‘Failure to find a proper balance between safety and the economy has risked residents’ lives unnecessarily’

• IN their attempt to find a balance between protecting the economy and controlling the spread of the Covid-19 virus the government and Westminster Council have between them:

1. (July) changed the law to allow off sales of alcohol in open containers from all existing licensed premises till 11pm – though the government’s initial plan was for 3am and later – until September 30 2021 thus encouraging vertical drinking in the street, Business and Planning Act 2020;

2. (July) closed many streets in Soho and allowed the installation of tables and chairs for restaurants to encourage more people to drink, eat out and socialise with one another;

3. (August) subsidised eating out in restaurants to encourage more people to drink, eat out and socialise – in Soho this took place in significant numbers;

4. (September) started to grant extended alcohol licences in some cases up to 1am, till September 30 2021, because of the “exceptional circumstances of Covid” and the need to encourage people to drink later into the night in larger numbers to save the hospitality industry; and

5. (September) now tell us that bars and restaurants will have to close at 10pm because of the uncontrolled spread of the virus that they have contributed to by their actions in 1. to 4.

Soho, as London’s main entertainment district, has been ground zero for these policies with its residents being impacted more than most by noise and Covid-19 safety issues.

The city council has put the short-term interests of businesses and property owners ahead of those of its residents for many years now.

So none of this is surprising; but the failure to proceed with caution and find a proper balance between safety and the economy has risked residents’ lives unnecessarily and is unlikely to have saved many of the small independent businesses that the residents are also keen to support, merely prolonged their misery.

We look forward to working with the council and Soho’s businesses in developing a considered and thoughtful plan to save Soho’s unique character over the next few months.

TIM LORD
Chair, The Soho Society
www.thesohosociety.org.uk