Camden New Journal - News: Party Plans

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 9 August 2007

Cllr Abdul Hai

Party plans upset neighbours

CAMDEN Council has been labelled hypocrites over its plans to hold late-night parties in a residential area.
Last month King’s Cross residents received a letter from the Town Hall informing them the Camden Centre in Bidborough Street, a conference centre owned by the council that can hold up to 850 people, wanted a 4am last-orders licence.
Neighbours say the council is taking advantage of the community.
“It is hypocritical. If this was in Hampstead they wouldn’t have even tried to put this application through,” said resident Harun Kaji.
“It’s about education – I know a lot of Bengali families who get a letter through the post and they don’t know what it means, they may not even be able to read it.”
Mr Kaji, who lives in Flaxman Terrace with his partner and two children under the age of 10, warned late-night noise was bound to damage their sleep.
He also said the good work done by the community over the years to improve anti-social behaviour in the area would be reversed if the application was successful.
Labour councillor Abdul Hai said: “Just because we’ve got a few nightclubs in the area, that’s no reason to give us another one. We’ve got enough problems with kids and anti-social behaviour. That doesnt justify another 850 adults coming here.”
Residents are worried there will be an increase in late night noise, and fear revellers leaving the venue may vandalise the area – including many cars that line the quiet street, which is just around the corner from the Town Hall in Judd Street.
The application had been “ill thought-out”, Cllr Hai added. “The council have double standards. People don’t complain in the south of the borough – people in the north are much more proactive.”
Many in the area say the council are guilty of barefaced cheek for going so far against their own guidelines of an 11pm close in residential areas.
Pubs and clubs hoping to hold late-night parties in an area with known anti-social problems usually also have to prove they will not create further tension, according to Town Hall guidelines.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments: