Andrew Dismore

APPEALSITE: The Alexandra, 1 Church Lane, London, N2 8DX,

NOTICE REFERENCE: ENF/00466/15

PLANNING INSPECTORATE REFERENCE: APP/N5090/C/17/3181168

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I am writing to object to the above application in my capacity as London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden.

 

It should be noted that the above application site is located directly opposite a primary school, and is on a road well used by school children passing between 4 different schools in the area. I believe that an application for shisha use here is extremely inappropriate, given the location. In addition to schools, the shisha smoking area backs on to a number of residential properties.

 

I understand that shisha smoking already occurs at this site, and that there are already complaints about the odour. Residents in neighbouring streets cannot open their windows in the evening and night due to this odour, which is particularly severe in the summer heat, when residents must choose to either breathe in toxic air or tolerate airless heat. This is a completely unreasonable impact on neighbouring residents.

 

I therefore urge you to uphold the Council’s decision to refuse permission for this application. In the event that you decide to overturn that decision, strong conditions need to be laid on the applicant to ensure that the Council have adequate powers to prevent shisha use, should residents find the odour to become unacceptable.

 

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Dismore AM

London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden