Why Did The Wobbly Bridge Wobble?

When the Norman Foster-designed Millennium Bridge opened in 2000, it became immediately known as the “wobbly bridge” because of the extreme wobbling sensation felt. For two days, people came to stand and wobble on the bridge which connects St Pauls Cathedral with Tate Modern on the South Bank. And then it was closed and work was set about to make the wobbly bridge less wobbly.

Eight years later, a team of civil engineers claims to have identified the cause of the wobbling: it’s the way that humans walk, naturally moving from side to side rather than in a straight line.

The BBC has more….

City Thief Sentenced

A thief who targetted the City of London has been given an 18 month suspended sentence by Southwark Crown Court.

The 37 year old man from Hackney targetted people in Bishopsgate, Old Broad Street and Broadgate and would purport to show them bargain items for sale in a carrier bag, but the bag itself was the cover he used to swipe wallets and mobile phones.

He was also issued with an 18 month supervision order and required to visit drug rehabilitation programme for 12 months.

Related Link: City of London Police

‘Can Of Ham’ Given Approval

A new 18 storey office and retail development in St Mary Axe, nicknamed the ‘Can Of Ham’, has been given approval by the City of London Corporation, according to Building Design.  The new building will replace two existing buildings and be 90m tall.

The semi-elliptical building was designed by architects Foggio for the Norwich based developers, TargetFollow.

The Can of Ham had been opposed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) who described it as creating an “uncomfortable and unattractive form both at street level and on the city skyline”. They were also concerned that the new building was too similar to the nearby “Gherkin”, adding “the echo of the elliptical section of 30 St Mary Axe is unfortunate; the parallel will be immediately apparent”.

What do you think of the Can of Ham? Will it make a welcome addition to the City skyline?

Make 2009 A Super Year with These Supercars

Yes, it’s been a tough year in the City but if you want to splash out on a Christmas gift this year which is a little bit special, then have a look at this annual supercar club membership which will secure for you about 40 driving days in the most exotic and sexy supercars known to man.

Commuters Promised Hassle Free Christmas

Network Rail has promised that rail improvement work taking place over Christmas will not disrupt commuters and that there will be a full service coming out of Liverpool Street following the Christmas weekend.

Read more in the Romford Recorder

Daily Photo 09/12/08: Leadenhall Market Ceiling

Financial Services Board to Promote City

The Times reports that a new group of City “high fliers” is being assembled to promote the City of London. Earlier in the year, Mayor of London Boris Johnson asked Bob Wigley to head up a review on how best to sustain London’s position as a World leading financial centre and it appears that the creation of a new board with its own staff and budget will be one of the main conclusions.

The new task force is provisionally titled the Financial Services Board, which creates an acronym with alarming similarity to that of the Russian secret service, and would come under the control of the City’s Court of Common Council.

More info: Times Online

Daily Photo: 04/12/08: Broadgate Circle

Daily Photo 03/12/08: Bishopsgate

Daily Photo 02/12/08: Exchange House

Exchange House, part of the Broadgate Estate.

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