Bankside venues host first spectacular

7th Feb 2013

Bankside Venues hosted its first Bankside Venues Spectacular on January 22nd, offering events and conference professionals the chance to be inspired for 2013.

Attendees were able to explore the packages and offers available to meet their events’ requirements from a wide variety of venues. These ranged from cultural landmarks such as The Jerwood Space, and The Swan at The Globe Theatre through to attractions including The Golden Hinde and Vinopolis, as well as many of the major hotels and restaurants from the area.

The event follows Bankside Venue’s recent launch of its dedicated website www.banksidevenueslondon.com for event professionals with access to information about the 22 major venues as well as directories of local suppliers, places to stay and latest downloadable news and offers.

FREVUE Launch meeting is confirmed

5th Feb 2013

The launch meeting for the Cross River Partnership-led €14.2million FREVUE project has now been confirmed for March 21st and 22nd 2013. This meeting will bring together our local London and wider transnational partners for a busy programme that will help start this 4 ½ year project.

With over €2million of related investment in London, this project will help demonstrate the contribution that electric freight vehicles can make to improving the economic and environmental efficiency of logistic operations in central London. Our local partners on this project include: The Crown Estate, Arup, UPS, UK Power Networks, Imperial College, Transport for London and the Greater London Authority. Benefits will also accrue to our local authority and BID partners through the policy, analysis and knowledge transfer work which will underpin this exciting project.

For more information about FREVUE please contact Matthew Noon.

Free two week trials of electric vehicles

4th Feb 2013

Camden companies can benefit from an exclusive opportunity to trial the latest electric vehicles – the Vauxhall Ampera and the Toyota Prius-Plug in.

These fantastic vehicles offer both electric and petrol power and drive beautifully. If you’d like to try one to see if it’s right for your company please visit camden.gov.uk/vt.

Cross River Partnership gets the green light for URBACT markets

28th Jan 2013

URBACT Markets has been confirmed as one of the 15 successful projects approved for Implementation Phase by the URBACT Committee on 28 January.

The challenge for project partners, Local Authorities and BIDs is to enhance and provide a better environment for local markets that are new, existing or in decline. URBACT Markets is a great opportunity to work with EU partners to develop a Local Action Plan that will help identify solutions and best practice, and will also seek to influence legislation and policies to maximise London’s benefit from Sustainable Urban Markets.

Phase 1 of implementation will involve a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats assessment of markets in central London, and will include a particular focus on low carbon and local supply chain issues. All partners and relevant stakeholders will be invited to contribute as part of the URBACT Local Support Group for London (ULSG).

If you would like more information or would like to express an interest in getting involved in the London ULSG please contact Marion Cugnet.

Angel wins Best Town Centre in London Gold Award

12th Oct 2012

Beating off fierce competition, the Angel's been voted Best Town Centre in London winning the highest and rarely-awarded Gold accolade from environmental campaigners London in Bloom.

We've been Best Town Centre for four years running. Businesses were praised for taking pride in the Angel ‘for the benefit of everyone,' getting involved, spending their own money to improve the area, and working effectively together and with Islington Council.

Judges were particularly impressed by ‘very high standards’ of environmental responsibility & stunning flowers for which we're now known.

“The Angel just goes to show the joint venture between business and a local authority can work for the benefit of everyone," they said.

"Pavements are washed down early every morning, there are no signs of litter or graffiti, the flowers are of high quality – we saw a very high standard in all areas and staff, council and private businesses are to be commended."

EVUE features on URBACT Blog

11th Sep 2012

EVUE Lead Expert Sally Kneeshaw has written a blog about how the London Olympic Games 2012, have been a green games and the use of Electric Vehicles (EV's) has enhanced this.

Please click here to read the article.

Please contact Matthew Noon if you are interested in learning more about EVUE.  Please contact Nicola Whyte if you would like to attend the EVUE conference on the 4th of October 2012.

A High Line for London: Green Infrastructure Ideas Competition

3rd Aug 2012

Registration is now open to find new ‘green’ designs for the development of London’s spaces.  The Landscape Institute, Garden Museum and Mayor of London have launched ‘A High Line for London: Green Infrastructure Ideas Competition for a new London landscape’.

Inspired by New York’s High Line, and to be judged by a panel of experts including the founders of the High Line, entrants are being challenged to put forward innovative concepts that create imaginative new green space in the capital.  The organisers are not seeking a replica of the High Line. They are looking for proposals which similarly engage communities with green infrastructure. The winner will receive £2500 and the runner-up £500 as prize money.

The judging panel includes High Line founders Joshua David and Robert Hammond, the landscape architects Kim Wilkie and Johanna Gibbons, Matthew Pencharz, Environment Advisor to the Mayor of London and Dr Penelope Curtis, Director of Tate Britain. 

A shortlist, which will go on display at the Garden Museum during its High Line Symposium (5-8 October) and until mid-November, will be announced on 24 September 2012.  The winners will be announced by Mayor of London Boris Johnson on 8 October 2012.  The deadline for submissions is Friday 14 September 2012.

