• HAVING endured the brickbats and panto-season newspeak of the full council meeting, I had hoped that serious non-political consideration would be given to the proposed changes to licensing in Camden.

It was therefore infuriating that, despite the heavy suspicion that some Labour councillors held deep reservations over the blanket extension to late (framework) drinking hours and removal of the concept of cumulative impact, there was uniform voting by the party in favour of the report.

The surreal acceptance in the group that there were cumulative impact areas but that they did not present cumulative impact, was the height of the Orwellian language.

Dedicated and reasonable councillors, from all parties, spend a good deal of time working together on panels to consider licensing applications.

Why discussion was curtailed and there had to be a whipped response to this matter, which will impact on residents so heavily, is a mystery that few will fathom.

CLLR STEVE ADAMS
Leader of the Conservative Group