GaryWM wrote:Thanks all for the responses so far, please include name and general address info (if a resident) as will need this for supporting evidence.
Pieces of Eight, we've lived here for 4 years - same timing as the club.
Pieces of Eight wrote:However, those residents who are complaining who moved in after the club started are akin to folks moving to a house near Heathrow and then complaining about aircraft noise!
turtmcfly wrote:Pieces of Eight wrote:However, those residents who are complaining who moved in after the club started are akin to folks moving to a house near Heathrow and then complaining about aircraft noise!
Not quite the same. You couldn't really buy a house round Heathrow without knowing there was a noise issue. The existence of this club is hardly obvious. But, yes, on those grounds you might be right to say 'tough luck'.
That's not the real issue (or difference) though, is it? If punters arrived and left 'in good order' there might not be a petition going round. As it is, they don't.
GaryWM wrote:I echo Shivaun's thoughts. In no way would I consider a car park that is a venue for club nights organised by one-off promoters who have no connection to the area, a local business. It's just a car park trying to make more money on the weekends, it provides no amenity, employment or any other positive benefit to the area; moreover there is no consistency in any part of the club nights from one evening to the next.
As such this is a completely different situation to the Ministry of Sound issue, to which I believe you might be likening this. As an example, if this were an actual local business as opposed to just a pop-up operation, it would have toilet facilities. As it isn't, the only toilet provisions are porta-loos which are inside the security - so people just end up using local streets as a toilet.
Also, their license was granted in 2010 so if they were operating since 2008 they were doing so in breach.
I am a staunch supporter of local businesses and chose to live in Bankside because of the great mixed neighbourhood feel.
If the club were able to operate in a civilised manner and residents were not subject to a wide variety of issues (many have already been highlighted) then I wouldn't mind. But the venue management has consistently let the local area down in how they manage the influx of people in that they don't patrol the local area, don't clean up, and breach the rules of their license. In the past we've tried to engage proactively with them, including consultations, but the situation has just gotten worse and worse.
As an example, two weeks ago as I was coming back from dinner (at a local restaurant), the minicabs had taken over an entire intersection and were parked everywhere including public pavements, private property and throughout the roads. When I stopped to take a photo of the chaos, one of the drivers threatened me with violence very aggressively. Whilst this driver wasn't an employee of the venue, it was a direct symptom, and because there are no proper controls by the venue and Southwark Parking do not operate at night, there are no other means of dealing with this. Even as a 'newcomer' to the area, I believe I have the right to be safe outside my home.
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