Residents win firefight to stop nightclub expansion
by Danny - May 6th, 2009.Filed under: Crime and Anti Social Behaviour, FIRE nightclub.
FIRE nightclub’s application to expand into adjacent arches was refused last night at a Licensing public hearing at Lambeth Town Hall. The current capacity of FIRE is set at 1435 and FIRE were looking to increase this by roughly 25%.
Viva Vauxhall had run a neutral-stance, public awareness campaign on this issue, which was clearly effective in motivating those who weren’t aware of FIRE’s plans and who would wish to object. In all, 30 representations were received by the Licensing Sub-Committee – ‘ a significant number’ as the Chair of the committee was at pains to point out to FIRE and their lawyer.
A common theme of all the representations was public nuisance initiated by clubbers and taxi touts – and the concern that ‘more club capacity, more clubbers would inevitably mean more disturbance and anti-social behaviour in and around our local streets’.
Strength of feeling among local people against further expansion by FIRE was demonstrated by the significant number who turned up to support the three residents and Councillor Andrew Sawden who had been nominated to put forward objectors’ concerns to the sub-committee.
One hurdle which the residents had to overcome was why so few complaints (something like ‘three’) had been logged and made to the council about noise and nuisance in a year. Not an easy one to answer, and something residents will have to address if they wish to mount an effective opposition in the future to FIRE Licensing (and Planning) applications.
FIRE not getting Licensing approval does not mean that it is all over and the club will no doubt be reconsidering its position and deciding on the best way forward from here.
Although, it would not have been allowed to influence any decision reached on the Licensing application, one member of the sub-committee and Andrew Sawdon both questioned whether planning approval was required for FIRE to use the new arches. It’s not clear-cut, but Viva Vauxhall’s understanding is that Lambeth Planning have now become involved and FIRE have been ‘invited to apply for planning permission’.