St Mark’s Wellness Centre Controversy Continues

We learned from the Evening Standard that millionaire businessman George Hammer is to try again and turn St Mark’s church into a holistic “wellness centre”.

The North Audley St church is grade I listed, and Mr Hammers were previously rejected by Westminster council but the businessman is determined to appeal the decision and a public enquiry has now been fixed for October 2009.

Hammer, who founded the Sanctuary in Covent Garden, tells the Standard that his plans may be the only hope of saving the building which is in a state of disrepair. His plans are strongly opposed by the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship which was granted permission to use the church rent free in 1994.

Abercrombie & Fitch Face Employment Tribunal

Abercrombie & Fitch has been accused of allowing discrimination of a staff member who has a prosthetic arm.

The clothing store in Savile Row, famed for its beautiful models and shop staff, hired law student, Riam Dean, but she claims because of her prosthetic arm, was forced to work in the stockroom rather than face customers. She claims she was told she would be allowed to wear a cardigan to cover her arm, but was later told by a manager, she could only work with customers if she took the cardigan off.

The BBC quotes her as saying: “I was always prepared for children to be curious about my disability, but to be faced with adult bullying, no-one could have prepared me for such debasement” . She is suing the company, which denies her claims, and seeking damages up to £20,000.

Mark Field’s Expenses Examined

It’s been impossible to avoid the scandal of MPs expenses over the last few months as a steady stream of stories have come to light which have cast the nation’s parliamentarians even lower in public esteem.

So with the publication of all MPs expenses, albeit heavily redacted, on parliament’s website last week, AboutMayfair.co.uk decided to investigate the claims of MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, Mark Field.

The good news (or bad news if you’re a scandal hunting news hound) is that Mr Field’s expenses don’t reveal anything too shocking, as you may have already guessed since he hasn’t been splashed across the pages of the Telegraph.

There are however questions that do arise from the claims, and I put them to the man himself to get more information.

Within Mr Field’s expense claims are a number of invoices for PR services. Curious as to what PR services a backbench MP required, I ask for more information to which Mark said:

“I employed on a part time basis the services of a communications specialist to help me get onto national and regional TV and radio shows as well as promoting my constituency interests in magazines and on websites”

I was intrigued to see claims for a £78 pocket diary & planner from Smythson – one of Mayfair’s famous, luxury brands. It’s heartening to see Mr Field supporting his local businesses, but should an MP be using public money to buy luxury items? Should he have gone to Ryman of Albemarle Street rather than Smythson of Bond Street?

Mark Field tells me that the particular diary in question is an “excellent” one that includes many reference details and useful contact numbers. He says that although he claimed for it in 2004 and 2005, he has since then asked his family members to buy it for him as a gift.

It should also be pointed out that Mark Field has previously written to the Speaker urging reforms and transparency, as well as the abolition of the Second Home Allowance. Mr Field also informs me that he has never remunerated a member of his family, which is something that has caused controversy elsewhere.

So, seemingly uncontroversial accounts and a track record of calling for reforms to the system, it appears that the people of Mayfair may be served by one of the good guys.

Mayfair Waitresss Wins £3k Compensation

A waitress has won almost £3,000 in compensation from her Mayfair employer after being asked to wear a dress that made her feel naked.

Fata Lemes, a Bosnian born muslim, told an employment tribunal that she was “not used to wearing sexually attractive clothes” and took exception to a sleeveless dress that was open at the back that she was asked to wear at the Rocket in Lancashire Court.

She had claimed for £20,000 but was awarded only £2,919.95 for loss of earnings and hurt feelings.

£20million Mayfair Home Repossessed

A Mayfair house worth £20million has been repossessed by the lender, in what is possibly one of the biggest reposessions evers recorded.

The seven bedoom property in Charles Street, complete with adjoining Mews, was owned by Austrian tycoon, Cevdet Caner, who had built up a huge property porfolio through his company, Level One. Cener Caner today tells the Evening Standard that he had offered a payment plan to the lenders but this was rejected.

Also see coverage in The Times and Financial Times.

Michelle Obama in Mayfair

Michelle Obama and kids  have paid a visit to the Audley pub in Mayfair where they apparently sampled a traditional British dish – fish and chips. The impressive Victorian pub in Mount Street is just a stone’s throw from the US Embassy which, for now, is in Grosvenor Square,

The Obamas have been in Europe for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, and whilst Obama returned to the US, Michelle stayed in Europe for sight seeing.  Earlier in her trip, she was reported to have visited the Houses of Parliament.

The BBC reports that Michelle, Sasha and Malia spent over two hours at the pub with Michelle having a sirloin steak and the girls sampling fish and chips.