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This blog has become awfully dull lately, seeming to comprise little more than licensing applications.

Of course, some might say that it was dull before and the licensing applications are what really makes it. And it would be a dull world if everyone thought the same way I do. For one thing, this application would certainly have no chance of success, because of the atrocious use of the ‘Z’ to call the premises ‘Bluez’, when I’m sure they actually mean Blues.

Perhaps, I’m just being old and grumpy. And in a bid to be balanced I’m going to write the rest of my usual licensing spiel in the style of Bluez.

Bluez, at 42 Lavender Hill have applied for a new licence to sell alcohol on the premisez between 11.00am and 10.30pm seven dayz a week.

The premisez have gone through a couple of changez quite rapidly in recent yearz. It had been a second hand shop for a long time (and as long as I can remember), as featured in the Google Streetview at the time of posting. However, last year it became Terre du Sud, a rather nice Italian cafe which I suzpect never quite got the bizniz it deserved. Clearly it is time for a new incarnation.

My initial reaction is that it’s a fairly minor application, well within the borough’z guideline hourz and unlikely to cause any probz for anyone.

However, if you want to make a representation about the application you have until 10 February. Representationz must relate to the four licensing objectives:

  • The prevention of crime and disorder
  • The prevention of public nuisance
  • Public safety
  • The protection of children from harm

The council’s licenzing pages provide more information.

If you wish to make an observation you can do so by writing to:
Head of Licenzing
Licenzing Section
London Borough of Wandzworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

(Possibly overdid the ‘z’s a bit there. I can only hope it isn’t actually owned by someone called Blue who missed the possessive apostrophe; my blood pressure wouldn’t take it.)

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A licensing review for the Beaufoy Bar on Lavender Hill has been requested by a local resident.

As the law currently stands anyone can ask the council to review the licence of a local premises (and the most recent act expands that power) if they feel the licence does not uphold the licensing objectives. In this case the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

For all the time I’ve been involved in the area the Beaufoy has been a source of complaints. Indeed, one of my very first bits of casework after being elected in 1998 was representing a group of residents who opposed the Beaufoy’s application to extend their opening hours (as I recall they wanted to open late seven days a week). In that case the application was rejected, but to be fair to the Beaufoy when they applied again six months later none of the residents wanted to object; each felt the bar had improved dramatically and a few had even become regulars.

My experience has been that a similar pattern has been followed in the years since then. Problems will mount until someone complains, the licensing department will investigate (and I’ve certainly requested several investigations on behalf of residents) and generally the situation improves for the time being. While I wouldn’t call it an ideal state of affairs, the council has to gather a lot of evidence to take action.

If you want to make a representation about the premises as part of this review you have until 3 February. Representations must relate to the four licensing objectives:

  • The prevention of crime and disorder
  • The prevention of public nuisance
  • Public safety
  • The protection of children from harm

The council’s licensing pages provide more information.

If you wish to make an observation you can do so by writing to:
Head of Licensing
Licensing Section
London Borough of Wandsworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

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Last month I highlighted the (what I thought) unusual application to turn The Crown on Lavender Hill into a pub and hostel.

Since then the applicant has withdrawn their planning application. While this often happens when it seems rejection – or a recommendation to reject – is likely I do not know if this was the motivation in this case. Since the applicants already own the property, and their business model seems to be pubs and hostels it may well be a revised application will be forthcoming.

Or alternatively, it seems they might just go ahead and become a hostel anyway!

I noted that I was a little concerned that, on the basis it was not a criminal offence, they opened their first hostel in Tower Hamlets without planning permission. But am a little shocked to discover that they didn’t just open without planning permission, they have never got planning permission.

A search on the Tower Hamlets website reveals that they have put in a number of applications for various elements of work to their first hostel. However, two key ones, seeking permission for the hostel element have both been refused. The applications (references PA/11/00268 and PA/11/00998 which you can search for on the Tower Hamlets planning site) sought to gain a ‘change of use’ which essentially claimed it had been a hostel for 10 years anyway (this was refused because there was no evidence, indeed, the owners had paid residential council tax on the property!) and then applied for a formal change of use which was again rejected.

One of the oddities of planning is that the applicant is irrelevant. Legally I can apply for planning permission to do whatever I want, regardless of whether I have the means to do it or even own the property. However, hearing of this sort of behaviour, which seems to pay little regard to the process (or the neighbours, it seems) really doesn’t fill one with confidence.

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I don’t think I’ve ever flagged up a planning application on here in the same way I highlight licensing applications. There are several reasons for this, the main one being that planning is just not one of my things: I know how important it is, but it’s not something that interests me as much as other aspects of local government.

I’m making an exception for The Crown on Lavender Hill. The future of this site has been the topic of local discussion and rumour, the strongest that it would become a St Mungo’s Hostel for alcoholics. It looks like there was some basis in fact for that and a planning application has been made by the Great Eastern Public House to turn the upper floors into a commercial hostel with seven dormitories and a maximum of 60 beds.

This might raise fears for those who suffered problems they associated with a busy hostel above Mish Mash when it was at 45 Lavender Hill.

Great Eastern have a website detailing the work they have done elsewhere. While looking nice, I can’t help but be a little concerned that they happily detailed their intention to start operating before receiving the necessary approvals:

We informed [Tower Hamlets council] of our intention to begin operating as a Hostel, and therefore sell the accommodation by the bed, a week before our application submission date.

They argued this was not a criminal offence, but I can’t help but find it a rather worrying attitude.

You can see the application on the council’s planning portal (use reference 2011/4220).

