Mayor of London calls for targeted support for West End businesses

Sadiq Khan has renewed calls for a targeted package of support for West End businesses following reports that footfall remains 80% below normal levels.

The mayor of London has called for government measures to help the central London district, which has seen a sharp decline in both office workers and tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “I’ve been speaking to businesses across the West End, from shops to restaurants, and the key thing from them is the government announcing as soon as possible a package of targeted measures to help these businesses in the West End.

“Retail, hospitality, leisure, culture, these businesses need support from the government. I’ve set out in a letter to the prime minister today a package of measures the government could be doing to support these businesses. What I don’t want to see is these businesses going bust or their workers being made redundant. That’s why it’s really important the government steps up and supports the West End.”

Earlier this month the mayor called for measures including an extension to the business rates holiday, which is due to end in March 2021, an overhaul of that system, an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for sectors including hospitality, a financial aid scheme for central London hospitality businesses, and more support for hospitality venues to implement track and trace systems.

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