Citizens' Crusade: 'Save our City'

or 'The fight against Torremolinos-on-Thames'

Residents and business operators from across Westminster joined forces on Wed 29th September in a mass rally at Westminster Council House to demand immediate action against the decline of London's West End.

More than 200 people packed the Council chamber and both galleries to hear community representatives make passionate pleas for tougher enforcement, better cleansing, proper refuse collections, action against drugs and stemming the tide of late-night licences across central London.

Both Cllr Melvyn Caplan (Leader of Westminster City Council) and Commander Bob Currie QPM (Head of Westminster Police Division) stated that they understand the frustration felt by residents in the heart of London over the problems set out at the start of the meeting. However, neither managed to reassure those present of their ability to deal with the issues.

The meeting heard complaints and suggestions from residents and business owners fed-up with the constant and excessive problems related to late-night entertainment and the 24-hour city. It was not just residents who complained - shop keepers, licensees and business owners were also present to voice their concerns over the increasingly adverse effect of the 24-hour city on their trade.

THE ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INCLUDED:
• the West End of London has become a 24-hour playground for late-night revellers
• Westminster City Council's weak response to the problems, despite identifying them as early as 1993
• the lawlessness of the 'Wild West' on the streets of Soho
• Westminster must not give in to 'market pressures' but find ways of protecting the quality of life of residents
• Westminster should restore the 'balance' and declare some areas 'saturated' in terms of food & drink uses and entertainment venues
• poor refuse collection service - waste is piled high in the streets
• filthy, smelly streets with urine and vomit everywhere
• drug dealing is rife and 'in your face' without the Police able to do anything
• problems associated with mini-cabs and the pedestrianisation scheme in Soho
• lack of visible policing, enforcement of illegal street traders and licensing offences
• less talking, more action - no need for a 'community safety plan' or 'traffic management plan' but desperate for an 'Action Plan'
• Westminster Council needs to be equipped with draconian powers to combat what almost amounts to a 'civil war
• 'care in the community' victims cause problems that the Police and the Council cannot cope with
• streets are taken over by tables, chairs, drinkers, drunks and litter - "Give us back our streets!"
• call for a Coventry-style bye-law against street drinking
• a ban on tables and chairs on the pavement after 23:00 hrs
• a call for the licensing system in England to be brought up-to-date to protect residents and be more flexible for responsible operators to use
• poor street lighting encourages crime and lawlessness
• the need for a zero-tolerance attitude towards breaches of the law

The meeting concluded with a desire to bring back some 'Civic pride' to the West End and some strong, immediate action by Westminster City Council.

Residents were adamant that they have the welfare of the City at heart, but that councillors must represent the people, not their party. The Council needs to concentrate on the real issues before the centre of London is lost and becomes a 'ghetto' of revellers, late-night drinking dens and yobs.

At the close of the meeting a 10-point action-plan was read out and the 'Citizens' Crusade' was launched. Petition sheets were available at all exits of the building, urging for drastic action by decision makers to redress the intolerable conditions for people living in some parts of Soho and Covent Garden.

If you sympathise with the concerns expressed by central London communities, please sign the petition. Copies of the petition sheet may be collected from the CGCA office or printed out from here. Please ensure that the Ten Point Plan is printed on one side of the paper and the signatures are on the reverse. Please ask your family, neighbours, friends, customers and anyone who cares about London to sign and return the sheet(s) to the CGCA office, 21 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH.

After the meeting, the Evening Standard published an article which queried the conclusions of the meeting. It also launched a discussion group on whether Soho should be a 24-hour party zone or not.

Westminster City Council is currently considering its response to the 'Good Night Out' report published by the Westminster Police & Community Consultative Group's Licensing Working Party in September 1998.

In order to allow for maximum public participation in the decision making process, Westminster has issued a consultation document on 'The Management of the Entertainment Industry in Westminster'. Copies of the document can be obtained by telephoning Hayley Davies on 020 7641 1982 - please note that responses need to be received by Friday 29th October 1999.

Finally, one residents suggested that Westminster City Council's motto should be changed to reflect the true nature of the city that never sleeps: "Nessun Dorma!"

© Covent Garden Community Association, October 1999

 

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