Chelsea player seeks permission to open new offices for family taxi firm

HE is one of the most eye-catching footballers of his generation, the soccer superstar who helped Chelsea’s team of multi-million pound players soar past Barcelona and into the Champions League Quarter-Finals on Tuesday night.
But Joe Cole’s latest ambition is a world away from his pursuit of football glory. The 23 year-old – a former student of Haverstock School in Chalk Farm – wants to open a minicab firm in a Camden Town back street.
Cole has asked Camden Council for permission to convert a building in Arlington Road into new offices for family-run, Meter Cars.
The company is popular among businesses and residents in Camden and has even boasted Cherie Blair, the Prime Minister’s wife, as a private account customer.
The terraced property Cole hopes will become a new base for Meter Cars is the former home of the Camden Chinese Community Centre, which relocated two years ago.
Cole has signed the application papers asking Town Hall planners for permission to change the building’s use from a food outlet into a cab office.
He signed the papers with his full name, Joseph Jason Cole, adding the address of his Romford mansion where his adoptive parents are also listed as residents.
His design and legal team must now convince planning officials that the change of use will not cause neighbouring residents any disruption.
The building’s windows were screened with newspapers yesterday (Wednesday).
A written statement sent to the Town Hall from Cole’s representatives said: “The proposed new office is a relocation of Meter Cars of Kentish Town Road. The existing office at this address will close and be used for a different purpose. The proposed new office will not be open to the public… Drivers will NOT park or sit in their vehicles outside or near to the proposed new office or call into, or be called into, the proposed new office whilst they are working on their shift.”
Any objections from Arlington Road residents must now be filed at the Town Hall before officials make a final decision later this month.
The firm’s business structure is unclear – Cole is not listed as a director. Records show that the footballer bought the building in January for £700,000. As the owner, he was required to sign the application papers.
The company’s directors are his adoptive father George Cole and uncle Brian Cole, who are found on the electoral roll at an address on the Clarence Way Estate in Camden Town.
In startling circumstances, Meter Cars’ headquarters found itself at the centre of a police raid 18 months ago when detectives probing rogue use of disabled blue badges stormed the building.
After the initial shock of the early morning raid, the company was back accepting customers within hours.
Brian Cole was arrested but, despite a lengthy investigation, no charges were ever brought.