Al fresco scheme in Soho

• WE have had enough, the community has had enough.

We urge Westminster City Council leaders to stop dithering and take decisive action to prevent scenes of mass overcrowding and anti-social behaviour in Soho.

Soho last weekend descended into nightmarish scenes of street revellers gathering en masse. Social distancing was flouted left, right and centre.

As day turned to night, the atmosphere became more and more booze-fuelled. Residents were kept awake until the early hours by the noise of shouting and screaming and, in some places, fights breaking out.

Many who peered out onto the street were confronted by someone peeing, or worse, yards away from their doorstep.

It is not ok to turn a blind-eye to events that run the risk of becoming super-spreaders. And yet Westminster Council leaders do this routinely.

When the al fresco scheme opened last summer, and now this spring, whenever the lack of a plan to deal with overcrowding has been raised with city council leaders, all we’ve heard are excuses about why there’s little that can be done.

We demand a plan which will decisively deter these scenes occurring. As a borough that houses Whitehall, and one that is Conservative-led, like the government, Westminster Council leaders have special access to government ministers.

They need to use that privilege, to stop tinkering around the edges, and to tackle the problem at source. They should consider tougher measures like putting a perimeter around hotspots like Old Compton Street and Carlisle Street to control the number of people entering.

The current failure to put together a proper plan is not fair on residents. It’s not fair on those who comply with rules and act responsively.

It’s not fair on police and council officers who are putting their health on the line as a result of the current half-baked scheme.

We tell the council loud and clear, take action and do what is right. For our community, for our city, for our public health. No more delay.

CLLR PANCHO LEWIS
PATRICK LILLEY
& JESS TOALE
Labour Action Team