Eddie Hanson, Deputy Mayor of Camden, had his application to open Vision Lounge on the Old Kent Road approved by Southwark councillors at a meeting on Thursday, despite opposition from local residents, the Met Police and the council’s own licensing team.
Pip Hayman, who spoke on behalf of a group of residents living near the venue, said: “When the nightclub [venue] goes into operation it really feels like residents in the area need to bolt down and prepare for an apocalypse-like environment.
Mark Lynch, from the local police’s licensing team, told councillors that the venue wasn’t suitable for a nightclub due to its location in a residential area and the history of antisocial behaviour and crime linked to previous clubs operating out of the building.
Cllr Renata Hamvas, Chair of the Licensing Committee, said that she and fellow Labour councillors Ellie Cumbo and Sunny Lambe had ‘put faith’ in Mr Hanson to manage the premises effectively and not cause disruption to residents.
Eddie Hanson said he had invested thousands of pounds into the planned club and said he had 20 years of experience in the nightlife business as a promoter, manager and door picker.
