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Local politicians reacted with fury after hearing the Royal Docks event will return to East London with financial help from the Mayor’s office. The free event will last for five weeks in the summer holidays at the Royal Victoria Docks. Mr Khan’s office said the money is ring-fenced and can only be spent in the local area as part of a deal to devolve business rates to local authorities. But critics argued that taxpayers’ cash should be diverted to policing as the capital’s knife crime crisis continues to claim lives.

The Mayor should scrap this £300,000 event and use the money instead to keep Newham residents safe Susan Hall

Conservative London Assembly Member Susan Hall said: “Sadiq Khan’s Beach Party may have been re-branded a Splash Party, but that doesn’t change the fact that this event represents a shocking waste of taxpayers’ money. “With knife crime in Newham surging by 12 percent on Sadiq Khan’s watch, young east Londoners need protection rather than a taxpayer-subsidised paddling pool. “The Mayor should scrap this £300,000 event and use the money instead to keep Newham residents safe. “This absurd situation would be funny if it wasn’t such a shocking indictment of this Mayor’s skewed priorities. “People will rightly question why Khan is prioritising paddling pools over the safety of vulnerable Londoners.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan

The temporary beach at London's Royal Docks

Mr Khan insists he is unable to spend more on fighting crime because central budgets have been cut too much. The money for the beach project came from the London Economic Action Partnership which works under the Mayor’s office. The cash for the project was from business rates generated in the local area. Last year around 50,000 Londoners visited the beach which boasted a 22-metre swimming lido, a sun deck, street food stalls and musical entertainment.

The London Mayor's office has been criticised for funding summer events at the capital'sRoyal Docks