5,000 signatures reached
To: Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster Council
Save Covent Garden Street Performers
Westminster Council is threatening to stamp out affordable family entertainment in the West End, by imposing expensive, heavy handed and unnecessary licensing conditions on Covent Garden Street Performers, with Equity members at risk of punitive enforcement fines.
Equity is campaigning for the Council to reverse street performance licensing on Covent Garden Street performers at a meeting this December.
Covent Garden Street Performers have successfully regulated themselves for decades. The current licensing conditions threaten to sweep away the colour and vibrancy of magicians, musicians, jugglers, clowns, artists and players; replace them with empty gentrified, sanitised high streets in Covent Garden.
We're calling on Westminster Councillors to reverse Street Performance licensing in Covent Garden.
Why is this important?
For over 40 years, the Covent Garden Street Performers Association has self regulated accessible, family friendly street entertainment in the West End. But gentrification is forcing this Great British Tradition out of our city centres, in favour of businesses who want sanitised and bland high streets.
But Westminster Council has introduced licensing for street performance in all areas, including Covent Garden. Since this change our members have been in discussions with the Council about Covent Garden's unique role in Street Performance in London. We have been careful stewards of this corner of the City, bringing much needed culture, footfall, and cash to the streets of Covent Garden. We believe on the basis of the long year track record of the Performers Association managing and regulating ourselves, and our role as custodians of this Great British Tradition, that we do not need licensing in Covent Garden.
We are calling on Westminster Councillors to reject the voices of gentrification, and revoke the heavy handed, unnecessary licensing conditions in Covent Garden, that threaten the future of this Great British Tradition. Sign our petition and tell Westminster Council to vote to Save Covent Garden Street Performers!
How it will be delivered
By hand, to the Leader of the Council