Kings Cross Environment

From neighbour Sean Murray

To re-cap. 2 York Way was a coffee shop and sandwich bar and is part of the Regent Quarter development. The lease changed hands and it's turned into a Kebab shop. The unit has broken planning regulations with the signage, has outstanding environmental concerns and has been trading illegally after 11pm.

The change of profile of this unit is a key issue as King's Cross becomes a better place to live, work and go out. It's the first unit people see as they exit London's largest transport interchange and head into the Islington side of King's Cross.

We can think of no other developments in central London that would allow this change of use. (N1 centre, Brunswick etc)

Update: The freeholders have confirmed the leaseholders have not got permission for the signage and they have been asked to remove it from the listed building. The freeholders have also advised the unit has applied for planning permission. We are now concerned they will gain approval without key stakeholders being consulted.

If you believe this small, yet high profile, unit should compliment the surrounding area and not attract more drunks, litter and anti social behaviour, please express your support by e-maling the planning officer at salah.kettani@islington.gov.uk cc'ing Andrew.Marx@islington.gov.uk ref case number E09/04644

The Bulletin Board has recently seen a Planning Application which indicates that the King's Cross Safer Neighbourhood's Team (SNT) will be to relocating 54 -58 York Way (intercetion with Wharfdale Road).  Our initial assumption was that the team coming to York Way, was the Caledonian Ward SNT.  That now does not seem to be the case and apparently the Team coming to York Way is the Camden SNT.

For those of you interested in the actual planning application, you can just use the following link to examine it - Click Here.  Once there, you can click the tabs to see all the associated information and comment online if you wish.  You can so comment by emailing the Planning Officer directly at planning@islington.gov.uk.  (Please note that the formal consultation runs until 4 Feb.)

The Bulletin Board subsequently learned more about the details of the move from the Met Police Press Office:

This planning application relates to the relocation of Kings Cross Safer Neighbourhoods team – part of Camden Borough Police, to the new location at 54 – 58 York Way. 

There are no current plans to move the Caledonian Safer Neighbourhoods team who are part of Islington Borough and who will continue to work out of Islington police station.

The discussions we are having with the prospective landlord to take a lease on the property at York Way are at an early stage and so there is no proposed date for occupation as yet.

Regular consultation is taking place with the local community and the Kings Cross ward panel.

While it is disappointing that our own Caledonian Ward Team will not be moving closer into the community, we still feel this relocation is good for the area for two reasons.  First, there will now be a local police presence on York Way and second a shopfront, vacent for the past four years will be put into active use.

We did respond to the Property Service Office at the Met (the folks who submitted this application) and suggested that the Met consider taking more space at the York Way location and co-locating two teams at that property.  What do you think?

Continuing the Community Bulletin Board's policy of trying to keep local residents aware of Licensing and Planning issues, we were just alerted to the submission of an application for a new Liquor License being requested by The Brill at 2-4 Caledonian Road.

This new license is for a roof-top garden and additional bar on the first floor. The activities proposed and operating schedule can be downloaded here: Download The_Brill-Proposed_Operating_Activities_and_Schedule

The Bulletin Board was alerted to this new application by a concerned resident who lives nearby but who has requested their name be withheld.  

Are you sick of walking past men cat-calling, urinating and hustling at the bottom end of Caledonian Road and in our residential side-streets of Kings Cross?

I’m writing to bring the licensing application “for New Premises Licence: Brill Bar & Roof Top Garden, (and) First Floor, 4 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DU” to your attention and to ask for the help of anyone worried about increasing and extended liquor licences in this area worsening the risks and public nuisance to us all.
 
My core objection, as a resident of Omega Place, is the addition of yet another drinking establishment, encouraging more drunken behaviour into our tiny area which already has The Flying Scotsman and Camino spilling bladder-heavy drinkers onto our streets.

I have no objection to the Brill which has been a positive addition to the area, encouraging diners who drink while they dine; but would like to keep it that way. However, we don’t need another bar/drinking club for another 150+ people; we have plenty already.

I’m no killjoy and am not objecting to drinking per se – just the large numbers of drinkers we’re attracting, which is turning the Pentonville Road/Caledonian Rd and Kings Cross Road into the new Hoxton or Upper Street – with an overkill of bars and noise and public nuisance for its residents.

My other concern is a fear that perhaps The Brill and The Flying Scotsman have one and the same owner?  In which case, "First Floor, 4 Caledonian Road" may actually be an extension to The Flying Scotsman, which is a pretty objectionable remnant of the worst of the “old” Kings Cross sleaze and I’m sure none of us want to see an extension of their hours or space.

The hearing is on 18th January and unfortunately like all Licencing matters will take place at 10 AM at Town Hall - hardly a time when most residents can afford to attend.  However, if anyone would like to send an e-mail response contesting it on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder (there was a raid on The Flying Scotsman at 2-4 Caledonian Road only last Saturday), public safety and prevention of nuisance to licensing@islington.gov.uk, I’d be most grateful.

With thanks, from a concerned resident of Omega Place, Kings Cross, N1.

The Bulletin Board has checked with The Licencing Department and has learnt that:  

The new application actually straddles two premises.  The entrance to the roof is via the Brill at 6-8 Caledonian Road, which is already licensed on the ground and basement floors.  The new bar is on the first floor of the Flying Scotsman at 2-4 Caledonian Road. 

However, it is not clear, if the two establishments will share the proposed new first floor bar.

Of equal interest is, if The Brill is already licensed to serve alcohol on the ground floor AND the basement of it's premises, isn't this new requested capacity a bit excessive?