Westminster Council vows to rid Soho of 'red-light image'

A massive drive to clean up Soho and help rid it of its red-light image has been unveiled by Westminster City Council.

As part of an ambitious programme of renewal, the council is also aiming to transform the heart of the capital to attract more families to the area and help boost business.

Council leader Colin Barrow has pledged to shut down the last remaining unlicensed sex premises following a purge which has seen the closure of 51 sex shops and the complete eradication of clip joints which used loopholes in the law to fleece mainly male customers of hundreds of pounds after luring them in with false promises of sex shows.

Also on the council's hitlist are the 100 Soho-based food outlets with one or zero stars "Scores on the Doors" ratings, illegal hotdog trolleys and street litter - with plans announced for a zero tolerance of West End litterbugs.

Councillor Barrow said: "There is no place in a civilised society for the drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour which has for too long been the scourge of Soho.

"The idea that the seedy side of Soho is a magnet for tourists and creative trade is a flawed one. It may well be a curiosity, but there is no compelling economic argument for this.

"This is not about sanitising the area, but simply making it fit for a modern capital city where people are more aware than ever of the true costs of prostitution and drugs to society.

"Soho is a hub for creative industries which generate nearly £15 billion a year for the local economy, and the area boasts a flourishing entertainment and restaurant sector.

"By far the vast majority of visitors would never venture any where near the seedy premises which give it a bad name, and the view that the sex and drugs are part of its 'charm' is simply wrong."

Despite a setback last month following the failed attempt to close down a brothel which both the police and council said attracted anti-social behaviour including drug dealing, the council insists it will continue to seek the closure of Soho brothels which attract criminal activity.

And to help keep the streets clean an extra 1,000 litter bins are to be installed across Westminster - reversing a trend which saw many bins removed following a wave of attacks on the capital by the IRA in the 1970s and 1980s.

A further 1,000 parking spaces will also be created across Westminster to make it easier for people to park in the borough

In an address to a meeting of the full council on Wednesday night setting out Westminster's priorities for the year ahead, Cllr Barrow said he wanted to create a "living city" of opportunity where families can thrive in the heart of London.

He also pledged to makeover up to 400 main streets, help provide up to 1400 apprenticeships over five years, and make available around 60,000 square foot of affordable office space in Westminster.

Councillor Barrow said: "In the depths of a recession we begin the task of building a city fit to welcome the world in 2012, and showing how we can do more for less by changing the way we work.

"Westminster has not faced a challenge of this magnitude for 30 years. The loss of jobs, business and prosperity threatens the unity of our communities, the fabric of our neighbourhoods and the confidence of every family that lives here.

"Meeting and mitigating the impact of the recession will demand a different and dynamic response from this city government."

The pledges came as Westminster formally approved proposals to freeze its council tax for the second year running - £687.62 for a Band D property - making Westminster's council tax the second lowest in the country.