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Passengers on the Thames cable car will be able drink alcohol and party into the night at 300ft, under new plans to revive Boris Johnson’s struggling transport link.

London transport bosses have applied for a licence to sell alcohol to passengers arriving for their ten minute trips on the Emirates Air Line, which spans the river between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.

Under the proposals, champagne could be served from 10am to 1.30am every day from bars on platforms at each end of the 300ft-high crossing, which was launched by the former Conservative Mayor in June 2012 ahead of the Olympics.

As well as serving alcohol the licence would allow the showing of films, play live music and host events such as karaoke and disco nights at the south terminal next to the O2.

Danny Price, Head of Emirates Air Line, said : "A licence application has been submitted to allow us to host booked events, as well as the option for exclusive cabins serving a glass of champagne, which would be a premium offer for customers seeking a unique hospitality package.

"-Subject to licence approval this will be available at specific times and under controlled conditions, and we will adhere to all local restrictions.

"Customers will not be allowed to bring their own alcohol to consume on board the Emirates Air Line."

The move comes after figures released this month show that the £60 million “white elephant” link is used by just over 4,000 people a day despite having capacity to ferry 2,500 passengers an hour in its 34 gondolas.

Docklands Light Railway submitted the latest application on behalf of Transport for London which has been under pressure to increase useage of the line, particularly among Londoners.

A number of other London attractions already have licences to serve fizz, including the London Eye, where a ticket including a glass of Pommery Brut Royal Champagne costs £31.95.

At the View from the Shard platform entry for two and a flute of Lansons champagne from Britain’s highest champagne bar each costs £81.90.

But critics have warned the scheme will turn the cable car link into a “West End nightclub in the sky” that will bring misery to local residents, particularly on the north side of the river.

The Met’s licensing officers in both Newham and Greenwich have threatened to oppose the scheme, which comes before councillors at committee meetings next week, unless strict conditions governing security, CCTV cameras and staff training are agreed.

They have also demanded alcohol is only drunk inside the terminal buildings and capsules, and that empty glasses and bottles are cleared away when customers have left cars at the end of their journey.

Neighbours slammed the idea as “desperate”, raising concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour and the prospect of drunk people falling from the pods.

It comes eight years after Mr Johnson banned alcohol from the entire TfL network of Tubes, trams, buses and the DLR.

Robert Leftwich, who lives near the Royal Docks terminal in Newham, wrote: “The very idea of encouraging the sale of alcohol on the cable car reeks of utter stupidity and desperation.

“Is it really sensible to allow inebriated people to ‘fly’ 300ft up in the air, with doors on the cabins? Inevitably at some point someone will try to make a jump for the river below.

“This application seems simply a desperate idea to try and rescue what has unfortunately become a non-profitable white elephant.”

Dr David Wilson said it demonstrated “an egregious disregard” for the welfare of children, public safety and the prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Trevor Jones and Joanne Roughton, who live in an apartment near Royal Docks, said: “The proposals will lead to people becoming drunk in a residential area, fighting and acts of damage, drugs and potential sexual acts in and around our home.”

Tony Vaughan also objected, saying: “The music will probably be the usual cretinous cacophony. We don’t want roaring stag nights and shrieking hen parties, particularly not in the early hours.

“I’m 69 and will be in hell soon enough. I don’t want a foretaste.”

Jenny Brice added: “We purchased our apartment in a residential area and did not expect it to be turned into an entertainment venue up until 1.30pm. The cable car was built as a means of transport not an entertainment venue.”

London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon said: “It seems that those running the cable car have the vision to run it like an expensive West End night club experience.

“Instead of providing some expensive tickets involving glasses of champagne for a few people the cable car should be run for the many as an affordable form of transport across the Thames.

“The Thames cable car was in large part funded by the taxpayer and its original purpose was to ensure daily trips across the Thames could be made by the widest range of people.

“It is time the Mayor of London finally got to grips with these issues and‎ decided what the future of the cable car really is.”

Sadiq Khan threatened to shut the line down during his mayoral campaign, branding it an “expensive vanity project” which cost the capital £5 million a year in subsidies.

He has since stepped back from the threat after TfL pointed out ending the contract before 2021 would cost £20million in penalties and loss of sponsorship.

A decision on the bid will be made by Greenwich Council on September 5.