Download the brief

Read about the LI’s work on GI

TfL offers free cycle stands for businesses

19th Jun 2012

Transport for London is offering up to 20 free cycle stands free of charge to London businesses with five or more employees.

Companies can choose from Sheffield stands, toast racks and vertical parking, wirth 20 stands providing space for up to 40 bikes.

Businesses have to pay for installation and ensure that the stands are based on private land.

For more information click here.

Portas Pilots to kick-start High Street renaissance

30th May 2012

CRP has been closely following the progress of the Portas pilots and were excited to see that there have been 12 projects selected to kick start this regeneration.

There has also been a second round announced, giving previous unsuccesful applicants the chance to fine tune their previous bids should they wish.

Please see the full article and further information here.

Waterloo Quarter launches Sustainability Campaign

10th May 2012

A campaign which offers small and medium sized enterprises free advice on sustainability will has been launched by Waterloo business Planet Positive.

The Blackfriars Road business officially began the 7 days 2 sustainability campaign on Tuesday, May 1st.

Every company which takes part will be sent a planning pack and will be informed of seven activities which can be undertaken over seven days.

Advice will include information on energy efficiency, waste and recycling, travel and transport and procurement.

The campaign is being supported by Waterloo Quarter, which offers additional green services to member businesses through its Smart Green Business programme.

More information about Planet Positive's campaign can be found here.

For more information on call Katie Lindsay, Waterloo Quarter, on 020 7620 1201.

This directly links with our Smart Green Business project.

 

CRP’s DOI submission on Sustainable Urban Markets ‘’URBACT Markets’’ successful

24th Apr 2012

The results of the third URBACT call for the creation of new Thematic Networks were published in URBACT’s website today.

CRP’s DOI submission on Sustainable Urban Markets ‘’URBACT Markets’’, led by the City of Barcelona, was approved by the URBACT II Monitoring Committee.

The other current ’’URBACT Markets’’ project partners are Torino (Italy), Suceava (Romania) and Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

A total of 19 Thematic Networks, were approved in this call. All projects approved will now begin the Development Phase and will broaden their partnerships to include more cities.

The thematic coverage for this call was related to the pillars of the Europe 2020 strategy for innovative, sustainable and inclusive cities.

For more information click here.

Waterloo Quarter installs new tree lights on Blackfriars Road

24th Feb 2012

Four more trees in Waterloo have been decked out with attractive new, year-round tree lights by Waterloo Quarter Business Improvement District (BID).

Approximately 12,000 bulbs have been installed into the trees in Blackfriars Road as part of a wider scheme to improve the look of major streets in the area.

The four trees sit outside The Laughing Gravy, Friars House, The Crown and Café Pronto near the junctions of Webber Street and Valentine Place.

The low voltage LED lights went live in mid January and are expected to last for at least a decade. The lights are activated by a solar timing switch so they only come on at night, saving energy.

Waterloo Quarter invested in the tree lights following requests from local businesses who wanted to brighten up the area and improve perceptions of safety.

Katie Lindsay, Waterloo Quarter’s environment and public realm manager, said: “We are delighted with the lights and the long-term contribution they make to making Waterloo an inviting place to visit.”

Maddie Coles and Anna Diaz, co-owners of Café Pronto, said: “The lights do brighten up Blackfriars Road – I am glad Waterloo Quarter are doing something for the area. Our customers have noticed the lights and as a business it makes us happy that the residents are pleased with them too.”

Other lights already installed by Waterloo Quarter sit in a cluster near Emma Cons Gardens. The BID aims to eventually have a total of 16 lights installed in the area it covers.

For further information please contact Katie Lindsay at Waterloo Quarter on klindsay@waterlooquarter.org or 020 7620 1309.

 

Angel Aim - Making a Splash

2nd Feb 2012

The Olympics are a-coming….and the first local sign is the switching on of an animated light sculpture on the canal just behind the Angel by British Olympic silver medallist diver Peter Waterfield on Thursday 2 February at 6.30pm.

Called Diver, it’s the first of eight animated light sculptures designed by local schoolchildren along the nine-mile trail of the Regent’s Canal from Paddington to the Olympic site. It’s part of an Olympic art project GAMES conceived by artist Ron Haselden and produced by Art Lights London.

Diver will be suspended from a crane by the water at the restored Victorian mill Diespeker Wharf until the end of the year, and is best seen from Danbury Street Bridge or the canal towpath. 

Camden Town gets an App

26th Jan 2012

Download the free Camden Town App.  It has great tips for shopping, Wayne Hemmingway video clips of his favourite Camden hang outs, and it even doubles up as a wedge card! Click here to find out more.

CRP Partners win at Mayors BID awards

13th Dec 2011

Congratulations to our BID partners who were winners and shortlisted at the Mayors BIDs awards!

Please see below the categories and their winners!

