2024 in retrospect

Planting a tree in Whittington Gardens Dowgate Ward

Time to look back over 2024 and see what we have achieved in Dowgate Ward. 
A blight on the Ward for many years has been the road intersection at Swan Lane/Arthur Street and Upper Thames Street. The work to create a new tunnel for the Northern Line meant that an access shaft was built in Arthur Street for the construction to take place. That work concluded in 2023 with the new tunnel providing great ease of comfort for those transiting the Northern Line at Bank Station. However the hoardings still protect the site and the shaft in a very unsightly manner. Alongside this the junction with Upper Thames Street needed resolving. 
It is good to report that the works to the junction were completed in the summer and meant that the crossing from Riverbank House to Arthur Street is a straight across green light and makes access across the busy TfL road that much easier. 
The hoardings remain in Arthur Street but there is now a definite plan to fill in the shaft and revitalise the road during the first half of 2025. Arthur Street will be accessible at the south end by all traffic but the access onto London Bridge will only allow cycles and emergency vehicles to pass.
Dowgate Ward held two business fora this year. In February we met at Columbia Threadneedle with guest speakers Ian Thomas CBE (the City Corporation Town Clerk and Chief Executive) and Emma Reynolds (then at The City UK and now an MP and Pensions Minister).  The second in October was held in the offices of Laura Devine.  We had a lively talk from Laura – an energetic and inspiring leader with her own immigration law firm in Dowgate and New York.  These were in addition to the annual Ward Mote where a formal gathering ensures that the Ward Deputy and Beadle are re-elected and also give a time to meet the voters and put the elected members to the test with any pertinent questions. 
The works to Whittington Gardens were concluded. These increase the biodiversity of the planting and have replaced a failing hedgerow with more climate resilient shrubs. I was honoured to plant a tree in February with the Worshipful Company of Constructors.  
Steelyard Passage is part of the Riverside Walk but goes under Cannonbridge House.  It is named after the Steelyard that existed here in the 13th – 16th centuries. The name comes from the word Stilyard and marks the location of the wharf, guildhall and warehouse of the German Hanseatic merchants who were based here and brought great trade and wealth to the City in the medieval period.  The passage was upgraded a few years' ago but needed a refresh so that the series of blue lights mark the river beneath now sparkle more brightly.  The plaque recording this historic link was moved from the east side of the Cannon St Station bridge to the west side where it is certainly more accessible and readable.
This year has seen the low profile launch of the City River Partnership that might become a Business Improvement District for the stretch of river fronting land from the Tower to the Temple and including some of Dowgate Ward.  https://www.cityriver.co.uk/?mc_cid=96a74ec879&mc_eid=733e298ec1 
The engagement is likely to step up in 2025.  The promoters of the partnership will be advocating the benefits of working together and this will eventually lead to a vote by the businesses in the Ward as to whether to support this or not. 
The Lord Mayor,  Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, visited Dowgate on several occasions in this year.  He attended Dowgate Fire Station to present the only fire cadet group in the City   (who are also all female) with their awards.  He also visited the rooftop garden at Cannonbridge House in order to help collect data on pollinators with the City based charity Pollinating London Together.  Dowgate boasts more square meterage of green roofs than any other part of the City with the Nomura rooftop hosting solar panels and the rarest of orchids. 
The City Police Bank Cluster meetings have continued with our City police officers reassuring us of their vigilance but also of the low crime rate in and around Dowgate Ward. 
There is the possibility of Swan Lane Pier being reactivated with a new vessel mooring there which would be the new floating Livery Hall of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.  The planning is ongoing.  In any event the City will be carrying out work to the foreshore by Swan Lane Pier and a planning application for this has been submitted with work likely to start in 2025. 
The only Church in Dowgate Ward,  St Michael Paternoster Royal, was put on the market for sale by way of a long lease by the Diocese of London.  Offers are awaited.
 The Vintry and Dowgate Wards Club thrives with many events during the year.  They held their annual civic lunch at Vintners' Hall with the Lord Mayor and undertook a special beating of the bounds including the river boundary.
 The elected members of Dowgate Ward are myself as Alderman, supported by Deputy Henry Pollard and Mark Wheatley CC. We have fielded many other issues raised by Dowgate occupiers and businesses and have also attended to the other work as elected members of the City Corporation.
A busy and rewarding year with more to achieve in 2025.

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Dowgate Business Forum with Emma Reynolds and Ian Thomas