Posts Tagged licensing

Westbourne Road licensing verdict

24 October, 2009 at 10:35 am · Filed under Campaigns, Consumer, Neighbourhood ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Sad to say, the campaign to fight yet another off-licence opening in Westbourne Road has been unsuccessful, after the appeal by Mr Kilic against Islington’s award of a licence failed this week.

Cllr James Kempton and I were among those who gave witness statements in support of the residents’ objections.

In my witness statement, I argued: “This is a residential area, with schools, churches, community centres, a children’s centre and an adventure playground nearby. It is not a suitable area for an increased number of alcohol sales outlets. I find it deeply ironic that as one Government policy has robbed this neighbourhood of its post office, another now allows the flooding of the area with off-licences. This is not an improvement.

“There is growing concern about the impact of alcohol on crime and anti-social behaviour and in making people, particularly young people, vulnerable to crime. The local council, sitting as the licensing authority, should balance the legitimate desire of local businesses to trade with the negative impact of certain trades on the community. In this case, I believe another off-licence in such an over-provided area would be one too far.”

And I was not alone. Residents, councillors, local churches and schools, and other local businesses all expressed their concerns, backed by a large petition.

But to no avail. The Licensing Act makes it almost impossible for councils to refuse licences, unless the police also object, and the court faced the same problem.

As David Trillo of the Ellington Street Residents’ Association (ESRA) puts it, “Everyone knows that the law pertaining to alcohol is counterproductive and until it is changed off licences will continue to be handed out like confetti.”

Meanwhile, the Council has taken action against another off licence, caught persistently making underage alcohol sales. Express Food and Wine in St Peter Street lost its licence after being caught on 4 separate occasions selling booze to under-18s. And that was after having their licence suspended for a month due to previous offences.

This week there have also been calls for a minimum price for alcohol, in response to what researchers call “an epidemic of alcohol-related health and social problems”. The idea is to stop the situation where off-licences undercut each other on booze to get people through the door. Which is exactly what Westbourne Road residents fear will now happen near them.

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Licensing battles: victory in Clerkenwell, fight continues in Westbourne Road

16 October, 2009 at 5:45 pm · Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged , , ,

Congratulations to George Allan and the Clerkenwell Lib Dem team for securing victory in their campaign.

They have been asking that the area is recognised as ‘saturated’ with licensed premises. Clerkenwell ward has 135 licensed premises – that’s about one for every 35 households!

So no more licenses will now be issued: and existing licensed premises will have to be good neighbours or risk losing their license to a better operator.

This is one of the first examples of residents fighting back against the flood of licensed premises following Labour’s Licensing Act, but it may well not be the last.

I’ve just sent in my witness statement in a case supported by residents in the Westbourne Road and Ellington Street area. This is a residential neighbourhood, away from main roads, with schools, churches, a children’s centre and adventure playground. Not the obvious place for a boom in booze – yet that’s what’s happening.

The Ellington Street Residents Association (ESRA) have found there are already 27 off-licences within 500 metres of the shop where yet another off-licence wants to open up. Staggering distance, you might say.

The licensing law gives few grounds for councils to reject such applications, despite, in this case, so much local opposition. St Mary’s ward councillor James Kempton was particularly frustrated that the petition of over 450 signatures was effectively marginalised. Now the case is going to court, with a hearing later this month.

The heart of Westbourne Road’s little shopping parade used to be the local post office. But like so many in Islington, it was closed as part of the notorious ‘Network Renewal’ programme. I find it deeply ironic that as one Government policy has robbed this neighbourhood of its post office, another now allows the flooding of the area with off-licences.

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Early doors for the Glass Works

4 September, 2009 at 1:02 pm · Filed under Neighbourhood ·Tagged , , , , ,

Islington Police have sent me an update on the Glass Works pub.

The Glass Works is not a typical Islington pub, but a Lloyds/Wetherspoons venue, located upstairs in the N1 shopping centre. Nowhere in Islington is far from someone’s home, but the Glass Works is about as non-residential a location as it gets. And although definitely not to everyone’s taste (well not mine anyway) it’s popular for a cheap night out or meeting up before or after a film.

So of all the pubs in Islington, why are the police tackling this one?

Well, the major fight that took place last month was the last straw, following various violent incidents earlier in the year.

The Police have successfully lobbied the Council – as licensing authority – to cut back the venue’s opening hours. The amended license conditions are as follows:
– To reduce the hours for the sale of alcohol to 23:30 pm, 7 days a week.
– To reduce the hours for the provision of late night refreshment to midnight, 7 days a week.
– To reduce the closing hours of the premises to midnight, 7 days a week.
So it’s not exactly early doors, but now more pub than club.

The Islington Gazette has more on the story here.

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Fancy a pint?

24 August, 2009 at 10:51 pm · Filed under Campaigns, Consumer, Neighbourhood ·Tagged , , , , , ,

One of the joys of Islington is its pubs, not the high street chains but the lovely Victorian pubs on quiet side streets.

Last night, Rich and I enjoyed a pint and the Sunday papers at the Island Queen. Hidden away opposite Hanover School on Noel Road, the Island Queen has a spectacular interior, huge and high-ceilinged – like the Kings Head on Upper Street, but without the crowds. Everything was perfect, the service, the atmosphere, the drinks and we unwound happily.

