• CAMDEN town hall, opposite St Pancras station and now labelled “Bidborough Works”, has permission to create co-working offices: a sensible reuse of its now redundant council spaces.

However a licensing application has now been made for provision of alcohol and very late-night refreshments (together with entertainment).

The applicants have given no reason why the planned use of the premises for co-working should require any late-night sale of alcohol beyond “office hours” (say 6pm).

The proposal effectively creates a “members’ club” offering all-day hospitality in an area where there are already sufficient licensed premises available (pubs and hotels).

The increased traffic of delivery lorries, taxis, Uber, etc will turn that section of Bidborough Street, Tonbridge Street and Hasting Street (all one-way streets) into an excessively busy gyratory, making the passage of pedestrians heading to and from St Pancras and King’s Cross stations, wheeling their luggage and hurrying along Judd Street, much more risky.

The increased delivery and other traffic in Tonbridge Street will make it dangerous for the children of Argyle Primary School.

Alcohol related activity (spilling out onto the town hall terraces and into the streets, with loud conversations, slamming of car doors, revving of engines, etc) until the proposed very late hours, will disturb the quiet enjoyment of the residents of Queen Alexandra Mansions, disrupting both work and sleep, including children’s sleep, especially in Bidborough Street.

Similarly the students in the UCL John Dodgson House in Bidborough Street that overlooks the town hall in Judd Street will be disturbed. Modern students need to study at night to pay off their large student debt!

The extra noise and late-night activity are totally out of keeping with the ongoing development of this area as the “Knowledge Quarter” (https://www.knowledgequarter.london).

I live in Queen Alexandra Mansions. My flat is on the third floor and a study / bedroom window overlooks Bidborough Street and the town hall.

Like my fellow residents I am most concerned that the licensing application be refused.

The council hearing is on Thursday November 7 at 7pm at the Town Hall and on Teams email: licensing.committee@camden.gov.uk

RICHARD MACVE, WC1