inews: fears for old folk | karaoke bar | PENSIONERS have reacted angrily to a decision to allow a late-night karaoke bar to open on their doorstep.

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 30 May 2008

Residents of Sanctuary Hereward sheltered housing and neighbours outside the Town Hall before Wednesday’s meeting

Islington news | Residents | Old People's Home | Pensioners | Karaoke Bar | K-Blue Bar

Fears for old folk’s haven as karaoke bar moves in

PENSIONERS have reacted angrily to a decision to allow a late-night karaoke bar to open on their doorstep.
Plans to open K-Blue bar in Caledonian Road, near Cally Pool, sparked a “grey-power” campaign as residents of nearby Sanctuary Hereward sheltered housing joined neighbours in opposition.
They turned up in force to an emotional meeting of the Town Hall’s licensing committee on Wednesday, but left claiming the hearing had been a “whitewash”.
Councillors rejected applicant Sally Ng’s pleas for a 24-hour licence, but allowed the karaoke bar to open until 5am seven days a week.
Ms Ng will now have to wait for planning permission before the bar can open.
Objectors, who included Islington South Labour MP Emily Thornberry, argued that the bar was unsuitable for the area.
Ms Thornberry said: “There is sheltered housing and family housing very close to the building in question. A 24-hour drinking, dancing and music licence would be inappropriate.”
Eighty-year-old Eva Hughes, who lives in the sheltered housing, said: “Our place is called a sanctuary. It means safety, refuge. We’ve lived our life and at the end of our lives we want to live in peace. It’s a fantastic, calm place and we don’t want this on our doorstep.”
Labour ward councillor Paul Convery told the meeting: “This is a pretty extraordinary application for 24-hour licensed entertainment deep in the heart of a residential area – not in the West End. There’s an enormous danger that the applicants are suggesting something which is right for an entertainment district.
“Please be assured this is not King’s Cross. This is a residential neighbourhood and, most importantly, it’s part of a neighbourhood that has sheltered housing. These are vulnerable people, some of whom don’t go out after 5pm. It’s very small, literally a sanctuary.”
After the decision, resident Dolores O’Neill said: “I’m so shocked they got seven days a week. If we had Sunday off it would be something. Sundays will never be the same again.”
Neighbour Christopher Broughton said: “It’s a whitewash. Fifty-eight residents have been superseded by one businesswoman.”
Ms Ng hopes to bring a taste of Far East culture to the area. Families visiting the bar would have an oriental meal and then go on to basement karaoke booths. “It’s awfully popular in the Far East where the whole family go. Why can’t we bring that culture to England?” she said.
Ms Ng added: “Caledonian Road is predominantly quite a shabby area and we’d like to play our part by making it nicer. We live in the area and we’ve always had to go to the West End to have a good time. Why can’t we have a good time in our own area?”
She added: “We don’t have any intention of opening 24 hours but the whole point is to let customers go slowly. It’s all about not annoying the neighbours.”
Ms Ng is to bring in a chef from Hong Kong to provide oriental cuisine.

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