1. Place-Making
Winner: Camden Town Unlimited
Highly Commended: Victoria BID

2. Business Well-Being
Winner: Waterloo Quarter
Shortlisted: Better Bankside and Heart of London

3. Community
Winner: E11
Shortlisted: Inmidtown

4. Best Value
Winner: Kingston First
Shortlisted: Inmidtown

Camden Town Unlimited wins ECCO awards

11th Nov 2011

It was an exciting night for Camden Town Unlimited last night, when they picked up not one, but two (Environmental Excellence in Camden Organisations) ECCO awards.

 

They were the overall winners in the categories, Innovation in Waste Management & Recycling and Leadership in the Emerging Green Economy. 

 

 

 

Legible London signage arrives in Victoria

28th Oct 2011

Victoria's new Legible London street signage system is being installed at 30 locations throughout SW1. The new signs will follow the conventions established by Legible London, a high quality map based signage system, which along with our Street Ambassadors will ease pedestrian navigation around the main transport hub of Victoria Station. They have been financed by the Victoria BID and Westminster City Council.

Installation coincides with the removal of old signs and street clutter that is no longer relevant, it should give a cleaner, less congested appearance to Victoria's streetscape. The signage system is being applied to other areas of central London and has been devised by the London Boroughs and Transport for London (TfL).

For more information about Legible London or InSW1 please click here.

Waterloo Quarter is a Buzz

19th Oct 2011

Have you noticed the buzz around Waterloo these days?

Two eco-friendly businesses have begun keeping bees as part of their ongoing commitment to the environment.

The Three Stags in Kennington Road and Eden Catering in Hercules Road are both keeping honey producing bees on the premises.

Nick Mead from Eden said he hoped his hive would produce 30 kilos of honey next year.

Richard Bell from the Three Stags said that despite having 30,000 bees on his roof nobody had been stung yet.

And last month both businesses featured in the South London Press after Waterloo Quarter tipped off journalists to the hives.

Email ghamilton@waterlooquarter.org if you would like to know more about what the BID can do to promote your business.

Camden Town Unlimited Joint Procurement

11th Oct 2011

Camden Town Unlimited Businesses are benefitting from joint procurement assistance from Meercat.

Meercat are continuing to provide joint procurement programs to give our members savings on;

• Energy
• Insurance
• Pest Control
• PAT Testing
• Telecoms

Another happy member has contacted us saying they are overjoyed by the services we have arranged with Mitie. Others who have made great savings are;

• Acumedic saved over £2300 on bills
• Mango Room Restaurant saved £3622 (34%)
• Camden Federation of Private Tenants £473 (21%)

Please visit our website on the reducing business costs section to take advantage of the same services and savings.

Reducing business costs:
http://www.camdentownunlimited.com/projects/reducing-business-costs

Free recycling for members:
http://www.camdentownunlimited.com/projects/free-recycling-ctu-members

EVUE makes the News

27th Sep 2011

EVUE partners from throughout Europe recently attended the Frankfurt Motor Show and also held a conference.  Please click here to read a press article published in the German newspaper Frankenfurter Neue Presse regarding this event.  Please note this is the English translation.

To find out more about EVUE and its partners please click here.

Team London Bridge crowned best Business Improvement District in captial for Sustainability and Urban Greening

23rd Sep 2011

Team London Bridge came first in the Business Improvement District category at the London in Bloom Awards 2011, held at City Hall last Friday evening (16.09.2011).

The local businesses, Southwark Council and residents worked together with Team London Bridge to impress the judges when they visited in July, their efforts being recognised with a Silver Gilt Award. 

Beating competition including Bankside, Croydon and Hammersmith, the Silver Gilt was awarded to Team London Bridge in recognition of the efforts of all concerned in improving their local environment.
 
London in Bloom promotes, supports and encourages gardening, horticulture and environmental sustainability across the 31 boroughs and two cities of Greater London.

In addition Melior Street Community Garden also triumphed, coming first in the Capital Growth Award category. The team from Putting Down Roots, a project stream of St Mungo’s, accepted the award on behalf of the group of committed homeless or at risk people who tend to the garden on a weekly basis. Produce from the garden including garlic and salad is now being served to customers at The Table on Southwark Street SE1, as well as going to good use at the neighbouring Manna Centre on Melior Street.

Melior Street Community Garden was redeveloped by Team London Bridge in 2009 as one of their three Pocket Plaza projects. The presence of the garden and the work of Putting Down Roots have been a catalyst for a decrease in anti-social behavior and crime in the immediate area.

Potters Fields Park also scooped a Silver Gilt Award in the Small Park Category, won by West Smithfield Garden, City of London.

For more details about this story please contact Shane Clarke on 020 7407 4701 or email shane@teamlondonbridge.co.uk.   

London in Bloom www.londoninbloom.co.uk
Putting Down Roots www.mungos.org/pdr
Potters Fields Park www.pottersfields.co.uk
The Table www.thetablecafe.com
Manna Centre www.mannasociety.org.uk

CRP new website launched!

15th Sep 2011

If you are reading this, you must be reading our exciting new website!  We would love to hear your feedback on it

Please email your comments to Nicola Whyte.