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The Shaftesbury Club at 128 Lavender Hill have applied for an extension to their current hours.

They are applying to extend their hours for music and entertainment to midnight seven days a week, and for the sale of alcohol until midnight every night except Friday and Saturday for which they have applied for a 1am licence.

Their current hours are until 11pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30pm on Sunday.

I genuinely have no idea what the Shaftesbury Club is. Until recently I suspect most people would have walked past without even noticing it was there, although the smoking ban and a much more prominent sign will have changed that in recent years. The story I heard many years ago is that it was established for Shaftesbury Park Estate residents who had no pub or club because a covenant prevents a sale of alcohol on the estate. I have no idea how true either part of that is, but imagine the club continues to serve a local clientele.

If you want to make a representation you have until 7 July. Representations must relate to the four licensing objectives:

  • The prevention of crime and disorder
  • The prevention of public nuisance
  • Public safety
  • The protection of children from harm

The council’s licensing pages provide more information.

If you wish to make an observation you can do so by writing to:
Head of Licensing
Licensing Section
London Borough of Wandsworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

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Kostless Food & Wine at 29 Queenstown Road have applied for a licence.

Some might recognise the premises, which operated as a 24 hour store (although without a 24 hour alcohol licence) until recently. I understand that the premises suffered severe water damage following some plumbing difficulties, but someone is clearly looking to re-open the premises now. Some might be concerned by this since there was a feeling that anti-social behaviour in the alley-way besides the premises and the immediate area were connected with the old shop.

The new applicant is applying to sell alcohol from 10am until 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am until 11pm Friday and Saturday.

If you want to make a representation you have until 29 April. Representations must relate to the four licensing objectives:

  • The prevention of crime and disorder
  • The prevention of public nuisance
  • Public safety
  • The protection of children from harm

Unfortunately there is no scope to complain on the grounds that they have clearly made up the word ‘kostless’.

The council’s licensing pages provide more information.

If you wish to make an observation you can do so by writing to:
Head of Licensing
Licensing Section
London Borough of Wandsworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

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Pizza Toscana at 127A Lavender Hill have applied for a later licence.

I’m never really sure what to think about this sort of application, on the face of it they are primarily selling food, so you wouldn’t expect problems, but in other areas often pubs, bars and clubs are relatively trouble-free – instead it’s the late night fast-food venues where people congregate that trouble flares up.

Toscana want to extend their hours from 11pm to midnight Sunday to Thursday and stay open until 2am on the mornings following Friday and Saturday. They are also applying for a licence to sell alcohol until 11.30pm on Sunday to Thursday and right up until 2am on the mornings following Friday and Saturday.

If you want to make a representation you have until 6 April. Representations must relate to the four licensing objectives:

  • The prevention of crime and disorder
  • The prevention of public nuisance
  • Public safety
  • The protection of children from harm

The council’s licensing pages provide more information.

If you wish to make an observation you can do so by writing to:
Head of Licensing
Licensing Section
London Borough of Wandsworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

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Revolution on Lavender Hill are looking to open for a few more hours each week, essentially an extra hour every night from Sunday to Wednesday (they already open later on Thursdays to Saturdays). The new hours would see them able to sell alcohol until midnight – rather than 11pm – on those nights.

It may well be a fairly minimal application, opening until midnight is within the council’s policy guidelines, but if you want to make a representation you have until 14 March 31 March (the deadline has been extended). Representations must relate to the four licensing objectives:

  • The prevention of crime and disorder
  • The prevention of public nuisance
  • Public safety
  • The protection of children from harm

The council’s licensing pages provide more information.

If you wish to make an observation you can do so by writing to:
Head of Licensing
Licensing Section
London Borough of Wandsworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

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I usually highlight licensing applications on here, and despite some quivers of prudishness, I really ought to highlight the current consultation on licensing in Wandsworth.

We are required to have a policy on ‘sex establishments’, things like lap-dancing clubs. The policy should state the areas in which these are considered appropriate.

I will confess my response as a councillor saw my libertarian and authoritarian Conservative streaks clashing! My inner libertarian told me that a blanket ‘no’ policy was bad, is it really right for the council to tell people and businesses what is and isn’t appropriate? Especially when the system means applications can be rejected (or approved) on a case-by-case basis.

The authoritarian in me (on reflection, a bad choice or word given of the connotations) felt it inappropriate to have anything like a sex establishment in ward that was almost totally residential – even Lavender Hill, with all its businesses, is home to hundreds of people who live above those shop fronts.

The authoritarian won. Frankly, there are conversations I can do without having with MiniMe and MiniHer as the grow up and plod along Lavender Hill or Clapham Junction with me! And it’s not as if it deprives people of choice when central London is just a short bus, tube or train ride away for most of the borough.

The libertarian in me will suggest that if you have any views (even if they are that Shaftesbury should be a den of iniquity) you should respond to the council consultation. Comments need to be in by Friday 25 February and can be made (like any other licensing application) by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk or writing to:

London Borough of Wandsworth,
Environmental Services and Community Safety,
Safety and Licensing Team,
PO Box 47095,
London SW18 9AQ

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Wandsworth’s Trading Standards team have applied for a licence review for Best One on Lavender Hill.

The review application has been made because they believe the current licence conditions are not upholding the licencing objective of protecting children from harm (the council has four licencing objectives, preventing public nuisance, preventing crime and disorder, public safety and the protection of children from harm).

If you have any observation to make you have until 21 February to make it, either by writing to:
Head of Licensing
Licensing Section
London Borough of Wandsworth
PO Box 47095
London
SW18 9AQ

or by emailing licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk