Starting up London's inner city again, safely. The campaign to temporarily pedestrianise Soho, allowing our hospitality community to recover from CoVid19.
Joined May 2020
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Soho Al Fresco retweeted
Who should decide Soho’s future?
Well, according to Westminster City Council, one group of NIMBYs.
Since 1972, the Soho Society has held a FORMAL seat at the table for EVERY planning and licensing decision in the area, and the results of this power are obvious.
It has intervened in 355 of the 1,639 decisions you can get detailed data for since 2002, more than one in five.
In licensing, their power is almost ABSOLUTE.
Of 28 objections that went to the Westminster committee since 2015, only THREE (3) have failed.
Almost every single one since 2015 has ended with the Council adopting the Society's argument or citing it by name.
In fact, *4 in 5* of the Soho Society’s objections are echoed by the Council.
The Met Police's objections, meanwhile, are echoed in council reasoning around 60% of the time. Ordinary residents are echoed less than HALF the time.
Despite claiming to speak for the community, the Society rarely objected alongside individuals.
The way residents actually show up is typically independent from the Soho Society.
5 of the 6 large campaigns (those that drew 100+ public comments) were locals fighting to SAVE specific venues (The Yard x2, Blacks, Lights of Soho, and a local prayer room).
Planning applications similarly suffer from the Soho Society’s influence.
Schemes the Society opposes are refused 29% of the time, against a 12% baseline, making planning applications nearly two and a half times MORE likely to FAIL once the Soho Society becomes involved.
Soho's planning register has shrunk two-thirds since the mid-2010s, yet the refusal rate has stayed flat meaning the Society's grip has held even as overall activity has fallen.
The Society commented on 105 planning refusals since 2015, and its arguments appeared in the council's stated reasons 47% of the time.
Why has the Council given the Society this outsized and undue negative impact on Soho?
Why won’t the Council listen to the people of Soho, not a group of NIMBYs?
It’s time to end the Soho Society’s influence and bring fun back to Soho.
Thanks to @JamieHeagerty
A big thank you from us too Clare and good luck to you Alex!
A BIG thank you 🙌 @clarelynchred for presenting 300 shows of @SohoSociety Hour @sohoradio, Clare’s Soho show moves to 9am Sat/Sundays! Soho Society Hour continues with new presenter @JoelLevack 9am tomorrow- Our guests are:- @PaulGurnham @AnnesSoho @TimLordRenew @lucy_haine
Amazing news - #SohoAlFresco has been extended until the end of October by @CityWestminster! bit.ly/36cWfkp
Soho Al Fresco retweeted
#SohoHour is back at the new time: Sat & Sun 9-10am on sohoradiolondon.com/player/c…
Sat 9-10am
1. My first time @BarrysBootcamp Kingly St #Soho
2. Cllr @pancho_lewis reflections on summer in Soho for business, residents & visitors.
Plus #LocalNews
Excellent in-depth piece from @dvh_ellis in @EveningStandard speaking to hospitality businesses (and our own John James) about the impact the new 10pm closing time will have on an industry still recovering from lockdown.
standard.co.uk/go/london/res…
😎😎😎
Good mood good food last summer days enjoy alfresco soho stree dining @BalansLondon @SohoSummer2020 @TimeOutLondon @visitlondon #EatOutHelpOut #sohostreets
Soho Al Fresco retweeted
Everyone- please fill in the survey! Extending the Al Fresco dining scheme is going to save 1000s of jobs. It’s not just for residents either- you can be a business owner, employee, or even just a lover of Soho. Your feedback is essential!
#Soho! Dear Friends,
It's been summer like no other! We are doing a quick survey on how the street closures & #Sohoalfresco run by the @CityWestminster impacted residents - complete HERE
thesohosociety.org.uk we are in discussions with #WCC & need yr feedback #soholondon
Soho Al Fresco retweeted
The @SohoSummer2020 Street Festival brought one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods back to life in July, but local businesses are calling on patrons to help keep the #Soho alfresco vibe alive into September. There's a free cocktail in it for ya...🍹
theresident.co.uk/food-drink…
Amazing photo and stirring words of support from none less than the editor of evening.standard! Thank you @emilysheffield.
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#Repost @emilysheffield
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Beautiful,… instagram.com/p/CEy2pUzHHGf/…
Bottoms up for a good cause! 🍹
Restaurants can participate in the scheme which will see customers receive a 'thank you' #cocktail when they donate to the Save Our Soho fund.
@SohoSummer2020
#SohoSummer2020 imbibe.com/news/soho-calling…
Soho Al Fresco retweeted
Leading bartender Dré Masso has created a special cocktail to be given as a free reward for people donating to a campaign to help bars, pubs and restaurants in Soho in London. thebarhopper.net/2020/09/02/… #Soho #SohoSummer2020 @SohoSummer2020
The sun's out, it's a Bank Holiday and it's the final day of the government's #EatOutToHelpOut scheme; what more reason could you need to venture into the West End and make the most of Soho Al Fresco? We do recommend… instagram.com/p/CEjIb6wHCrL/…
Our pleasure! 📻
Thank you to our guests:
John James from Soho Estates @SohoSummer2020
& Soho resident Margaret Bloomer @sohosocietyw1
Listen back via link below:
mixcloud.com/sohoradio/the-s…
Great video by @CityWestminster
encouraging people to #sightseecrowdfree and enjoy the very-much-open West End while it's not as busy as usual. And of course any visit should include spending time in thriving, temporarily-pedestrianised Soho!
youtu.be/YnC6DwlIh6c
👇🏿👇🏾👇🏼
Many of the fantastic restaurants in #Westminster have signed up to Eat Out to Help Out.
Find out which #Westminster restaurants are participating and read the full terms and conditions of the scheme, here: westminster.gov.uk/shop-loca…
#EatLocalWestminster #EnjoySummerSafely
