Your Gipsy Hill

Andrew wrote to the Council’s licensing officers on 1 May 2009, objecting on behalf of local residents to the latest licensing application for 91a Norwood High Street, in his capacity as a Gipsy Hill ward councillor.

CLICK HERE for details of the application, which includes plans for live music, late opening hours and Sunday trading.

The concerns outlined in Andrew’s letter about the application for the ‘Gloria Outway Sports Bar’ are set out below.

Public nuisance

Any noise generated by the bar that is audible outside the building would seriously impair residents’ quality of life in the neighbouring properties and their right to preaceful enjoyment of their home.  The basement is on the same level as some living rooms and the bar-premises on the ground floor is only 5 metres away from several bedrooms.

The premises should therefore not be able to have recorded or live music, and certainly no later than 11pm or at all on Sundays.

Parking

There is limited parking in the area.  Previously, during an event in 91a Norwood High Street, the level of parking stress meant that cars could not travel from one end of Waring Street to the other.  This is a serious concern, particularly if emergency vehicles were unable to access Waring or Dunkirk Streets.

Crime and disorder

There are many hidden lanes nearby and there have already been reports of people urinating in side alleys and rolling joints of cannabis since the new owners moved in.

Protection of children

The bar is only 5 metres from family homes and the site slopes in a way that means the kitchen is at the same level of children’s bedrooms.  This has led to noise, disturbance and smells, and this could be partiuclarly bad if the request for ‘late night refreshment’ includes preparation of food in the kitchen.  There are allegations of bad language, urination and drug use, as mentioned above.  Children should not be kept awake and exposed to any of these problems.

Consistency

This application is ‘new’, but should be judged on criteria in the same way that previous applications for this site have been.  The current application wants late night live music, ‘late-night refreshment’ and late-night recorded music – all areas that previously were deemed unacceptable or in need of restrictions of some sort when another application was considered in September 2008.  CLICK HERE for more details.

We will continue to keep residents updated on further developments.  In the meantime, you can get in touch with us to request more information by using the form below.