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Gay Pride News: While the rest of the capital celebrates Pride, there will be no official gay Pride celebrations in Soho's gay village
By: Nigel Robinson
No go in Soho for Pride
No go in Soho for Pride
Pride London goes ahead - but not in Soho
The cancellation follows concerns by the Fire Brigade that they could not guarantee the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people expected in the area on 3 July.
Many of the roads around Soho Square, where the main dance tent was to have been, are either closed or affected by road works.
This is a result of the Crossrail expansion scheme which started in January 2010 and is expected to last until 2017.
According to Pink News, gay businesses were told earlier this week that an alternative street party of 7,000 could be possible in a restricted and controlled area.
However, this would have been conditional on Soho's gay bars compensating Pride for loss of sponsorship.
The idea was finally dismissed as being both impractical and unfair to local businesses and customers.
The Pride Parade along Oxford Street will still go ahead as planned, and as usual there will be a rally in Trafalgar Square.
Traditionally people would then move on to the Soho gay village to continue the day's celebration.
The cancellation of official gay Pride activities in Soho follows Pride London’s removal of all market stall pitches on the site earlier this week.
G.A.Y club promoter Jeremy Joseph has written this week in London scene guide QX that he believes that Pride London is now out of date and “run by faceless people who are answerable to no-one”.
Pride London takes place this year on 3 July.
For more information on this and all other UK Prides visit Pride Life’s UK Gay Pride Pages
