Fears over 3am music & alcohol licence

RESIDENTS have spoken of their fear of more sleepless nights and harassment if Brent Council grant a new bar its licence.

Sparkles Wine Bar, in Walm Lane, Willesden, has applied for a 3am music and alcohol licence at weekends and 1am Mondays to Thursdays.

But locals say they already suffer from anti-social behaviour with two bars nearby and a third will only make matters worse.

Jerzg Lega, who lives opposite the proposed site in Dartmouth Road, said: “There’s already a lot going on round here at night. We don’t want more drunk people running up and down making noise. I’ve got three broken ribs from challenging kids urinating on my gate.

“And I’m not happy about the licensing hours. It’s more like a night club. When the bar was open before and they played loud music I couldn’t even hear my TV.”

Concerned residents say the site was a bar previously before it closed down 12 months ago and are worried of a return to the past..

Gerry Weston, chair of Mapesbury Residents Association, wrote to the council reminding it of its history.

In it he said: ‘during its (the bar’s) previous existence there were many reports of anti-social behaviour, alcohol abuse, drug dealing and fighting in the street.

‘This problem will be even worse in its impact for the extension to 3am on Friday to Sunday.’

But the objectors feel the odds are stacked against them in fighting the application.

Maggie Chambers, of Dartmouth Road, Willesden, said: “It shouldn’t be up to us to prove how people will be affected it should be up to the licensee to prove they won’t.”

A council spokesman said: “We have received eight letters of objection from local residents and a representation from the police. We will now prepare a report for the Licensing Committee and the application will be heard by them. No date has yet been set. All the letters of objection will be included in the report and all those persons making a representation will be invited to attend the hearing.”