Council gearing up to “throw the book” at owners after pub demolition

Councillors have warned they are ready to “throw the book” at owners who demolished a much-loved pub in Kilburn without prior warning or planning permission.

Residents in Kilburn reacted with shock when company CLTX bulldozed the Carlton Tavern in Carlton Vale on April 8 despite the council rejecting their application to knock it down to make way for a new pub and first-floor flats.

Deputy Leader of Westminster Council Robert Davis said: “We want to throw the book at them.”

A spokesman also confirmed that the Council was taking advice on their legal position in this “unprecedented” case and expects to confirm a chosen course of action within two to three weeks.

The demolition, which was carried out by Golders Green based firm S&S quality building contractors, took place after owners CLTX told landlady Patsy Lord they were temporarily closing the pub for an “inventory”.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive said they were making “inital inquiries” into whether correct safety guidelines were followed.

The Brent & Kilburn Times contacted S&S building contractors but they declined to comment.

Equipment hire company Lynch, who loaned two bulldozers to S&S to carry out the demolition issued a statement saying: “The machinery used on the site was operated by S&S Quality Building Contractors Ltd, who had responsibility for health and safety on the Carlton Tavern site.”

“Upon learning on 8 April that the work being carried out was potentially unauthorised, we immediately removed our equipment from the site, and are urgently seeking assurances from S&S Quality Building Contractors Ltd.”