‘The organiser’s dismantling of an event at the town hall triggered an early surprise Sunday wake-up call for families’

• WE have seen from regular letters to the CNJ, including on October 31, residents of the quiet Bidborough Street neighbourhood have voiced strong opposition to the current licence application to serve alcohol into the late night at Camden town hall, citing serious concerns over noise, safety, and community disruption.

The application, tied to a co-working club in the newly renovated venue, has alarmed locals who fear it will turn their area into a continuous source of noise and threats to safety.

This apprehension was underscored last weekend, as the organiser’s dismantling of an event at the town hall triggered an early surprise Sunday wake-up call for families living just 14 metres from the designated “club” access point.

At 8am large HGVs diesel-powered generators (see above) and a loud removal team shattered the usual calm, bringing a surge of loud noise.

To make matters worse, two of the service vehicles flouted traffic regulations by driving the wrong way along the one-way street to remove large stage rigs and other heavy equipment, endangering residents and further exacerbating our outrage.

Contractors not only breached Camden’s local noise policies but also violated traffic laws, blocking the road, intensifying concerns over the applicant’s suitability to responsibly manage a venue serving alcohol.

The violations and disruption already taking place raise serious questions about the applicant’s ability, or willingness, to prioritise neighbourhood welfare.

Residents of this densely populated block, home to nearly 200 flats housing families with children and including many key-workers, were left to grapple with the intrusive behaviour on what should have been a peaceful Sunday morning.

The applicant, Eventhia Ltd, has promoted itself as a high-end and responsible event operator; but reality shows their management to do otherwise. In real life they are treating neighbours with the utmost disrespect.

These incidents, occurring even before the formal licence hearing, suggest a troubling disregard for Camden’s local standards and the community’s quality of life. The potential for these disturbances to become the norm under an alcohol licence is, understandably, a pressing worry for residents.

Eventhia has already shown a concerning lack of management that raises doubts about their commitment to a respectful coexistence with the surrounding neighbourhood.

The licensing committee meeting today, Thursday November 7, should consider this clear disregard for community standards and reject the application.

Camden town hall has the potential to be a valuable, neighbourhood- friendly co-working space under its current planning permissions.

However introducing late-night alcohol and even outdoor music speakers into this residential setting risks compromising the very fabric of this quiet neighbourhood, and approving this application could set a precedent for further disruption across Camden.

REBECCA SPARK
ANNE SUTHERLAND
SIMON MITCHELL
TOM WAKEFORD
Residents of Queen Alexandra Mansions, WC1H