Westminster council has called for the Mayor of London to improve public transport and provide more police across the West End, following a row over its own crackdown on nightlife in the area.
The town hall on Monday urged Lord Sadiq Khan to support central London's pubs, bars and restaurants after a consultation of residents and businesses. Councillors also agreed to change the way they describe licensing policies after being accused of trying to ban drinkers standing up in pubs.
Row over 'vertical drinking'
A dispute erupted when the central London authority suggested it was seeking to restrict “vertical drinking” and reduce the number of customers allowed to stand up outside bars. Downing Street waded into the disagreement last month, with the Prime Minister's spokesman saying: “Busy pubs full of people talking to each other is not a public nuisance, it is British life and it is thousands of jobs.”
The spokesman added: “The Government is devolving new licensing powers to the Mayor to help support pubs and nightlife. Soho did not become world famous by taking last orders early, switching the lights off at 10 o'clock.”
Calls for more police and transport
But the Tory-run council argued the main concern of residents and businesses was crime and transport cuts putting off revellers, according to its consultation. It has called on Lord Khan to reverse recent cuts to the Metropolitan Police's licensing team, which has been halved, and invest in more, visible and dedicated officers in the area.
Extra night buses should be provided in central London and 24-hour Tube services should be extended to Thursdays to reduce crowding at closing time and help people leave the area safely, the town hall added. In a draft for its new licensing policy, Westminster Council advised that new pubs should favour fixed seating over "vertical drinking".
Westminster council's Deputy Leader, Tim Barnes, said: “Beyond disagreements over policy jargon there are serious issues acting as a drag on our hospitality industry. A lack of investment in policing has left the Met objecting to many licensing applications over public safety concerns. People struggle to get home from a night out when late night bus routes have been cut and overnight Tube services are non-existent during the week.”
He added: “We've spent the summer taking feedback from residents, the hospitality industry and visitors. We'll take this on board and do our bit to support the hospitality industry but we need the Mayor's team to fund the services which make London a 24 hour city.”
Mayor's response
A spokeswoman for Lord Khan said he is “committed to doing everything he can to make London's high streets thrive”, pointing to falling rates of knife enabled crime and theft in the capital. She added that the number of officers in the West End has doubled, while phone thefts have dropped by 50% in the area.
The spokeswoman said: “In addition, Sadiq's newly opened Command Cell in the heart of the West End is now serving as a central point for police and partners to share intelligence, identify suspects and co-ordinate action to make our streets safer for Londoners and visitors alike.”
She added: “The mayor is also helping people travel safely and affordably at all hours with London's Night Tube. It provides a vital boost for our night-time economy, supporting local businesses across the capital and keeping London moving around the clock.”
