Planning Application Notice

[Collingwood, Andrew]

Dear All,

You may, or may not be aware that Hawksmoor are hoping to extend their licence quite significantly, which will also include an extension of the premises into downstairs.  The following is a message from "CROS" (Concerned Residents of Spitalfields):

For those of you that were not around in 2003/2004 you will not remember the very dark period that affected our little block during the "Edge"; this was a club that occupied the space that Hawksmoor want to extend into....  As the following note points out the problems weren't with the club itself (though it's widely acknowledged that it was a very badly run venue) however the big problem came with departing customers, illegal parking causing congestion resulting in increased traffic noise etc.  Any extension in licence could also set a dangerous precedent for the recently abandoned site @ 159 (Capacity 600).

All the details follow.  I strongly recommend you object to this application you've got until 18th August 2010 to do so - particularly if your bedroom faces onto Wheler Street, or Calvin Street and you value sleep!

Andrew

-- 
Andrew Collingwood
Training Academy Manager
Cable & Wireless Communications
Mob:     +44 (0) 7717 836292
www.cwc.com 

News of a local Planning Application that may hold late night noise implications...?

 

Hawksmoor at 157 Commercial Street E1 is seeking to Vary Condition 3 (Hours of Operation) of its March 2010 Planning Permission for ground floor & basement; to allow trade within following hours:

 

09.00 – 01.00hrs Mon-Thurs; 09.00-02.00hrs Fri & Sat & 10.00-11.30hrs Sun; With all patrons to vacate the premises within 30 minutes of these closing times.

 

The deadline for any comments is 18^th August 2010. Please quote the Planning Variation reference PA/10/ 01370 & email to Planning Officer Mary.O’Shaug...@towerhamlets.gov.uk 

 

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FYI – Below  some thoughts on the implications of this late operation application based on this community’s past experience with this venue; which hopefully can help you to form your email but please - don’t cut & paste exactly as is; please use your own words and stress your own individual concerns!

 

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Hawksmoor is undoubtedly a very popular; well regarded & well run business; which to date has been (smelly on-street bins aside!) a good local neighbour. Certainly it’s no Edge & therefore the clientele is normally well behaved but as they say – ‘better the devil you know’ - we simply cannot place all our trust on past good behaviour; once very late operation comes into the picture...

 

Having re-gained Planning Use for the 157 basement earlier this year (for kitchen preparation; new toilet facilities but allowing no sale of alcohol or music); Hawksmoor is now seeking to turn it into an extension of the above business. Therefore it’s going to be twice as big as that former nuisance Edge & could with this application – be just as late operating. As we know from the past; that’s where the potential problems lie for those living within earshot. After all it’s not the physical business that causes us the problems but it is the large numbers of late night patrons once outside; their cars & taxis - over which no one; let alone Hawksmoor; has any control as it’s physically impossible for them to depart in silence.

 

Cain Duncan; Tower Hamlets Planning Enforcement Officer is happy to be quoted in that he’s ‘very concerned that a restaurant should be seeking closure at this hour as this only encourages those wanting – not food - but late night drinking’. He ‘doesn’t want to see another Edge type situation creep into the basement as it took a lot to time; effort & tax payers money to see off Edge’. Agreed!!

 

Therefore as Hawksmoor could now have a capacity in excess of 400+; it’s directly under a residential block & surrounded by 100’s more homes – it may be wise to ask for the same cap on operational hours as the 11.30pm cap on nearby Boho Mexica; also being under a residential block. That fits in with the Commercial Tavern’s closure & gets any local noise impact over in one hit – not trailing on late into the night...which it will with customers being allowed a further 30 minutes to leave!

 

Those late hours aside – Hawksmoor is still going to be a very much larger capacity venue; so we need some further Conditions attached - such as those to cope with the increased number of: -

·         Smokers loitering under residential windows or in nearby doorways

·         Smelly; overflowing; eyesore; vermin magnet refuse bins obstructing our pavement!

 

Finally at the moment no one knows what direction the ex-Lahori Masala will take but it’s another huge 600 capacity venue right next door @ 159. Therefore the potential negative impact of these 2 large adjoining venues doesn’t bode well for our little residential enclave if they are allowed to operate late into the night...

 

No ill will intended & as good a neighbour as Hawksmoor is – currently - more than doubling its capacity whilst allowing it to go as late as 2.30am at weekends would set an extremely dangerous local precedent.

 

Ends ----------------------------------

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[David Snowdon]

Hello Andrew,
 
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
It will be just awful if it's allowed to go ahead.
I've sent in my objection.
 
Best regards,
 
David
 

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From: andrew.co...@cwc.com
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 09:19:09 +0100
Subject: Planning Application Notice
To: whel...@googlegroups.com

[Nick Brett]

Good spotting Andrew. I'll get my comments over ASAP.

Nick (Flat 7, 22 Wheler St)

M: 07932 722 068
A: Unit 1.2, 11-29 Fashion Street, London E1 6PX