New shopping centre hit by chemical incident

London Fire Brigade were called out to a new shopping centre in the City of London early on Monday morning after a chemical incident.

Nearby roads were closed and 30 people were evacuated from the six storey One New Change in Cheapside.

Emergency serviced donned gas tight suits before entering the premises and identifying the source of the chemical incident as a floor sealant.

One man was taking to hospital with breathing difficulties.

The incident happened just three days before the opening of the new shopping centre which will be home to dozens of designer and high street brands names.

Bow Bells House sold

Bow Bells House on the City of London’s Cheapside has been sold for over £100million, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The 165,000 sq ft building was designed by Architects David Walker and HOK International and it was only completed in late 2007.

A private investor has apparently purchased the building, which is adjacent to St Mary Le Bow Church, from Mitsubishi Estate Co. and Mitsubishi Corporation for $213million.

City Lights Turned On For Christmas

The City of London’s Christmas lights were switched on last night at a star studded event on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral. Big name acts such as the reformed Spandau Ballet, Little Boots, Farryl Smith and Scouting for Girls performed for crowds gathered at the Wren-designed cathedral.

The event was coordinated with Oxford St and Regent St switch on ceremonies, and sponsored by Disney’s new version of A Christmas Carol.  Stars of the movie turned on the lights at each of the three locations: Bob Hoskins at St Paul’s Cathedral, Colin Firth at Regent Street, and Jim Carrey at Oxford Street.

Couldn’t make it? Here’s a couple of Youtube videos from the event posted by paulmuchmore…

Lord Mayor’s Chauffeur Receives Driving Ban

The Lord Mayor’s chauffeur, Michael Dore, has been banned from driving for one year. The sentance was handed down after the driver was found guilty of drink driving. He was stopped by police officers in Cheapside in March after they spotted a fault break line on the Rolls Royce he was driving.

Whilst talking to him, officers began to suspect he had been drinking and took him to Bishopsgate Police Station after he failed a roadside breath test.

Mr Dore has been dismissed from his job and was also given a £585 fine by City of Westminster Magistrates Court.

See also: Lord Mayor’s Chauffeur Banned from Driving