onionbagblog

This is rather lovely - I’ve spoken with more folk in my local community over the past few days than I have in the four years since we have lived here. The unifying strand is the bonkers licensing application at Kelly’s along the Clap’ham Road to serve booze until five in the morning.

I wouldn’t exactly call it a coordinated campaign, but connections have been made, and a strategy has been put in place. I’ve even been invited by our friends from @lambeth_council to speak at the Licensing Committee, in opposition to the plans.

My first conversation was literally over the garden fence. I spoke to my neighbours for the first time ever. I’m not sure why it has taken so long, but now some common ground has been established, I’m hopeful of continuing good relations. We both agreed that the licence would be an extreme nuisance in our residential area.

Remembering my evening spent mixing with the disparate (but rather nice) bunch that is the Fentiman, Richbourne and Dorset Road Resident’s Association, I contacted the Chair and asked for advice and support.

The good folk of the Bolney Meadow Resident’s Association are also objecting to the licence. Although still along Dorset Road, the Bolney Meadow estate is a five minute walk away from Kelly’s. This shows the strength of opposition against the application.

And then evening all, evening all - it’s only a pledge from the local police to also speak out against the planned licence. The fine folk of the Oval Safer Neighbourhood Team have very real crime and disorder concerns about allowing alcohol to be sold until 5am, in what was up until very recently, still a Police Dispersal Zone.

And then to complete the alliance of friendly locals, we even have cross party support from @LambethLabour and @LambethLibDems - blimey.

The very good @janeinlondon / E Hants has agreed to represent residents at the Licensing Committee. The Lone LibDem, Councillor Brown, is also asking questions with both the Licensing Committee and the Planning Applications Committee, in an attempt to find out if there is any connection between the two recent (and seemingly separate) applications.

So yeah - it’s all been rather rewarding in uniting the local community against the plans for a business outside of the borough to come into our neighbourhood and create a social nuisance. The real reward however will be if the bonkers licence is thrown out, and some proper local and social use can be made of the old Kelly’s building.

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