{"id":148803,"date":"2020-10-29T16:16:37","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T16:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominiclevent.com\/blog\/?p=148803"},"modified":"2020-11-05T11:55:46","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T11:55:46","slug":"westminster-city-council-scraps-plans-to-charge-for-pavement-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominiclevent.com\/blog\/westminster-city-council-scraps-plans-to-charge-for-pavement-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Westminster City Council scraps plans to charge for pavement space"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Westminster City Council has scrapped plans to charge hospitality firms thousands of pounds to keep trading outside through the coming months.<\/p>\n

Earlier today City A.M. <\/em>revealed that the Council was set to charge businesses \u00a37 per square metre of outside space, per day, once the existing \u2018al fresco\u2019 scheme comes to an end on October 31.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more: <\/strong>New: Mayor calls on Westminster to reconsider pavement charging plan<\/a><\/p>\n

The plans were met with uproar from restaurants and bars, which have already been hammered by the enhanced coronavirus restrictions forced on the capital.<\/p>\n

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the plans, telling City A.M. <\/em>that the \u201cexcessive charges\u201d were \u201cshort-sighted and counter-productive\u201d.<\/p>\n

He urged the council to axe the scheme in order to \u201ckeep the centre of London vibrant and open throughout this challenging time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Council u-turned on the decision this evening. Council leader, Rachael Robathan said: \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognise that restaurants are facing desperate times \u2013 that\u2019s why we introduced the summer al fresco dining scheme and have extended it to the winter.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn view of additional central government funding,\u00a0announced on Thursday, we are able to cover costs of the winter scheme so that restaurants and bars can serve customers without any extra cost being charged by the council.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some businesses said that they could face a bill of between \u00a350- to \u00a3100,000 a year under the plans. Anxious owners labelled the scheme a \u201ckick in the guts\u201d.<\/p>\n

Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The fees were revealed in a document called \u201cSupporting Westminster\u2019s hospitality sector during the winter\u201d, a copy of which City A.M. <\/em>has seen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Westminster Council, which covers Soho and much of the surrounding area, allowed \u2018al fresco\u2019 seating over the summer, with some streets closed to allow small restaurants to flow out into the streets.<\/p>\n

Bars and restaurants in the pedestrianised areas were asked to contribute to security costs, which come to an end on 31 October.<\/p>\n

Read more: <\/strong>Square Mile to relax al fresco dining rules in bid to save bars and restaurants<\/a><\/p>\n

The Council \u2013 who issued the new guidance on October 20 \u2013 acknowledge in the document that \u201cthere may be\u2026 a period of time between the ending of the temporary al fresco summer dining schemes at the end of October and installation of new \u2018winter appropriate\u2019 ones,\u201d leaving businesses in limbo.<\/p>\n

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