Islington News: Eleanor Dowling | Diary | Central Station Pub | Wharfdale Road

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 24 October 2008

Dear diary... neighbour records pub terrace din

A WOMAN solicitor kept a nightly diary of noise and nuisance caused by a nearby late- night pub in King’s Cross.
In the diary Eleanor Dowling described being kept awake night after night by loud music and rowdy customers at the Central Station pub in Wharfdale Road.
But, despite her record of disturbance, the pub was allowed to stay open until 4am at weekends and 1am week nights, at a Town Hall licensing committee hearing on Monday.
Neighbours said one of the biggest problems was a roof garden used by smokers who talked loudly and occasionally broke into song in the early hours.
In an entry for a Thursday in January Ms Dowling described being wakened at 12.10am with a “screaming fight at front of pub from 12.10-12.20am. Bouncers did not intervene.”
On another night she was woken by voices at 10.30pm. “Called noise patrol at 10.55pm. Anne Brothers (Islington Noise Patrol team) called back 11.21pm when terrace was quiet. Woken again at 1.45am and kept awake until 2.30am. Unable to open window,” the diary entry read.
Another resident, David Wright, complained about noise from the pub and illegal minicabs waiting outside. He pointed out that other pub roof gardens closed at 8pm and 10pm.
A decibel survey carried out by the pub at the home of neighbour Sophie Talbot found that the only discernible noise was from passing traffic.
Ms Talbot said: “I was astonished by these findings. It certainly didn’t represent my experiences.”
The pub’s co-owners, Duncan Irvine and Martin Mason, said that, with between 50 and 60 vehicles an hour using the street, it would always be noisy.
Mr Irvine said that customers needed somewhere to smoke. “The roof garden is a better option than outside the premises, where we would have no control,” he added.
He thought residents who had installed double glazing should have no problems. “We have held meetings with the residents and want to work with them,” Mr Irvine added. “It’s important we all get along.”
Police made no objection to the later licence provided, as agreed, CCTV was fitted inside and outside the pub, with door supervisors hired from 10pm until closing time.
The committee granted the extra hours with various conditions, including a ban on using the roof terrace until it is noise-proofed.

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