Time called on bid for bar in Clerkenwell saturation zone

Published: 10th June, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

THE campaign to prevent more bars opening in the borough’s troubled clubland has scored its first major success.

Councillors were for the first time able to reject an application for a new 200-seater, Cuban-themed bar under a “saturation” policy introduced for Clerkenwell in January.

At a recent licensing hearing Clerkenwell Lib Dem councillor George Allan argued strongly against the applicants’ arguments that they ran similar premises successfully near Waterloo station.

The applicants claimed crime had fallen in Clerkenwell and that no residents had objected to the application.

But, after police strongly backed Cllr Allan’s arguments, the licensing committee refused the application in line with the saturation zone policy.

The zone was the direct result of a petition organised by Cllr Allan in 2009. It was signed by more than 100 Clerkenwell residents, presented by Cllr Allan to the council in October 2009 and finally adopted as council policy in December last year.

The petition followed complaints about late-night noise and anti-social behaviour.

At the recent hearing, the committee heard that ten per cent of all Islington’s licensed premises were within the Clerkenwell saturation zone, which stretches about 500 metres around Farringdon station and encompasses 135 drinking establishments.

Cllr Allan said: “The licensing committee’s decision is highly symbolic. At long last, time has been called on the further expansion of the drink trade in Farringdon.

“Thanks to everyone who supported the campaign by signing my petition or supporting the new saturation zone when the council consulted on it. It shows how, together, we can get things done locally.

“The applicants can, of course, now appeal to a magistrates’ court, so I have a watching brief until we know whether they will now do this.” 

In addition to the saturation zone, a recently introduced borough-wide controlled drinking zone gives police extra power to deal with anti-social behaviour in the street. 

Street signs will point out that anyone of any age carrying an open container of alcohol can be forced to hand it over to police. 

Labour councillor Claudia Webbe, a member of the licensing committee, said the  scheme means police can now take action in any part of the borough. “Police will have the powers to confiscate alcohol or stop people drinking where they believe there is a nuisance,” she said.