The Stage

West End - Westminster parking plan could cost us £70m

Published Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 12:45 by Alistair Smith

Theatreland venue owners and staff have united to hit out at proposals by Westminster City Council to extend parking charges until midnight, claiming the move would put at risk up to £70 million in ticket sales and the safety of performers and backstage crew travelling home late at night.

The Society of London Theatre, Equity, BECTU and the Musicians’ Union have all voiced their concerns over the proposals that would see parking charges increased to £5 per hour and extended beyond 6.30pm from Monday to Saturday. Theatre owners and producers fear that this will hit audience levels, while unions claim it will make life harder for staff to get to work in central London and raises safety concerns for those travelling home from work late at night after a show.

Nica Burns, SOLT president and chief executive of Nimax Theatres, stressed that many of those currently using cars to visit the theatre were unlikely to switch to public transport - the stated aim of the proposals - but might be put off travelling to the theatre entirely, especially if they were elderly or lived in outer London. She added that she feared the changes could lead to charges being extended to Sundays, something she claimed would have an “unimaginable” effect on weekend attendances.

She added: “This is purely a revenue-raising exercise. Westminster council is a very well-run council, so it’s a surprise that a council as switched on as Westminster should be bringing in a measure that is so detrimental to all the businesses within its custody - not just theatres, but restaurants and all the other ancillary businesses that rely on people coming into London in the evenings. It’s a very bad economic decision - I think they’re smart enough to reconsider. We understand that everyone is looking for more money, this just isn’t the way to do it.”

SOLT last week reported that London theatres grossed £500 million in 2009. The organisation’s latest research reveals that around 16% of theatregoers use cars to visit the theatre, while around 90% of ticket revenue is generated within Westminster. This would mean the changes put at risk up to around 14.5% of total income or approximately £72 million.

Meanwhile, Equity, the MU and BECTU have all raised concerns over the extra cost which would be incurred by their members who drive to work - potentially as much as £25 per person every night - as well as the safety issues it would raise.

In a letter to Westminster council, Equity general secretary Christine Payne wrote: “Our members working in the West End rely heavily on their own transportation to be able to get to and from work, often later in the evening. For our members who are working every night in the West End, the ability to get home safely is fundamental. Many female performers are vulnerable at night and rely on their cars for a secure return journey.”

However, Westminster has stressed that the proposals are still at an early stage and it would undertake full consultation before any changes are implemented.

Kevin Goad, the council’s head of commissioning for city management, said: “A number of other local authorities in areas far less congested than ours already have extended parking controls, but we are listening to the views made by all those who would be affected and will consult fully on what are currently just proposals and options for discussion.

“It would be remiss for the council not to take into account the full impact of any potential changes to any of its policies. We constantly try to balance the competing interests of businesses, visitors, residents and motorists across the city, and our final decision will be made in a manner which is totally transparent and open to scrutiny.”