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Neighbours
protest at Dublin Castle's plan to open a cafe
Henry Conlon |
THE landlord of the Dublin Castle – the renowned music
venue in Camden Town – has upset some neighbours with plans
to open a cafe next door to the pub in Parkway.
Protesters from nearby Albert Street say there are already too
many licensed premises in the street and that another venue
would lead to increased trouble.
Landlord Henry Conlon will learn at a council hearing on Tuesday
whether or not he can serve alcohol at the Dublin Castle Café,
a new food outlet which he has opened next door to the pub.
He wants permission to sell alcohol until 11pm but objectors
have urged licensing chiefs to take caution.
In a letter of protest, Peter Cundall, who has lived in Albert
Street for 33 years, said: “The last decade or so has brought
more and more disturbance from people for whom being noisy and
often drunk in the street seems to be their idea of fun. Fun
for these people can also include breaking bottles and glasses,
vomiting in the street and urinating into residential basement
areas and front doorways. I last washed urine off my front steps
as recently as yesterday, Sunday morning. It’s not a great
way to start the day.”
There is no specific evidence linking trouble in Albert Street
with drinkers at the Dublin Castle but objectors say a new licensed
venue will have an inevitable effect on night time noise.
Mr Cundall added: “To grant this application would be to
extend the potential for the nuisances described above and already
suffered by residents who have daytime jobs and young children.
This part of Camden Town is already saturated with places selling
alcohol and to visibly adverse effect. What possible reason
is there for adding to it? There is ever growing evidence from
police statistics that alcohol is involved in the vast majority
of crimes.”
Bertie Miller, from the Albert Street North Residents Association,
said that the street did not need another licensed premises,
arguing that more venues would increase night time disturbance.
He said: “Parkway is extremely well served by licensed
premises. Indeed, a pub lies empty on Parkway at the junction
of Arlington Road suggesting perhaps that we are already saturated
with places in which to drink.”
Mr Conlon who fought to gain a 2am licence for the main pub
through two council hearings and a magistrates court session,
said that residents had nothing to fear.
He said: “All staff are trained in dealing with disruptive
customers and drug awareness. There will be ample staff on duty
to avoid queuing. There will be no irresponsible drinks promotions
or happy hour held. Patrons leaving are requested verbally to
leave quietly and written notices reiterate this.” |
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