Mayor Khan Calls on Government to Urgently Help Restaurants but increases congestion charge and time

London Mayor has written to Boris Johnson’s government, it must provide a financial support package for restaurants and businesses in the West End. He said that central London faced a “real existential threat” from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the letter, which comes after a number of high-profile restaurateurs co-signed a series of demands drafted by St. John owner Trevor Gulliver, Khan outlines eight proposals “that would help secure the West End’s future survival.” The proposals begin with an extension to the business rates holiday from next March. The letter also seeks targeted support for workers by extending the furlough scheme, and ensuring freelance and self-employed workers receive their own financial protections. It wants to see a direct financial aid scheme for the likes of restaurants in central London who are struggling to negotiate with landlords. He added that “we need to learn to live with the virus,” but Londoners needed confidence. “Recent Mayor’s office polling shows that Londoners are still not travelling to central London.” The letter points out that 66 percent of those surveyed said it was “unlikely” they would travel in the next week. The same survey showed that people would be more comfortable visiting central London if face masks were used not just when inside shops and venues. Only around 50% of offices in London are reported to be planning a return to the workplace before the end of the year, a move which will continue to impact negatively on the sector, and revenues are still down by more than 80% despite July's reopening. The city - “in the face of a perfect economic storm”. Khan reminded the government that “until we have an operational vaccine in place, social distancing will have to continue to protect people’s health, and with employers planning to continue home-working well into next year, the numbers of people visiting the West End will be reduced for many months ahead.” UK Hospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls said it was “very welcome to hear the Mayor echo so many of our calls for support for hospitality and tourism.” Nicholls reiterated that the likes of restaurants “have been hammered by the crisis and they are going to be key to the economic recovery, not just of London, but the whole UK...We are only at the very beginning of what will be a long recovery, so having the support of the Mayor is reassuring.” Earlier this week, Big Hospitality reported that the Liberal Democrats called on Westminster Council to extend road closures throughout central London to include Mondays and Tuesdays, so that businesses could make the most of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out campaign. The road closures, which have given for restaurants to trade outside on the street — apply from Wednesday only in some areas. The Eat Out to Help Out scheme is available Monday to Wednesday throughout August — and in its first week saw over 10.5 million take-ups across the country. The Mayor of London said he was doing "all within my powers to help" and called for "urgent and sustained support from government" to ensure central London businesses survive the "existential threat" of the Covid-19 pandemic. #brentlinenhire London workwear hire rental, bed linen hire London, linen supply companies near me, laundry and linen hire, linen hire companies UK Call 020 3488 1616 www.brentlinenhire.co.uk