October 2008 Archives

A mystery international pop star will be the main draw at Westfield's grand opening on Thursday, October 31, with a performance and fashion show at 11am.

X Factor judge Dannii Minogue and model Paul Sculfor will also be there to open the Next store at 9.30am and a goody bag will go to the first 100 paying customers.

Doors to the shopping centre open to the public at 9am before London Mayor Boris Johnson officially opens the centre at 10.30am.

Invdividual retailers will also hold their own launch celebrations, with some giving away special offers.

Wealth homebuyers are being drawn to Shepherd's Bush by the Westfield shopping centre.

Estate agents are reporting an influx of house hunters attracted by the new public transport infrastructure and high-end stores.

Demand for rental properties has also increased and there are fears that supply may dry up in the coming months.

Online instructions to contractors working at the new White City shopping centre about how to park in nearby streets were quickly removed following objections from residents.

Developers Westfield posted advice about using residential controlled parking zones near the mall until its car park is up and running, but removed the notice within 24 hours after angry complaints.

One Shepherd's Bush resident branded the posting "utterly irresponsible and beyond ridiculous."

Campaigners who have fought relentlessly to improve the safety of a crossing at the Westway, say their efforts have finally paid off.

Contractors have made final improvements to the precarious crossing where at least three people have been killed trying to dash across the high speed, six-lane A-road in Shepherd's Bush.

The Gazette and surrounding residents, teamed up three years ago to lobby Transport for London to make drastic improvements.

A bus strike is planned for tomorrow across west London.

Three bus operators - First, Metroline and Metrobus - have been in talks with the trade union Unite over a pay settlement.

Friday's strike could affect 207 bus routes, or up to 30 per cent, of London's bus network.

Shepherd's Bush Tube station is now open following a controversial eight-month closure.

It is the second of several major transport developments to open to the public ahead of the Westfield shopping centre.

The station, constructed in glass, steel and granite, with boosted security opened at midday last Sunday with the finishing touches still not complete.

Searching for a pad to live in after months in the luxury Big Brother fishbowl must be a slightly anxious experience.

But Rebecca, Luke and Sara, clearly not tired of sharing the same space, have plumped for a dwelling in a corner of Shepherd's Bush.

With a reputation as west London's media hub, the area is an ideal location for the trio to embark on the post-Big Brother promotional path.

A group of police officers are to set off on a mission not to conquer crime but undulating downs - and possibly fatigue - in a charity bicycle ride to Paris.

The 11 officers, nine of whom are from Hammersmith and Fulham, will embark on a 650 mile round trip tomorrow in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for the shooting Stars Hospice in Acton, and the Jack Brown Appeal for the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

The officers have spent a year gathering a team and training for the event since the idea first surfaced between colleagues Bill Heasman and Terry North, from the Shepherd's Bush Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Transport for London needs to come up with more urgent solutions to help drivers get moving around the borough, according to the town hall leader.

Traffic lights need to be better phased and north-south routes must be widened to deal with the huge volume of traffic.

Hammersmith and Fulham already has the most clogged-up streets in London with a staggering 7.6 million hours lost in traffic every year, and 70,000 extra visitors are expected to flood into Shepherd's Bush every week when Westfield opens.

Watch our video on the battle to save popular club Ginglik from being filled with concrete when Shepherd's Bush Green is redeveloped.