Out-of-control boozers romp in our gardens & poo in our sheds – now the council will let the chaos unfold 7 days a week | The Sun
RESIDENTS forced to watch boozy revellers romp in their gardens and poo in their sheds are terrified the chaos will worsen after plans for a new bar were approved in their area.
Neighbours living on Rochester Estate in Southwark, South London, say screaming, sex and toilet relief are just some of the things they have to deal with as drinkers unwind.
Matters looked set to improve when the nearby Blackfriars Wine Bar closed during the pandemic.
But Southwark Council last week gave permission for a new Southwark Tap & Wine Bar to sell booze seven days a week in its place.
Of rowdy revellers, Susan Ahmet, 81, told the Sun Online: “They come inside here through the trees.
“They used to come and have sex in there. They do it now under the fig tree.
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“They come and do poos and everything here – they still do. It can happen on a weekend, especially if the weather’s nice.”
Susan's garden is easily accessible to passers-by and says the council had to plant shrubbery to prevent people walking in.
But the mum-of-three is still forced to clear out the riff-raff herself, describing one row she had with a woman relieving herself outside.
She recalled: “I said 'for goodness sake you’re a woman, you’re giving us a bad name'.
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"I let her go but who’s going to clean it up?”
Susan is one of many neighbours who petitioned against plans for Southwark Tap & Wine Bar – which is yet to open.
But they were left dismayed when the business got the go ahead at a planning meeting on June 23.
One man, who did not wish to be named, said: "They said only numbers 1-5 would be affected but you can hear the noise from here.
"When they played live music [at Blackfriars Wine Bar] the double glazing would vibrate.”
He added: “There was a lot of noise.
It's used as a latrine, rubbish is dumped over the backs of the gardens, faeces is chucked over, it’s pretty gross.
“Down the end there people used to use the garden as a loo and there was a lot of noise going on.
“People used to stand outside and block the pavement. People complained there was no parking for residents.”
Another resident, a few doors down, said: “Often people will poo on this path here. They come along here and they go inside these sheds.
“They regularly wee and poo all around here.
"It's used as a latrine, rubbish is dumped over the backs of the gardens, faeces is chucked over, it’s pretty gross.”
Southwark Tap & Wine Bar will be allowed to open from 11am to 11:30pm Mondays to Saturdays and from 11am to 11pm on Sundays.
But it will only be allowed to sell alcohol until 11pm on weekdays and until 10.30pm on Sundays.
Lorna Dawe, 70, said: “I’ve lived here for 40 years. I opposed (the new bar) because of the music at a certain time.
"It used to just be meal, wine and if there was an occasion they’d have a meeting about it. But the new one coming is they say they’re going for a music license.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
"It didn’t used to open on a Saturday but now they want to open on a Saturday as well."
Younger residents, however, don’t seem to mind the noise and welcome the prospect of a new drinking hole.
Evan Reekie, 25, said: “We are young guys, we like to go to bars but I can understand if someone’s living here permanently you might not want someone on your rear garden."
And the owner of a neighbouring Tapas restaurant, Raffael Latorre, said: "The more the merrier. No problem at all."
Michael Balmer, representing the venue, has insisted the target customer of the bar means nuisance from noise shouldn't be a problem.
He said: “Whilst the previous establishment may have attracted drunk or antisocial behaviour, the current premises application is intended to be a hire bar and restaurant, date night venue, providing wine sampling and craft beers.
“The applicant is not targeting the football crowd that other local premises attract.
"Live music will be a piano player or acoustic guitar with [a] singer. The style of music will be easy listening or jazz."
He added: "The premises is intended to appeal to the local residents as well as workers from the nearby businesses having a drink after work.”
According to Southwark Council policy, applications from venues wanting to serve alcohol in the area should be turned down or face restrictions if they look set to make antisocial behaviour worse.
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Only five punters will be allowed to smoke outside the Southwark Tap & Wine Bar at a time after 10pm and will be limited to a designated area. No drinks will be allowed outside after 10pm.
Southwark Council has been approached for comment.
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