Football final fan zone plan faces opposition

Plans for a fan zone in central London during the Champions League final in June have been criticised by residents and businesses in the area.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) wants to close off the road next to Embankment Underground Station between Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, including Villiers Street and Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Amanda Whiteside, who runs Gordon’s Wine Bar in Villiers Street, said she felt it was the wrong location for a fan zone.

The GLA and Westminster City Council said they did not want to comment as the plan was subject to an ongoing licensing application.

Ms Whiteside said she feared that if an incident occurred in the area, emergency services would struggle to react.

She described Villiers Street as London's second busiest thoroughfare.

"If you have got 30,000 or 40,000 people coming through, it will be impossible," Ms Whiteside said.

"If something happens, how do we get emergency services down here and how do we get through the vast numbers of people":[]}