One of London’s best-loved landmarks has been returned to Leicester Square, reviving a sight and sound that has given pleasure to millions of Londoners and visitors. The Glockenspiel that rang out from the corner of the Swiss Centre has been returned as a redesigned free-standing unit and was formally inaugurated today, 28 November 2011.

The original Glockenspiel – consisting of 27 bells, an astronomical clock and a procession of 23 farmers herding their cows to Alpine pasture – was given to the City of Westminster on its 400th anniversary in 1985 by Switzerland and Liechtenstein as a token of centuries of friendship. Redevelopment of the Swiss Centre from 2008 entailed its removal, but it was a condition of planning approval that the Glockenspiel should return to the square.

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Westminster residents and businesses are invited to have their say in shaping the future of their city, as the council launches a consultation on its new flagship City Management Plan.

Setting out the blueprint for the city’s future policies including heritage, housing, transport, open spaces, and environmental performance, the City Management Plan will be Westminster’s definitive planning guide for years to come.

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Paralympian Giles Long has awarded community heroes for their tremendous contributions to sport in central London.

Westminster’s annual Active Awards took place on Friday 18 November at Lord’s Cricket Ground, to celebrate the dedication and success of outstanding sports coaches, future young talent and volunteers who go above and beyond promoting the benefits of sport for all members of their communities.

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New indicative figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) are failing to accurately measure migration within England and Wales, Westminster City Council has warned.

The new figures suggest that Westminster has lost 17% (10,000) of incoming migrants between 2006-10, despite the council’s own data reporting a rise in numbers paying council tax. Cities such as Manchester and Bristol are also reported to have lost up to 35% (30,000 people) of their incoming migrant populations over the same period, compared to data previously released by the ONS.

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