威斯敏斯特市议会正威胁关闭由英伦无家可归者之友慈善机构（FOELH）在查令十字运营的汤厨房。[1]该市议会声称这项服务存在安全隐患，引发了人群聚集、垃圾增加和反社会行为等问题。[1]
慈善机构创始人史蒂文·斯图亚特表示，"我们面临着威斯敏斯特市议会围绕我们每周查令十字外展工作不断增加的挑战。"[1]志愿者菲尔·琼斯透露，"我们收到了市议会的通知，他们打算禁止我们在查令十字运营每周的汤厨房。"[1]
市议会采取了多项行动施压该慈善机构。市议会威胁对食物配送车辆征收500英镑的停车费，并要求慈善机构获得昂贵的废物处理许可证。[1]威斯敏斯特市议会发言人声称，"目前该地点对于使用该服务的人员和公众都不安全。"[1]副领导人卡罗琳·萨金特表示，"当地居民和商家对流浪者营地的出现感到厌倦，我们也一样。"[1]
Westminster council is threatening to close a soup kitchen run by Friends of Essex & London Homeless (FOELH) at Charing Cross, citing safety and public order concerns.[1] The charity, which operates the weekly outreach service, has faced escalating enforcement action from the council, including threats of £500 parking charges for the food distribution vehicle and demands that FOELH obtain a costly waste disposal licence.[1]
Charity founder Steven Stuart said the council's complaints and enforcement actions are "making it impossible to operate."[1] Volunteer Phil Jones confirmed that "we've received notice from the council that they intend to ban us from operating our weekly soup kitchen in Charing Cross."[1]
A Westminster council spokesman justified the threat by saying "currently, the site is not safe for those using the service or the general public," pointing to concerns about crowds, litter, and antisocial behavior.[1] Deputy leader Caroline Sargent added that "local people and businesses are fed up with rough sleeping sites springing up, and so are we."[1]