Updates on Friday 3 May
BBC London News
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Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, DCLGUpdated design of what the Holocaust Memorial Learning Centre will look like
Updated plans for a Holocaust Memorial beside Westminster Palace have been slated by campaigners who say it will waste millions of pounds.
Critics say the Grade II*-listed Victoria Tower Gardens is the wrong location for the proposed learning centre with entrance pavilion, and courtyard.
The Government’s updated plans submitted last week — which reduce the size of the building from that in the original plans — have done little to appease objectors from the Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign, who have opposed it since 2017.
Campaigner Clare Annamalai said: “All these changes to the Government’s plans are about mitigating harm to the gardens, this small historic park, and about reducing harm to the views of Lambeth Bridge and the Buxton Memorial Fountain [also in the gardens].”
The Government revealed more than £5 million has already been spent on the project.
“It will probably cost £10 million in the end. That’s all taxpayers’ money,” Ms Annamalai said.
“We’re not rejecting the proposal, it’s not anti-semitic. This is about saying you can remember the Holocaust without destroying a park.”
The new plans show the pavilion will have a “lighter, more transparent” appearance to “harmonize” with the gardens setting.
A courtyard boundary fence has been made lower, so as to not disrupt views.
The learning centre will be given a longer but narrower shape so that it is “set back” from the park’s trees.
Its basement would also be smaller.
The government says other suggested locations, such as next to the Mayor of London’s offices or by Millbank Tower, would offer “poor visual prominence, no emotional or political logic, little or no outdoor space to provide a prominent memorial”.
Ms Annamalai suggested the memorial dedicated to the six million victims of the Naxi concentration camps could be built on “a brownfield site in central London”, though she couldn’t suggest one when asked.
And the campaigners say the Imperial War Museum would be the “logical place” to put a learning centre. In early April, communities secretary, James Brokenshire, said the memorial will have national significance, “not just for London. It’s not just for Westminster”.
Image source, PAA judge has told a transgender lawyer and a Catholic journalist involved in an "out of control" Twitter row not to mention each other online.
Trans woman Stephanie Hayden has been granted an injunction against Caroline Farrow after a "barrage" of tweets.
At a High Court hearing in London, Mr Justice Bryan also asked Ms Hayden to not mention Mrs Farrow, and she agreed.
The judge said tweets sent by mother-of-five Mrs Farrow, whose husband is a priest, had "crossed the line".
Bolton's rearranged Championship game against Brentford will not take place and the Bees are awarded a 1-0 victory.
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Image source, Brent CouncilBrent elected its new mayor for the 2019/20 council year, welcoming Ernest Ezeajughi into the role.
He has made the step up from deputy mayor and will replace Arshad Mahmood.
Born in Anambra state, Nigeria, the Stonebridge ward councillor has served Brent since 2014 and said he was looking forward to working as its first citizen.
He said: “It is an amazing privilege and honour to be appointed as Mayor of Brent, and to serve this great borough that I have called home since 2004.
“In my mayoral year I hope to be able to work with all of Brent’s rich and diverse communities and look forward to raising money for my two amazing local charities.”
His chosen charities are the Sickle Cell Society, which supports and represents people affected by sickle cell disorder, and the Jason Roberts Foundation, a community charity for young people set up by former footballer and Brent native Jason Roberts.
Lia Colacicco, who represents Mapesbury ward, was elected as deputy mayor for the next council year.
Cloudy at times this afternoon with limited brighter interludes. There will be a scattering of showers as well with the chance of one or two becoming heavy, especially later this afternoon.
Maximum temperature: 11 to 14°C (52 to 57°F).
A focus on meeting the December 2018 deadline contributed to the spiralling budget of Crossrail, a report says.
Read MoreArsenal beat Valencia 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final but they still cannot be trusted, says ex-Gunners defender Lee Dixon.
Read MoreThe 14-year-old died after he was knocked off a moped and stabbed in east London.
Read MoreLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Repair works to Hammersmith Bridge have started after it was suddenly closed last month, causing “huge” traffic jams every day in Putney.
Businesses along Putney High Street say they are “flooded” by drivers taking alternative routes since Hammersmith Bridge closed for urgent structural problems.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council closed the 132-year-old crossing “indefinitely” on 10 April.
It sparked a row over who should foot the £40m repair bill, with TfL pointing the finger at the government because of cuts to its budget. T
A council spokesperson said: “We’ve been in close conversation with Transport for London and have begun the first phase of the work to restore the bridge to full working order and bring it back to its former splendour.
“We are working with the London Mayor and TfL to agree a way forward to provide the necessary funding to maintain this vital piece of London’s infrastructure and this beautiful feature of Britain’s engineering heritage.”
However, the council was unable to say when the repair work to the Grade II-listed crossing might be completed, or what type of work had so far been carried out.
A student is left with a bleed on the brain when a driver veers across a road in north London.
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Image source, ReutersUnnecessary cost has been created because of how the Crossrail project has been managed, the public spending watchdog said.
A report by the National Audit Office, external (NAO) highlighted several factors which contributed to the spiralling budget of the delayed scheme to build a new east-west railway in London.
These include a focus on achieving the planned opening date of December 2018, the absence of a detailed plan to track progress and a lack of pressure on key contractors to work efficiently.
In response to delays in the schedule, testing of train and signalling systems were carried out in early 2018 even though "few meaningful results could be acquired at this point" because of a software problem, the report stated.
This took time away from those involved in construction work.
Changes to designs and contractors' delivery schedules cost around £2.5 billion between 2013 and 2018, according to the NAO's analysis.
Crossrail is being jointly funded by the Department for Transport and Transport for London.
It is "not possible to conclude overall value for money" until services begin and the final cost of the programme is known, the NAO warned.
The overall budget for Crossrail has risen from £14.8bn in 2010 to a latest estimate of £17.6bn.
Crossrail Ltd, the company building the railway, announced last week that services in the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood will begin by March 2021 at the latest, although Bond Street station will not be ready.
BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC London News
Charlotte Franks has this morning's top stories from the BBC London newsroom.
BBC London Travel
BBC Radio London Travel
There is a fault with the signalling system between Gatwick Airport and East Croydon and as a result, the London bound line is disrupted.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised.
Disruption is expected until 09:00 and is affecting Southern, Thameslink and the Gatwick Express services.
There are also delays of up to 20 minutes on Virgin Trains West Coast between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central due to earlier points failure at Watford Junction.
For the latest updates follow @BBCTravelAlert, external
With six teams battling to avoid filling the last three League One relegation places, what exactly does every team need on the final day?
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Image source, EPASome sunny spells at times today but with some large areas of cloud possible too.
There will be a scattering of showers as well with the chance of one or two becoming heavy, especially this afternoon.
Maximum temperature: 11C to 14C (52F to 57F).
BBC London News
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Some people are calling for London's transport bosses to encourage greater spatial awareness.
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