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Heath society does reflect views
• I should like to reply to Brian Kettel’s letter which misrepresents the position of the Heath and Hampstead Society (We need late hours dialogue, May 25).
We do represent the majority of our members on the subject of late opening hours, and of many other residents who are not members.
The evidence for this is on the public record. For each of the 40 or so applications to Camden for later opening hours in the past 12 months in NW3, there have been an average of 15 to 20 neighbouring residents who have sent written objections and sought the advice of the Society on how to make their objections effective.
The Society simply responds to the weight of public opinion in this part of the world.
It has no power to make the decisions. These are made by cross party panels of elected councillors, and by magistrates when their decisions are appealed.
Out of a membership of some 1,800 we have had two members resign, because they objected to our licensing policy.
The way forward for those who wish to drink later, is to join an effective dialogue between the owners and all the neighbours of any premises, whose owners wish to extend hours, as the law and Camden’s policies recommend.
It is regrettable that so far no satisfactory way has been devised of reconciling the interests of those who wish to have a quiet late night drink and the neighbours of the premises concerned. This would be a much more constructive approach than wasting members’ time with a Special General Meeting of the Society
Tony Hillier
Chairman Heath and Hampstead Society
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