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| Westfield London. Photo: Wikipedia |
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| Shepherd's Bush Walkabout - now closed. Photo: Wikipedia |
What's this application all about?
Westfield VUE cinema has applied for a 24 drinking license - allowing it to serve alcohol 24 hours a day.
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| Vue Cinema. Photo: Wikipedia |
What's wrong with that?
Many local residents object because of the trouble that tends to come with all-night drinking. In fact, because of problems with alcohol, in 2011 Shepherd's Bush town centre was designated a "saturation zone" by the Council.
What is a Saturation zone?
A Saturation Zone is a special licensing policy that acts to prevent town centre off-licences, take-aways, pubs and clubs, from getting alcohol licences. The idea is to crack down on binge drinking and alcohol related problems. It is a so-called ‘cumulative policy’ which works by refusing to grant any licenses which would have a negative impact on an area that already has many licensed shops and bars.
What else do locals object to?
In addition, the Westfield parking garage doesn't operate late at night, which means that the late night drinkers would end up parking their cars in local streets.
Where can I see the application?
To find the application, go to the official LBHF website and search for this case number:
2015/00431/LAPR.
You should get a page that looks like this:
Is there a public hearing?
Yes. There is a public hearing at the Hammersmith Town Hall on Tuesday May 19th at 7pm in Committee Room 1. Anyone can come along. You can see the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday here.
What will the outcome be?
We don't know. In the past the Council has been supportive of local residents who sought to restrict late-night drinking in Shepherd's Bush, hence the Saturation Zone policy. But since the Council changed hands in May 2014, we don't know what their policy will be. Will the Council support local residents, or back the business interests of Westfield instead? Come along on Tuesday and find out!
The Bush Telegraph offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush. Read about the Campaign to Save Hammersmith Park, find out about our new Farmer's Market, see what's on at The Bush Theatre, find out the latest news on the future of Shepherd's Bush Market, and the Council's plans to upgrade the Goldhawk Road and the Uxbridge Road. If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com.
In addition, the Westfield parking garage doesn't operate late at night, which means that the late night drinkers would end up parking their cars in local streets.
Where can I see the application?
To find the application, go to the official LBHF website and search for this case number:
2015/00431/LAPR.
You should get a page that looks like this:
Is there a public hearing?
Yes. There is a public hearing at the Hammersmith Town Hall on Tuesday May 19th at 7pm in Committee Room 1. Anyone can come along. You can see the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday here.
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| Committee Room 1, Hammersmith Town Hall |
We don't know. In the past the Council has been supportive of local residents who sought to restrict late-night drinking in Shepherd's Bush, hence the Saturation Zone policy. But since the Council changed hands in May 2014, we don't know what their policy will be. Will the Council support local residents, or back the business interests of Westfield instead? Come along on Tuesday and find out!
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| Hammersmith Town Hall. Photo: Wikipedia |
The Bush Telegraph offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush. Read about the Campaign to Save Hammersmith Park, find out about our new Farmer's Market, see what's on at The Bush Theatre, find out the latest news on the future of Shepherd's Bush Market, and the Council's plans to upgrade the Goldhawk Road and the Uxbridge Road. If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com.
At last night's meeting at the Town Hall, VUE dropped their request to serve alcohol 24/7, but the LBH&F licensing committee did grant them the right to show films 24 hours a day. The only limit the Council placed on their activities was to keep the Westfield car park open during the VUE opening hours, so their customers are not forced to park in local streets. One Councillor, Belinda Donovan, dissented, supporting residents view that Shepherd's Bush should not be allowed to become a 24 hour economy.
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