Residents and revellers at loggerheads as night-time economy row reignites
Night-time is the right time? Photograph: Victoria Roberts
Following the flawed ‘night-time economy’ consultation that it attempted last summer, Hackney Council has now launched another.
The Town Hall decided to abandon its previous consultation of August last year after it found mistakes in a key paper.
Residents and businesses have been invited once again to air their views on the borough’s burgeoning nightlife.
Rio Cross Residents’ Association has signalled its disapproval of the number and duration of bar and restaurant licences dished out, arguing that anti-social behaviour is on the up and police presence has been slashed.
Chairperson Lisa Shell said: “There has been a recent surge of animosity towards local residents by clubbers and club owners who fear the freedom that they enjoy is threatened by a new licensing consultation.
“I believe the majority of residents would consider the area to be saturated with venues which do not serve them, and impact on their enjoyment of their homes and neighbourhood.
“Residents might well ask – what more could the night-time economy want from Dalston?
“It is clear that some of those that enjoy its night-time offerings have little understanding that Dalston has in fact existed, and been an exciting and enjoyable neighbourhood in which to live and work, before the recent arrival of their community.
“The potential public benefit of an increase in the number of late night venues must now be carefully weighed up against the impact on the human rights of a community to peace and enjoyment of their environment.”
The original dispute kicked off when Hackney Council proposed a licensing policy which would have enforced a 12 midnight closing time for all new bars.
A number of residents’ groups argued the stricter measures were necessary to stop “Shoreditch becoming Magaluf”.
The clampdown on late-night venues prompted the launch of We Love Hackney, a campaign to fight the plans.
The campaign has now been resurrected.
Spokesperson Shain Shapiro said: “We’re hoping that the council listens to our recommendations in our consultation response and we’re looking forward to working with them to create a policy that supports – as it states in the consultation – Hackney’s vibrant evening and night-time economy, while also respecting residents that want to sleep.
“We’re pleased Hackney Council is listening to us and working with all the residents on this consultation, which began at an open community night that some of us attended a month or so ago.”
In a statement explaining the reasons for the consultation, Hackney Council said: “The growth of Hackney’s evening and night-time leisure economy has contributed to wider economic growth and to making Hackney a vibrant and fashionable place for people to live, work, visit and locate their businesses. It brings many benefits to the Borough, including employment and regeneration, but also brings negative impacts such as alcohol abuse and increased anti-social behaviour.
“We are keen to hear the views of local residents as well as those using the evening and night-time economy. We would like to work together to balance the needs of our evening and night-time economy, taking into account the views and experiences of residents, businesses and visitors.
“We want to effectively manage the growth of the evening and night-time economy as we know that these areas are also highly residential neighbourhoods.”
Will the We Love Hackney and Hackney Citizen aim for a more balanced approach this time round rather than opting for a rather one-sided level of scaremongering.
What was simply a consultation was presented as something draconian, threatening, intimidating and ultimately one that would shut the whole of the Borough’s night time scene. A better more honest debate would be welcomed rather than one that marginalised or shut down the concerns of residents. That and some facts about the basic proposals such as that it was simply an initial consultation designed to hear all sides and different voices; that licenses would not be withdrawn but rather a limit on new late licenses where areas had a large number of late venues. Instead we were treated to hysterical claims about a return to some terrible 80s licensing where all venues would be shut at 11pm and 10pm on Sundays…wilfully ignoring the facts.
Nor was there much questioning of those venue owners who had made a fortune from their venues, ploughing profit into new venues and whose concern was less about a future set of entrepreneurs than a fear that they may not be able to open yet more late night, profit producing clubs.
Totally agree David, and perhaps the Hackney Citizen could do a bit of research about who is actually behind We Love Hackney and what interests they are representing, rather than just regurgitating their press statements. We are led to believe that this is some sort of popular grassroots campaign, when it is clearly a professional, well-financed PR operation. It’s high time for more clarity and honesty in this debate.
Agreed – some real balance rather than one-sided nonsense needed – just looking at their web side labelled “Facts” shows what a mish-mash of made up stuff they were peddling last year…combined with directions (for more information) to press stories written by compliant journalists who went with the scaremongering angle created by this campaign and peddled by PR professionals paid for (not by concerned residents and businesses as they claim) but self-interested businesses.
http://www.welovehackney.org/#thefacts also list of businesses in the appendix of the pdf https://www.dropbox.com/s/374qcfz55l1dac2/150909%20We%20Love%20Hackney%20Proposals.docx?dl=0. The claim for some 4300 supporters looks questionable if they have supported something based on erroneous ‘facts’ and misleading information…not to mention anyone will sign anything if it doesn’t cost anything and it is presented in strong emotive terms.