The week before, I met Lib Dem friends at the Crown on Cloudesely Road, which has endured when so many other pubs in the area have closed. One friend lives in an ex-pub on Cloudesley Place. Of the pubs on Barnsbury Road, the original White Conduit House, latterly the Penny Farthing, has become a restaurant; while the Eclipse is now flats, and the King Edward VII became the Church on the Corner. Now the King of Denmark at the south end of Cloudesley Road is due to shut next month.

Sometimes closed pubs do re-open. Most recently the Canonbury tavern. Famous for its huge garden, it closed in 2006 after growing complaints from the neighbours about noise nuisance. Now it’s reopened with compromise conditions preventing late night use of the gardens.

Neighbourhood pubs are great, but you want them to be good neighbours, not neighbours from hell.

The current 24-hour licensing laws, introduced by Labour back in 2003, were supposed to create a ‘continental cafe culture’; needless to say, they have not. Instead chain pubs and bars, with no stake in their neighbourhood, can create nuisance on an industrial scale.

Truly independent pubs are much more interested in what their community wants and are free to provide it. But under the current law, most pubs are tied to the big hospitality conglomerates. The Fair Pint campaign, backed by Lib Dem MP Tim Farron, is trying to change that.

Meanwhile in Clerkenwell, the LibDem councillors are running a campaign to declare the ward a ‘saturation zone’, arguing that the 135 pubs, bars, nightclubs, off-licences, restaurants and other alcohol outlets already in the ward are more than enough. I’ve been out with them the last few weeks, collecting petition signatures. (And yes, we do tend to end up in the pub afterwards).

Imagine my joy last week when I saw that on my list of people was one Hazel Blears: her famous flippin’ flat is just a bottle’s throw from Farringdon. As she was a Home Office minister at the time the Licensing Act came in, I was quite looking forward to the encounter: but she was out. Down the pub? Or, as one friend suggested, at one of her other homes….

What would I have told her? We’re not anti-pub – far from it. But we want decent pubs that are good neighbours and part of the community around them; not soulless drinking factories. 24 hour licensing isn’t the answer. Reforming the tied pub system could be.

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Clerkenwell clubland cleans up

11 March, 2009 at 8:58 pm · Filed under Neighbourhood ·Tagged , , , ,

Clerkenwell councillor George Allan reports on Monday night’s meeting with local residents about the impact of 24 hour licensing on their neighbourhood.

With 135 assorted licensed premises in the area, residents have a lot to put up with. At one end of the scale, Fabric has a 24 hour licence and a capacity of 2,500; at the other, are dozens of late night kebab bars.

It really is a 24 hour society, with the Smithfield market starting up as the clubbers are still making their way home. None of this is a problem in itself, but the impact on the neighbourhood can be.

Islington Council has introduced extra sweeping, street-washing and litter patrols in the area. And now a pop-up urinal is to be constructed in St John Street: work starts next week.

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Clerkenwell Licensees’ Charter

6 December, 2008 at 10:10 am · Filed under Neighbourhood ·Tagged , ,

Changes may be ahead for pubs and clubs in Clerkenwell.

Last month the Islington Tribune reported that Clerkenwell residents and their councillors were running out of patience with the impact of so many licensed premises in the area. Now the Council is consulting on a Clerkenwell Licensees’ Charter which all local licensees will be asked to sign. This is in addition to the existing Best Bar None scheme.

My understanding is that the Council can’t make the Charter compulsory. Some publicans aren’t keen. But venues who refuse to sign up may find it harder to get their license renewed if they get complaints in future.

If the scheme’s a success in Clerkenwell, I’d like to see the Council consider extending it to areas like Chapel Market. There long-suffering residents have clubs spilling out at 2 or 3 am followed by the market setting up from 5am. The market is a treasured bit of Islington life. So is having a good night out. But illegal minicab touting, peeing and throwing up in people’s doorways, and late night brawls are not.

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Lapdancing: time for a change in the law

3 December, 2008 at 11:04 am · Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged , , ,

My earlier post about Islington Conservatives choosing a wannabe lap dancing venue for their Christmas party has attracted a bit of attention.

It’s still not clear if the Tories didn’t know about La Piragua’s lapdancing license application – currently withdrawn – or if they just don’t care. After all, while many people find lapdancing sleazy and degrading to all concerned, some Tories are keen to defend it. Time for the local Conservatives to come clean on where they stand…..

I’d like local councils to have freedom to decide whether their communities want lap dancing venues at all, and if so, where. At the moment, that’s just not the case. In Islington we’ve been calling for changes in the law after an application for lap dancing in a residential neighbourhood near Archway revealed how limited council powers are. It’s almost impossible to stop pubs or bars becoming “sex encounter establishments” if they already have a license to serve alcohol.

Islington isn’t the only place affected. This morning I was on the phone with Stephen Gilbert, down in Cornwall, where he’s been campaigning for councils to have more powers to control the lapdancing clubs springing up in Newquay.

It remains to be seen what measures will be in today’s Queen’s Speech.

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