PLANS for a new bar have been met with strong opposition from nearby residents who fear it will add to crime and disorder in the area.
John and Jane Falco, the owners of McQueens in Station Road, Chingford, have applied for permission to sell alcohol and play recorded music from 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 1am Friday and Saturday.
But the council's licensing department, which will decide on the application on January 6, has received seven objections from people living nearby.
They are concerned the bar, formerly known as Lush, will cause further crime and anti-social behaviour.
Jean Barron, of Beresford Road, said in a letter to the council Station Road already had numerous bars and did not need another one.
She said: “Is Station Road turning into Ibiza? We already have to contend with more than enough noise from the existing bars let alone another being opened.
“With the customers smoking outside the bars causing noise late into the night we find it difficult to relax particularly in the summer months.”
Nicholas Noscoe, of Douglas Road, said: “As a resident of Douglas Road I am in the front line of the noise from the numerous establishments at the lower end of Station Road.
“After closing we have to endure the noise of these people walking home, plus the music blaring (as they get into their cars), leaving their rubbish (beer bottles, cans and the like) and urinating in the front gardens.”
Hussein Ahmet, of Beresford Road, said: “I have on a number of occasions had to call out the duty noise officer due to the unreasonable levels of noise from the clubs along Station Road.
“This together with the noise from people leaving the clubs in the early hours of the morning, the related litter, often finding fast food and alcohol containers in my garden and sometimes open drug dealing activity outside my home indicates to me that any addition to the current clubs will put further unwelcome pressure on the bodies regulating them.”
Owner John Falco, of Dale View Crescent, said in his application they would prevent crime and disorder by putting CCTV inside and outside the premises.
He added: “There will be a strict door policy and checks on ID for proof of age.
“Any unruly behaviour will not be tolerated. There will also be zero tolerance to the taking and possession of drugs.”
He added they aim to reduce public nuisance by having no more than 10 people smoking on the outside patio at any one time.
The licensing committee has the power to grant the application in full or approve part of it, or refuse it.
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