Council launches consultation on new licensing policy

Club 414 proprietors Louise Barron and Tony Pommell
Club 414 proprietors Louise Barron and Tony Pommell

Lambeth council has begun to consult residents on its licensing policy for the borough. as is it is required by law to do every five years.

The consultation comes as complaints about noise in Brixton continue and as campaigners in Hackney, East London, oppose a new licensing policy there that, they claim, will force new venues there to observe “core hours” and close at 11pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends.

Introduction of the Hackney policy followed a consultation which its opponents claim was not valid.

Lambeth council said it wanted to hear from as many of Lambeth’s residents and businesses as possible.

The night-time economy has become and continues to be an increasingly important source of revenue and jobs in Brixton, especially since the introduction of 24-hour weekend Tubs on the Victoria line,

A council’s licensing policy sets guidelines for regulating and licensing any business that sells alcohol, offers entertainment or provides late-night refreshments. This includes pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels, off-licences and late-night food takeaways.

Councils are required by law to publish a new licensing policy every five years and Lambeth’s current policy runs out on 29 January next year.

The council says it plans to make it “simpler and easier to understand” and to update it based on people’s views and changes to the law.

It is encouraging local residents and businesses to publicise the consultation on social media.

The online consultation is already live and will run until Wednesday 24 October. The council will look at responses as they come in.

The new statement of licensing policy for the borough will be produced after the consultation and will be considered by the full council before it is introduced.

Residents flats on Coldharbour Lane that are newly refurbished but lack double glazing recently complained both to the council and to local MP Helen Hayes about noise that they claimed came from Club 414 opposite.

Noise tests by the council showed that the club was not exceeding official limits, but one of the complaining residents told the Blog that he would be giving up his flat because of disturbed sleep.

Night-time buskers and not properly organised licensed venues are the main target of the Sleepless Brixton campaign and residents of central Brixton streets like Tunstall Road who successfully complained to the local government ombudsman about Lambeth council’s inadequate response to their complaints about noise.

Online consultation site

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1 COMMENT

  1. This part of brixton has always been to come and dance and enjoy brixton night life for many years now that brixton has become gentrified the posh element of brixton complaines about loud music,how stupid can you be to rent a flat above a club or opposite it’s just common sense

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