BREAKING NEWS: Kingston Arena plans thrown out (From Kingston Guardian)
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Kingston Arena plans thrown out over crime and disorder fears
3:35pm Friday 23rd September 2011 in News By Martin George
Campaigners protesting outside the former Gala Bingo Hall
Controversial plans for 2,000-capacity arena have been thrown out because of crime and anti-social behaviour fears.
Councillors rejected the proposals to create the Kingston Arena on the former Gala Bingo Hall in Richmond Road, Kingston, after a seven-hour licensing hearing last Friday.
The council announced the decision this afternoon.
Campaigner Nicola Duffey said: “I’m very pleased, but it’s not over. It’s a long way to go.
“It’s round one, really. [The applicants] are in it for the long haul and they are going to appeal it, so now it’s gloves off and this is when the game gets really serious.”
Kingston police strongly objected to Matthew Deith and Malcolm Farquharson’s application, initially for 24-hour drinking, dancing and music, but later reduced to a midnight end time.
The councillors wrote: “As there is already an overspill of anti-social behaviour from Kingston town centre into the vicinity of the premises, in particular the subcommittee believed the grant of this premises licence would exacerbate damage to cars, urination and vomiting in front of residents’ properties in the vicinity of the premises, together with an unacceptable level of noise from persons leaving the premises in the evening and night time.
“With specific regard also being given to the police evidence, including statistics, showing the high level of reported crime and violence in Kingston town (Grove ward being the third highest in London) and the close proximity of these premises, it was considered that its location increased the likelihood of crime occurring at and in its vicinity.”
Comments(6)
nb053019
says...
9:38pm Fri 23 Sep 11
Beverly RA
says...
6:29am Mon 26 Sep 11
The Police are right, but lets urgently put in place a licensing Impact Policy, the Council have taken far to long to have one in place.
DB
says...
9:40am Mon 26 Sep 11
DL1234
says...
5:07pm Mon 26 Sep 11
DB mention sensible plans, it’s an enormous partially listed building, completely striped in very poor condition, whatever is decided it will need millions of investment. In these times of cuts and with Kingston not needing a theatre or other leisure facilities, it’s must be down to the private sector.
However there are not the finances or investment to keep such a large purpose built building standing apart from a nightclub. So maybe the only viable plan is demolition, although I would prefer to keep the entrance façade and if possible the Richmond Road façade as well. But what else can it be used for, not forgetting the amount of investment that it will require
surrey-L
says...
1:52pm Wed 28 Sep 11
Kingston is full of bars/clubs anyway! So how much difference is one more going to make? It will bring more money into your town therefore will benefit you in the long run!!
Moaning that people will be drunk noisy etc but you live in a town centre what do you expect? Silence? Hoards of wilderbeast running into the sunset?
Get a real problem to worry about!
DB says...
5:21pm Fri 23 Sep 11
The fight needs to continue. Turning this site into another massive club would be a nightmare for Kingston and would mark the final death knell for anyone over the age of 25 wanting to enter the town centre in the evenings.
No one likes to see empty shops and buildings in the town centre, but this is one of those rare occasions where it would be better to keep the decaying bingo hall as it is.
I wonder if anyone will be able to come up with any sensible plan to use this building. I can't really see any use for it, but would hate to see it torn down and replaced with more flats.