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The Fall fitzrovia.org.uk/news Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 122 Autumn 2011 Battle to stop Mayor overturning local democracy to gain Crossrail cash, page 3 Council and police cautioned after nuisance bar is given licence By News reporters refuse the application. Camden’s Residents groups agreed licensing committee granted the with Camden’s former police Residents in Goodge Street have licence in July subject to condi - licensing officer Robert Dear criticised the police and a coun - tions. who said in 2009 that the prem - cil licensing committee after a The club had gained an ises should not open again as a bar, which had previously been international reputation after it licensed venue. used as a brothel and continues was reported that Rolling Stones The application to reopen A mechanical digger strikes a water main on Cleveland Street during work to be a focus for vice activity, has guitarist Ronnie Wood started has been accepted because the to lay cabling. See “Running water everywhere” page 4. been allowed to reopen. an affair with a 20-year-old new applicants, Annup Saggar are “dismayed” at the decision police had objected, a Channel 4 Councillors were initially woman after meeting her at the and son Rishi, have been judged to allow the licence. documentary had shown film of reluctant to grant a new licence bar in 2008. to be unconnected to the previ - “Why should those of us liv - one of its reporters being offered to the notorious premises but Vice activity built up outside ous managers. This is despite ing along Goodge Street have to sex for £250 at the club. caved in after legal arguments the club and continued after its the fact that as owners of the put up with this? The council A Fitzrovia resident made a which pointed out that without closure. Men were seen either to venue, the Saggars received rent have been duped and the police Freedom of Information request police objections they could not hang around outside the door to from the previous managers. complacent,” say the residents to Camden Council whose statu- the club or to sit in cars and then The applicants said they never who want to remain anony - tory duty is to monitor and approach potential customers visited the venue when it was mous. enforce licensing. The Council arriving at the bar. the Capricorn Club and had no After the club was finally did not inspect the club once In their objections to the reason to doubt the previous raided in 2009 Camden Council during the two years that it was licence committee on behalf of managers who paid rents on said they had taken “swift regularly exposed as a brothel. residents councillors Adam time. action” and would not “not hesi - Camden’s current police Harrison and Millena Nuti stat - The applicants said they tate to suspend a premises licensing officer PC Gerry ed that the activity outside the planned to let the premises to licence if necessary”. McGann told Fitzrovia News club was a great nuisance for new managers, transferring the But these words were that he had told the new licence people living there. licence. The police would be laughed at by many of holder of the bar that the police Although the activity of the consulted on any transfer and Fitzrovia’s residents. The would not tolerate any breach of pimps and touts had decreased could object if unhappy with the Council had been repeat offend - the licence conditions. PC since the club was raided and new licensee. ers with regard to this basement McGann said that any vice activ- closed in 2009 it was still caus - However residents living bar. In 2008 the council renewed ity seen by the public should be ing a nuisance. near to the bar have said they its licence even though the reported to the police. GIGS est. 1964 The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fully licensed Greek restaurant “The secret’s out. Gigs is back” 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 Letters and comment Fitzrovia News Summer 2011 Fitzrovia News The Police and Camden Swimming Pool closure Formerly The Tower established 1973 Council have let us down The 52 Club swimming pool had residence which was unique for to close this August due to dete - staff welfare. The recreational fitzrovia.org.uk/news We are dismayed that the former chose to grant a licence for the rioration of the fabric of the pool facilities included a swimming twitter.com/fitzrovianews Capricorn Club in Goodge Street club to reopen. building. The amount of money pool, various games rooms in is now to reopen following the Now, since the licence has needed to make it safe is cur - the basement, a ballroom and facebook.com/fitzrovianews granting of a new licence by been granted, we have noticed rently not available; UCLH Trust library. [email protected] Camden Council. an increased amount of activity. is not in a position to confirm Investment over more recent 020 7580 4576 We are told that the police Drivers sit in their cars with when the pool will be opening years has maintained its art deco were satisfied that “no person engines running adding to the in the near future. character. In the early 1990s the Issue 122 Autumn 2011 who was employed as a member nuisance. In my opinion, this wonder - collapse of part of the ceiling of of the management team or as a We are astonished at ful building should not be the swimming pool led to an Fitzrovia News is published director when the premises was Camden Council’s decision to closed but should become a list - expensive programme of repairs. quarterly by the Fitzrovia the subject of a police investiga - allow the club to reopen particu - ed building and maintained for The resulting 1920s style pool Community Newspaper tion which led to the closure in larly as the applicant has stated use. The 52 Club enjoys a mem - with polished metal and new Group, and supported by the December 2009 shall have any that he intends to transfer the bership of 1500. It offers a range lighting proved well worth Fitzrovia Neighbourhood involvement in the business or licence to anther party. No con - of facilities to the NHS Trusts in while. The BBC have used it for Association financial interest therein” and dition has been attached to the the area and to the residents of fashion shows and legend has it (registered charity no. 1111649) therefore decided not oppose the licence to require the activity Fitzrovia. It is run by a team of that a scene from Dr Who was 39 Tottenham Street, application. outside the club to be dispersed, really friendly staff. once shot in the pool. In 2005, London, W1T 4RX A licence has been given yet this is our main cause for In 1974, when the Board of the newly tiled pool was compli - ISSN: 0967-1404 despite the outside of the prem - concern. Governors of UCH acquired the mented by new saunas. ises continuing to be a focus for Why should those of us liv - lease of Bonham Carter House I am sure I shall not be the Editorial Team vice activity. The same pimps, ing along Goodge Street have to the opportunity arose to provide only person who will miss this Mike Pentelow: drivers and cars that have put up with this? The council all the staff with unrivalled facil - great facility in Fitzrovia and editor and features editor worked with the club since have been duped and the police ities for a Sports and Social hope the Management Linus Rees: before 2009 have continued to complacent. In who’s interest are Club. Committee and Trustees of assistant editor loiter in the street outside the they acting? This was possible because UCLH Charity are successful in Pete Whyatt: club. Despite the police and the previous owners of the securing the necessary funding news and production editor council being aware of this they Names and addresses withheld building, Bourne and to repair this great asset to our Fiona Green: Hollingsworth of Oxford Street, community. arts and listings editor Private tenants need support had in the 1920s designed and built it for their live-in staff, a Ann Goodburn Brian Jarman: As a private tenant I was recently in deep trouble with my landlord writer and sub-editor applying to double my rent. So I went to the Law Centre in Kentish Barb Jacobson: Town. They couldn't help me. They advised me to go to Housing at associate editor Camden Council. They couldn't help me. Boris should not overrule Jennifer Kavanagh: Through a friend I found Camden Federation of Private Tenants, associate editor who gave me a great deal of help over the phone. Yet this organisation may now have to close at the end of the local democracy Contributors: year due to loss of funding from Camden Council. Please give your Sally Beerworth support to this organisation by visiting: www.cfpt.org.uk. So local democracy — including businesses everywhere are going Captain Gripper Fiona Green Ann Goodburn more than a handful of fairly under? Clifford Harper intelligent well informed people Nobody can object to Vincent Harrington — can not be trusted even to enhancing existing offices or, Clive Jennings Bloomsbury ward make criticisms of a plan which usually, to increasing their size if Denise Julien flies in the face of nearly every the increase is not to the detri - Angela Lovely element of planning policy.