The Council recently announced plans to charge shops that already own the freehold to land in front of their shops as much as £824 for permission to put chairs or displays outside.

For some shopkeepers and cafe owners, who are already struggling through trade losses, these charges would increase their costs by 20 per cent each year. To make matters worse, not being able to put chairs and tables outside would drive away potential customers.

Thurlow Park councillor Clare Whelan is supporting a petition by shops on Rosendale Road to oppose the charges .

Clare said: “It’s the same principle as the council coming to my house and telling me to move tables and chairs. It is tough enough for small businesses in Lambeth at the moment without this new tax.

“These are exactly the sort of businesses we need.”

“The council should be trying to encourage and support them, not put them out of business.”

Putting between one and four chairs outside cafes will cost £464 while businesses with more than 21 chairs will have to pay £824.

All shops will have to pay a £103 application fee for the licence.

The owner of SD Lounge must now comply with 32 new licensing conditions

The operator of a late night music bar at Tulse Hill Station has been told by the licensing authorities that his business is now in “the last chance saloon” unless he cracks down on dodgy customers including people suspected of having firearms on his premises.

The SD Lounge at Station Rise was given a list of 32 new conditions by the Lambeth Licensing Committee and told that any breach could result in him having the operation closed down and his license withdrawn. It specialises in playing “bashment, R + B, and soul”, which the police said “attracts a minority of undesirable types intent on causing trouble.”

Police submitted evidence at the hearing of “intelligence” that they said they had received about firearms allegedly being on the premises on specific dates January 2009 and on another occasion in 2008 although no proof was available. The licence holder denied that there was any truth in the firearms’ claims and disputed the need for any further restrictions to his business. He claimed to have stopped allowing other operators to hold late night parties at the venue and that no one had complained to him about noise.

Speaking on behalf of residents who were too intimidated by a minority of the bar’s customers to give evidence in person, Councillor John Whelan, Thurlow Park Ward Member, said residents had been repeatedly disturbed in the early hours of the morning by loud music from the bar and rowdy customers massing on the pavement and urinating in the street. The operator agreed to adhere to the new conditions which the licensing committee has now officially attached to his licence.

A number of local people have been in contact with us to raise concerns about the possible anti-social behaviour that could result.

Please do write to Clapham Conservatives at their freepost address:

Clapham Common Ward Action Team
Freepost BFH35
3 Gleneldon Road
London SW16 2AX)

Or you can email sca@tory.org to express your views, as we would like to know what you think.