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West End firms draw up plans to ensure show will go on in pandemic
Sophie Goodchild and Mark Prigg01.05.09
West End theatres, restaurants and shops could close early in the event of a swine flu pandemic, it was revealed today.
Businesses in the heart of the capital are drawing up emergency strategies so they can still operate even if huge numbers of staff call in sick with the virus.
Officials are determined that premises in central London generating billions in revenue from tourists, shoppers and theatre-goers, would not be forced to close their doors during a flu crisis.
The City of Westminster has 47,000 businesses - the largest number anywhere in Britain.
They include 5,000 bars and restaurants, 40 world-class theatres which bring in revenue of more than £1billion a year, and shops which generate £5.5billion annually. Nearly all of the 30million annual tourists to London visit Westminster - it receives onemillion visitors day.
Emergency planners today urged all business owners to ensure they have plans in place to keep running with just a "skeleton" staff.
This includes restaurants offering customers menus which are easy to prepare.
For retailers this means looking at changing opening times to cope should staffing levels plummet during a pandemic.
Entertainment venues may also have to reduce performances especially if actors are taken ill.
An emergency control room has also been set up from where officials will manage the flu crisis.
This swine flu "nerve centre" is based in Lisson Grove and has already been used to oversee the responses to major events and incidents such as the G20 protests, the 7/7 bombings and the poisoning of Russian Alexander Litvinenko.
John Barradell, deputy chief executive at Westminster council, said officials were at this stage encouraging businesses to get prepared. But he said talks would take place directly with managers, including theatre directors, should the threat level from swine flu rise.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, he said: "The City of Westminster is an important part of UK plc. We're working with businesses encouraging them to be prepared so they keep going if the pandemic happens.
"We want them to check their emergency plans and make sure they are up to date.
"With restaurants the priority is chefs and covers. They have to look at issues such as changing their opening times and having less time-consuming menus.
"With theatres there is always a 'show much go on' mentality. But they should be seeking advice from medical professionals so their staff are prepared to cope with a pandemic."
