London mayor Sadiq Khan responds to petition to save Fabric

Fabric has been under an ongoing 28-day review following the drug-related deaths of two teenage club-goers with the possibility of permanent closure.

A petition was launched last week in an attempt to raise awareness for it’s importance to the city’s nightlife culture, calling on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to save the historic venue.

Khan has now responded specifically to the petition with an official letter.

Reiterating what he has previously said about the situation, Khan assured the concerned citizens that “London’s iconic clubs are an essential part of our cultural landscape". He provided certainty to his determination to protect all culture-rich outlets like clubs, as well as "theatres, live music venues, artist workspaces, historic buildings and pubs".

The London mayor explained that safety is the prime concern and main reason lawmakers have pushed for Fabric under its current circumstances. “Clubbing needs to be safe", wrote Khan. "There have been two tragic deaths at Fabric over recent months and there are clearly issues that need addressing."

Many are hoping the mayor’s office can help keep fabric in operation — even leading members of the industry have pleaded for intervention from the mayor’s office. Thousands have implemented #SaveFabric and #FabricMoments on social media in an attempt to grab the administrator's attention.

But despite the massive influx of support, Sadiq Khan has clarified that “City Hall does not have the power to intervene in licensing cases like the current situation with Fabric".

Khan also uses the statement to echo his strategy to appoint a Night Czar, describing the plan to bring together “key stakeholders including club and venue owners, planning and licensing authorities, the Metropolitan Police and members of the public." He cites that the issue requires a full organization to find resolutions: "We all need to work together to ensure London thrives as a 24-hour city, in a way that is safe and enjoyable for everyone".

Without the mayor’s help and need for a Night Czar, the club's current most viable solution may be to to improve safety procedures and increase their projects with the UK police force.

Read Sadiq Khan's full response to 'Save London's Nightlife. Stop the closure of Fabric' and sign the petition here.

Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here