Plans to host music and events for up to 300 people at a time on an old canal boat in East London has been blasted by residents and police again.
Boat Live has applied for a premises licence with Tower Hamlets Council so it can host art events and DJs can play electronic music on an old canal boat in Hackney Wick.
Last year the company had multiple temporary event notices rejected by the council’s licensing sub-committee over concerns that it would be too noisy for local residents and health and safety fears regarding the condition of the boat, despite Boat Live carrying out work to make it safe.
Boat Live had previously operated a few doors down but claims it was left ‘homeless’ after the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) needed the land for housing.
The company’s new venue is located on the site of a former pub called the Lea Tavern which was bulldozed in 2012 and has been described in council documents as a ‘small mobile event space’ with a beach-themed outside seating area and will serve food and coffee from one of the windows facing the street.
The plans also involve a lounge area which can be used for sound healing and yoga, while residents have the option to book it out privately for meetings or birthday parties.
According to council documents, the venue’s capacity plans to be no more than 300 people at a time, including staff.
The venue plans to open from 8am to midnight between Mondays and Thursdays, while on Fridays and Saturdays it plans to stay open from 8am to 12.30am and from 8am to 11pm on Sundays.
The latest plans have divided residents, with one complaining about the venue’s previous location and how if the new premises licence is approved it will only ’cause nuisance and upset’ to people living nearby.
A resident known only as J Paul, said in council documents: “When the boat was located at 66 to 78 White Post Lane it was constantly causing a noise disturbance and can’t see any reason why they will stick to it now.
“This is also well-documented by the police.”
J Paul explained that existing problems have led to people urinating next to residents’ homes.
PC Mark Perry from the Met’s Central East Licensing Unit said police have objected to the plans on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder and public nuisance.
PC Perry said while the Met was aware that the company has made some improvements to its proposed venue, he could not ignore that the premises are less than 10 meters away from residential homes.
He said in council documents: “When people are leaving the venue and are waiting for Ubers and hanging around outside, they will be standing
outside residential properties, and people trying to sleep, which will cause noise nuisance.
“We do not believe that there is any way that an outside site so close to residential premises can operate without causing noise nuisance. Other such premises in Hackney Wick when they have operated an outside space have had to close at 9pm, as when they have opened past this time they have generated complaints from residents.”
PC Perry went on to say that police also had concerns over crime and drug use and do not believe the ‘complicated’ layout of the venue will be fully covered by security guards as it’s ‘expensive and very difficult to manage’.
When licensing officer, Lavine Miller-Johnson visited the site along with police and health and safety officers in November of last year to see what improvements had been made, she said she still had some concerns over noise and general accessibility of the boat.
Ms Miller-Johnson said: “Although again, some improvements have been made, there is still some elements of concern to the disorganised operation of the site.
“[The site owner] and his team have had a number of weeks to get the site to an acceptable condition, whereby responsible authorities can make an informed decision on the granting of this licence.
“Based on [the site owner] not addressing many of the concerns raised previously, I have very little faith in that, the site would be operated in an
organised manner if the licence was granted.”
However, some residents have written letters expressing their approval of the plans because they believe the venue will benefit the local community and the presence of security guards will make them feel safer.
Local resident, Joao Pereira said: “I strongly believe that having inclusive and safe spaces, inviting everyone from all different kinds of backgrounds, helps people to feel less isolated, and to find a community with which they can engage and grow.
“In turn, this can provide a safety net to better navigate the various life
challenges in a healthier manner, which can ultimately impact and improve the sense of social and civil responsibility in the fabric of our community.”
Another resident James Harrigan said: “I am a local resident and I would like to express my support in favour of granting the premises licence to Boat Live Works Ltd.
“The existence of the venue is great for the local neighbourhood and makes me feel safer as a result of the door staff presence and increased footfall to the area.”
The plans will ultimately be heard at a licensing meeting with the council on Tuesday, 9 January.
