to be replaced with a state-of-the-art venue, subject to final approval by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Blues chairman Bruce Buck was among those to welcome the decision, which the club described as a “significant step” in its history.

It means Chelsea will be able to close the capacity gap with Arsenal, whose 60,000-seater Emirates brought in £101million matchday revenue last year compared to Chelsea’s £71million.

Councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith and Fulham council, told the Standard: “We are going to get one of the most outstanding football stadiums anywhere. It will be talked about and written about all over the world.

“In the post-Brexit period, to have such a huge sum of money pour in for what will be a spectacular attraction is good news for the whole UK economy.”

Ben Peirson, speaking on behalf of holding company Fordstam, said the proposed scheme would: “deliver a modern football stadium of considerable architectural distinction which will be recognised as one of the world’s most distinguished sports venues.”

He added: “Not only would the new stadium be an important addition to the local townscape but it will contribute greatly to London’s visitor economy and to the socio-economic prosperity of the local community.”

Paul Heagren, company secretary, said the existing ground was no longer fit for purpose.

He said: “The development is integral to the prosperity of the borough and this stadium an important city landmark will be seen cross the world and bring significant benefits.”

Eight local residents spoke out against the scheme including Oscar nominated film director Michael Radford, who lives next to the stadium with his wife and two young children.

He said: “We have very real concerns about this development, not only for ourselves but for all the buildings that share such close proximity to the stadium.

“My argument really concerns the construction and devastation which is about to be unleashed upon us for about four years – if not more.”

Another neighbour dubbed the arena “large gothic Colosseum” while others raised about its size, impact on wildlife and ability to cope with a terror attack.

The club has promised to set up a residents’ forum to identify and address issues which may arise.

Chelsea are expected to remain at the existing stadium in the 2017/18 season while preparation work gets underway but will then move out, either to Wembley or Twickenham, until 2021.

In a statement the club said: “We are grateful that planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of our historic home.

“The committee decision does not mean that work can begin on site. This is just the latest step, although a significant one, that we have to take before we can commence work, including obtaining various other permissions.”

Chelsea Pitch Owners, which owns the freehold to the land on which the stadium sits, said its goal of ensuring Chelsea remain at the Bridge, its home since 1905, “looks more secure than it has for many years.”

A spokemsan said: “The plans will provide a world-class stadium and the bold architectural design will enhance the local area.”

Former England manager Graham Taylor dies from suspected heart attack aged 72

Sports reporter(wp/es):

Former England manager Graham Taylor has died aged 72.

Taylor, a legend at Watford who took the Hornets from the bottom tier to almost the summit of English football, died in the early hours of Thursday.

It is believed he had suffered a heart attack.

Taylor was a defender for Grimsby and Lincoln City in a playing career that was cut short by a serious hip injury. 

He began his managerial career at Lincoln and spent two stints at both Watford and Aston Villa. Taylor managed the Three Lions for three years from 1990.

A family statement said: "With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack.

"The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss."

The FA tweeted: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former England manager Graham Taylor."

Taylor made his name at Vicarage Road, leading Watford from the old Fourth Division to runners-up in the First Division in five seasons.

He also took them to the 1984 FA Cup final, which they lost 2-0 to Everton.

Taylor then took the Villa job in 1997 and led them to second spot in the First Division, prompting a call from the FA after Bobby Robson left the job.

In charge of the national side, Taylor lost just once in his first 21 games, but defeat to Sweden at Euro '92 meant England failed to get out of the group.

That loss - in which he substituted Gary Lineker in what was the striker's final England game - saw the press turn against Taylor, with his face superimposed on a turnip under the headline Swedes 2 Turnips 1.

Subsequent failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup ultimately cost him his job as England boss. 

After a brief period at Wolves, Taylor returned for a second spell at Watford, where he recovered his old touch with back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

He left Watford following relegation a year later and announced his retirement, but was tempted back into the dugout by former club Villa.

It proved a short stint which Taylor later admitted he regretted. 

In retirement, Taylor spent his time working as a television and radio pundit for the BBC while also helping Watford through a period of financial difficulty.

Londoners face further Tube strikes

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Londoners face more crippling Tube strikes next month, the RMT union announced today.

It announced a “new phase of industrial action” over the station staffing dispute would start from February 6 unless demands are met.

General secretary Mick Cash said members had been “rock solid” during the strike spanning Sunday and Monday this week, when four million London Underground passengers were subject to delays and cancellations.

“RMT members have shown this week that they will not stand by while safety is compromised on London Underground off the back of cash-led cuts to staffing levels that the union has warned would have a serious, lasting and corrosive impact for staff and passengers alike,” he said.

“That is why our members have been forced to take this action.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan condemned this week’s strikes as “completely unnecessary”. They were called despite an offer by Transport for London to create hundreds of new station jobs.

Mr Cash claimed management now TfL now accepted that cuts had been a “mistake” and should make a complete U-turn.

He said: “We now need a move away from the piecemeal and incremental approach to tackling this crisis and for LU to come forward with a serious package of proposals.”

Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We look forward to resuming talks at ACAS on Monday in order to make progress towards resolving this dispute.”