Climate change protests in central London are adding huge pressures to businesses in the West End that will cost them “tens of millions of pounds” in sales, New West End Company has said.
So far nearly 300 Extinction Rebellion activists have been arrested during the past two days. NWEC has estimated that businesses in the West End have so far lost £12m in sales within this period.
The protests have continued into their third day today (17 April).
Sir Peter Rogers, chairman of the NWEC, has called on the mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Metropolitan Police to act.
In a letter to Khan, Rogers pointed out that retailers in the West End are already feeling the brunt of poor high street trading conditions, rate rises, Brexit uncertainty and the delayed opening of the Elizabeth line.
Pressure on business
“While we fully support the right to peaceful protest, we do not believe that it is acceptable to block, for such a long period of time, some of London’s busiest streets,” he wrote.
“At a time of store closures and redundancies, this additional pressure is deeply damaging to London’s economy.
“Stores are reporting significant declines in footfall and spending, some by up to 25%, difficulties in receiving deliveries and journeys being disrupted due to bus cancellations, which causes major problems in staffing stores.”
Rogers highlighted that the recent protests in Paris have driven away international and domestic tourists, and have hit shops, restaurants and hotels “hard”.
“Matter of urgency”
Additionally, he outlined concerns that the area has become “extremely vulnerable” given that emergency vehicles cannot access the city centre.
Rogers said: “We ask, as a matter of urgency, that you take control of the situation, provide means for people to protest peacefully and supervised in the many open spaces in London, and allow companies and employees go about their lawful business without threat.
“Moreover, with these unauthorised protests happening more frequently and Oxford Circus being targeted as a high-profile location, we would like to hear from you what long term measures are being put in place to protect this vital area from regular disruption and damage in the future.”
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