Council outlines new night-time strategy with businesses to stay open later

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Nightlife in a borough could be transformed with businesses opening later, late-night supermarkets for workers and free phone charging points in town centres, under recommendations.

Wandsworth council has put forward a draft night-time strategy with proposals to improve nightlife in the borough.

The draft outlines ways to improve the borough from 6pm to 6am to meet everyone’s needs, with a special focus on certain groups including young people, women and low-income workers.

The strategy provides a platform for developing future projects and funding applications.

It recommends promoting later opening hours for businesses, more night-time activities, encouraging spill-out spaces for cafés, restaurants and bars and requiring new drinking venues to undertake sexual harassment training when applying for a licence.

It recommends working with businesses to provide evening childcare such as night nurseries, late-night supermarkets and special discounts for night workers, along with creating outdoor exhibitions, interactive artworks and murals.

The strategy also suggests installing free phone charging points in town centres, developing an affordable or free events programme and piloting night markets when high street stores close.

It includes recommendations for shops to provide desks or studio space for workers at night along with promoting the opening of facilities such as late-night repair shops, vegetable box pick-up spots and healthy takeaways.

Another key focus of the strategy is safety, including improving lighting at night.

The strategy reads: “A common misconception around the night-time strategy is that it aims to increase late-night opening hours to encourage more venues for drinking.

“Our vision is more holistic and inclusive, recognising the wide range of activities that constitute the night-time economy and seeking to create a more balanced night-time, that provides services that appeal to a diverse range of users – from community hubs for residents and young people, late-night supermarkets for night workers, to safer transport hubs for all.”

Labour councillor Kemi Akinola, deputy leader, said: “We want our businesses and town centres to thrive, but we also want everyone to feel safe and heard – including night workers, women, marginalised communities and disabled people and people living in more deprived parts of the borough.”

The strategy is out for consultation until May 14. When it is finalised, the council’s economic development office will create a night-time working group with the Met Police, Transport for London and licensing to begin conversations on how to take the recommendations forward, assign responsibilities and monitor progress.

Pictured top: Clapham Junction at night time (Picture: Wandsworth council)