Community raises fears of crime and disorder over plans for new Wetherspoons
By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter
A former ticket office by Fulham Broadway Station is being eyed up to become JD Wetherspoon’s latest West London pub.
The requested opening hours for the premises are 8am to midnight Sunday to Thursday, and 11pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
Alcohol is to be sold until 11.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and 12.30am Friday and Saturday, with late-night refreshment also to be provided indoors and outdoors.
A total of 20 objections were received during consultation, including one from local councillor and deputy leader of Hammersmith and Fulham council, Ben Coleman.
In his submission, Cllr Coleman wrote that ‘many residents’ had questioned the midnight closing time due to crime and disorder concerns, and that he expects the applicant to address this.
He continued: “Second, I am concerned about the possibility of children and young people being able to access the glass roof of the proposed premises via adjoining dangerous roofscapes.”
Other objectors echoed Cllr Coleman’s concerns regarding crime, with several representations noting local pubs recently being squatted in as evidence of disorder in the area.
The request to sell alcohol after midnight was a point of particular contention.
One objector wrote: “We need the assistance of LB Hammersmith and Fulham to start dialing back the levels of crime and disorder we are seeing on any given weekday or weekend.
“Late hours are a particular problem – please please do not grant a licence allowing the sale of alcohol after midnight at the Old Market Hall in Fulham Road.”
The local authority’s Licensing Sub-Committee is due to make a decision on the submission next week.
Pictured top: The building on Fulham Road was most recently used as a food court (Picture: Google Street View)