Nightlife campaigners have launched a crowdfunder to raise money for a legal challenge against Hackney Council’s licensing policy, which includes “core” midnight weekend curfews for new venues.
We Love Hackney, a 4,000-strong group formed to successfully fight similar plans in 2015, wants to raise an initial £20,000 of the £53,000 lawyers have said an appeal will cost.
The hugely unpopular policy, signed off in July, also includes a 10pm curfew on outdoor drinking and 11pm weekday curfews. “Core hours” will only be extended if licensees can show it won’t cause anti-social behaviour problems.
Shoreditch’s special policy area (SPA), where it is essentially harder to open a venue, has doubled in size.
We Love Hackney believes the decision will push up the value of licenses and freeze out new independent businesses. The group said: “The new restrictions penalise the small, local businesses that have made Hackney such a great place to live, in favour of big corporates and soulless chains.”
The fundraiser has received more than £850 in donations already. To view it, click here.
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