public Hearing - Cafe Nero

[KalamityKel]

eh?

[Quaywe]

I'd like to reiterate my views on this subject from an earlier post: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,70284,71553#msg-71553

[Fuschia]

I think it's a matter of principle not to allow businesses to flout planning permission and it makes me laugh a bit to see people who have been on their high horse previously, drop their principles because they like going in there!

I won't go in there and I wrote to the planning dept asking them not to let the matter drop.

I really object to big business thinking it can just get its own way.

Hats off to the councillors for standing up to Nero.

[Mark]

huncamunca, what are you on about? Are you saying everyone in East Dulwich is guilty? If not, just who are you directing your message at? How did you raise an objection to Caffe Nero? Have you read all the posts about Caffe Nero?

"The guilty here are not Neros" Who are they?

[Keef]

I'm sorry, but I have my doubts about all thee people being kept awake, it just sounds like any old excuse.

Huncamunca, your post is great, it takes, and attacks, every single side possible, how do you do that?

[macroban]

> I'm sorry, but I have my doubts about all thee people being kept awake, it just sounds like any old excuse

Have you walked down Zenoria Street and inspected the units with #1 eyeball?

[Keef]

No I haven't, and my #1 eyeball (?) wouldn't know anything about such units, so there wouldn't be a lot of point. But hoe loud would they have to be to keep all these houses awake at night?

[KalamityKel]

I didn't realise they would be running at night... Why? Surely that's a waste of electricity and all that for an empty building?

[lozzyloz]

Surely the aircon is switched off over night once they close at 8pm?

[AllforNun]

Christ ! You 2 Councillors don't half talk some rubbish. Basicallly you think by seeming to stand up to cafe Nero you are making yourselves look good and winning votes on the side. Quotes like 'destroying people's lives' are just ridiculous if you were concerned about noise pollution you would have passed a local law that prohibited houses being split into 2/3 flats without any money being spent on adequate sound insullation. This truly is a blight on many people's lives. Noise polution is a nighmare and i have no doubt that if you can hear those air con units it will really start to do your head in.

As for they (Nero) never bothered to turn up to meeting it is probably because they are a huge multi national with a lot of money and power and you are a small group of local councillors and no doubt barelly register with them. Rather like the attitude the Liberal Executive at Southwark council seem have towards the residents of Nunhead & Peckham Rye. And just like Cllr Thomas says in his blog.

"Certainly, their attitude to their neighbours is not a model of corporate social responsibility." or we could slightly change it and say "Certainly with regard to Nunhead & Peckham Rye the liberal Executives attitude to their neighbours is not a model of shared social responsibility."

[lozzyloz]

AFN once again you hijack an ED thread and shout "Take me to Nunhead!!" Why not start your own Nunhead rant thread.

[Keef]

Know what you're saying Loz, but there are a couple of decent points in there too.

[KalamityKel]

If you really have issues with noise pollution have a thought for other residents in ED who are faced with similar disturbances. Those living on LL having to put up with the loud laughing, talking and shouting from late licensed establishments. Those living in, for example, Chesterfield Grove, who are woken up at all hours by the Iceland lorries that turn up when there is no one at the store to open the gates for them and so park up leaving their refrigerators on humming away. The dust carts, recycling carts, road cleaner sucker things, the unloading of Somerfield lorries with the cages being dragged along at all hours... the list goes on. If your argument is against Nero for an annoying air conditioning unit... REALLY!

[Administrator]

A gentle reminder to keep this discussion to "public Hearing - Cafe Nero" and not digress onto Nunhead. Please feel free to start another thread about Nunhead & Peckham Rye and the liberal Executives in the Lounge area.

[AllforNun]

Thanks Keef, sorry lozz let's hope we don't ban ED residents from Dulwich Park or Nunhead and Peckham Rye park, you have your own park at Goose Green, imagine all those buggies in such a small space! sounds a bit of a silly proposal though does it not ?

Anyway back on thread now....

So it looks liek Nero's will be staying then ?

[karter]

I agree with Kel on this. The council lorries that empty glass recycling bins at 7 am, delivery lorries etc etc all make a terrible racket and all before 8am. I hope Nero stays, they may be a huge corporation but the staff there are great friendly and funny and the space allows for parents to meet and take their kiddies somewhere. Nero should just alter the aircon if that what it takes.

Councillors reading this thread, do whats right for the whole and allow them to stay please. Anyway thats my opinion.

[James]

The rules are utterly stupid. What would you rather have, Caffe Nero or some useless dilapidated shop that nobody uses? Nero is popular and a welcome addition. I hope they win and stay.

[DiD]

I just want to say thank you for the councillors for keeping us posted -- is there anything we can do (having not been able to attend the hearing) to let our opinions be known at this stage, or is it too late? (apologies, have been too busy with me own work life to bother holding these multinationals to account as well...)

I, for one, would hope the planning authorities hold to the letter of the law. They certainly do that to us when we put in a building application. And for those who don't like the law (James, it appears) then I suggest you volunteer yourself for local council so that you can change them.

Now...how do we boot out Foxtons?

[panda boy]

Right then.

This is my 1st post on this thread, (although i have been reading it with interest for some time now.)

Shut NERO down now.

If it has abused planning rules, and continues to abuse the rules of it's occupancy then it has to go, (albeit temporarily.)

The company must be made to take responsibility for flouting the rules and the best way is through their income.

I have no problem with a coffee shop on the high street. Just the manner and attitude in which it has established itself.

At the end of the day it is a form of corporate arrogance, which on a very basic level, is just plain rude.

And as for foxtons, thats for another thread...

[AllforNun]

Governments and local councils have flouted the rules and Law since time began, are we able to kick them out of office ?Maybe they are just setting an example to everyone else, so what's the problem ?

[SimonM]

The matter is no longer in the hands of the Local Planning Authority but the Government Inspector. I hope he allows Caffe Nero to remain open provided that they sort out the air conditioning units properly with due speed and bear all the costs of the Appeal, as clearly the Council has behaved correctly throughout and should not, ie we should not, bear any of the expenses in this matter.

[nutty]

Didn't Nero just make use of flaws in the current planning system. Whilst this may be pretty cynical of them as a company maybe the council should look at the bigger picture and work out how it's possible for this situation to be arrived at in the first place.

Companies always have and will continue to stretch the rules to the limit to turn a profit and whilst "corporate social responsibility" is the new buzzword, don't imagine that companies embark on any of these initiatives without a view as to how it will affect their profits. At the end of the day they have to answer to shareholders and are responsible for getting their shareholders a good return.

Isn't far to much anger is being directed at Nero here when really we should be questioning the ridiculous planning process that can lead to this?

p.s. Had a lovely Mocha there at the weekend :)

[panda boy]

"Governments and local councils have flouted the rules and Law since time began, are we able to kick them out of office ?"

Yes, it's called voting.

[AllforNun]

...no it's not called voting, not sure if you have noticed but since America led the way with it's vote rigging, the rest of the world has followed. Voting is a bankrupt concept.

[Siduhe]

Not sure how many of you will have seen this (rather similar) report on the SE1 site...

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/3125