Southwark square can be used as boozing space for another year
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
Customers can continue drinking booze in a square for another year, despite a local resident fearing the area is becoming a bar by stealth.
Southwark council has given permission for several businesses in Elephant and Castle to use a space bordering Castle Square as an overspill area for drinkers until October 2023.
Philip Brassington, whose flat overlooks the drinking area, said he was initially sympathetic when property company Lendlease asked to turn the former road into a temporary outdoor seating area for local businesses during the pandemic in 2020.
But he said he was now concerned the area was in effect becoming a permanent bar after Lendlease asked to keep the drinking space for another 12 months for the second consecutive year.
Speaking at a Southwark council meeting on November 8, he said: “Whilst I was very supportive of temporary measures to support businesses during the Covid period. I am very concerned that now this is the third renewal, this is essentially becoming a de facto outdoor drinking space.”
“I do object in principle to that part of the road being turned over to outdoor drinking.
“Just by the nature of doing that it becomes more intrusive, even during the day time. It was never designated as such when I bought that property and I don’t support it being designated.”
Mr Brassington, who bought his flat in Elephant and Castle in 2017, added that he and other neighbours had been caused a nuisance by noisy drinkers using the area after its official closing time of 10pm.
But Alun Thomas, representing Lendlease, stressed the application was only to let drinkers use the space for another 12 months while it decided on a long-term use for the area.
He said: “It was born out of Covid and effectively provided extra seating for the adjoining licensed premises when they could not have people inside.
“The reason it’s only for 12 more months is obviously things are now getting back to normal post the pandemic, but we are still reviewing our options as to what it’s going to be used for in the longer term.”
Pictured top: Customers of businesses in Sayer Street could use the area (Picture: Google Street View)
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Same problems on the Bermondsey Beer Mile we can have hundreds of people outside drinking in Enid Street. The noise and anti social behaviour is way beyond reasonable. Lack of toilets in these breweries causes adults to relieve themselves anywhere on our Estate even in front of children.
We feel your pain. Business before residents.