Disability group accuses Mayor Sadiq Khan of failing disabled Londoners in nightlife overhaul

Sadiq Khan’s proposals would give a boost to nightlife industries. Photograph: John Levason Thornton

A Hackney-based disability action group has accused the Mayor of London of prioritising London’s nightlife over the rights of disabled residents.

In a formal letter submitted to the Greater London Authority (GLA) on 27 March, Disability Backup (DBU) accused the Mayor of London’s plans to modify the capital’s hospitality and nightlife licensing of prioritising “the hospitality and nightlife industries over the legal rights of disabled residents.”

Sir Sadiq’s proposals, announced on 12 February, would create a “unified and consistent” licensing system across the capital in a bid to boost hospitality and nightlife industries.

Currently, boroughs set their own licensing laws.

The London mayor’s proposal aims to end the capital’s so-called “licensing postcode lottery”, making it easier for operators to extend their opening hours and increase nighttime activity.

DBU argue the drafted licensing framework focuses solely on “enabling and expanding” licensed activity, and demonstrates a lack of regard for the welfare of disabled residents.

John Thornton, chair of Hackney Disability BackUp, said: “This policy reads as if disabled Londoners simply do not exist.

“Noise, pavement obstruction, dispersal disorder, compromised sleep, they all fall disproportionately on disabled people.

“Expanding the conditions that cause that harm without a single enforceable protection is not balance. It is a failure of basic equality law.”

DBU stresses that noise, pavement obstruction, dispersal disorder, and compromised sleep disproportionately affect London’s disabled.

Intensification of London nightlife, DBU say, would only exacerbate existing difficulties for disabled residents and highlight “A fundamental disconnect between policy and practice”.

The proposal would also grant the Mayor powers to intervene on applications of significant economic impact, such as large venues or festivals.

In a statement, Sir Sadiq said: “By making it easier to extend opening hours and expand what’s on offer at night for Londoners and visitors, we can continue to grow our capital’s nightlife offer and build a better London for everyone.”

The policy has drawn strong support from many in London’s hospitality sector.

Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric and chair of the Nightlife Taskforce, said a London-wide framework would “remove unnecessary barriers” and give businesses and boroughs “a stronger basis for collaboration”.

In response to the London mayor’s proposals, the DBU has called for the GLA to introduce enforceable equality principles into all licensing decisions, commission an independent accessibility impact assessment of pavement licensing, and address noise and dispersal harm.

Thornton concluded: “Disabled people do not have the lobbying resources of the hospitality industry. They cannot track and oppose every licensing application.

“The Mayor’s policy must therefore contain enforceable protections, not aspirations deferred to future guidance. Disabled Londoners deserve better than this.”