Saturday 14 May 2011

The Trolley Stop


The owners of the Trolley Stop pub on Stamford Road have applied to convert the pub into two residential flats. If the application is approved, the change will mark a significant step forward in the campaign by local residents and De Beauvoir's councillors to ensure the area is not adversely impacted by Dalston's night time economy.

In January 2011 the owners of the Trolley Stop were granted a licence to open it until 1am. Their barrister successfully persuaded Hackney's Licencing Committee that the pub formed part of Dalston's night time economy, despite numerous objections from local residents.

The De Beauvoir Councillors strongly supported the residents in their complaints. It is clear that the Trolley Stop is in Stamford Road, which is in a residential street. Therefore it should be treated as a neighbourhood pub rather than as part of Dalston's nightlife.

We have worked alongside residents to prevent late night opening from occurring, including applying pressure to the owners, and exploring the opportunity of an appeal against the licence.

It now appears that the owners have accepted the arguements of residents that they will be significantly impacted by a late night venue opening in their street. We welcome this change of heart, have written to support it, and look forward to their application being approved.

You can see the application here. Comments are open until May 18th and the application is likely to go to the July meeting of the Council's Planning Committee.

Please do get in touch if you have any comments or questions.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hardly call yet another pub being turned into flats a step forward.....we should welcome more places to eat and drink- and this pub has been in the area a lot longer than the residents.... If you don't want a lively nightlife move to the suburbs!

Sue said...

Agree totally with Anonymous' comments. Another bland conversion that further speeds London's journey to a mere photocopy if it's former self. Another London pub lost. Another victory for Nimbyism.

Shaks said...

I am grateful to the local council and councillors for supporting the application for the Trolley Stop to be turned into much needed local housing. As a supporter of local eating/drinking places I have longed for a family friendly and safe local. But living across from the Trolley has been a terrifying ordeal - drugs, abuse, racist beatings, stabbings...we have seen it all.

OWCS said...

Nimbyism is not a reason for driving change. I agree. But, this is not case of nimbysim. We, the local residents, were verbally abused, witnessed stabbings, had to hide our children from the sights and morning after sights of prostitution, feared for our safety because of drug and alcohol fuelled street fights. We, the local residents, who all use the local nightlife chose to fight because we care about our community and want to live in a safe community. Is that too much to ask Sue and Anonymous?

SGF said...

If Anonymous and Sue only knew of the ceaseless violence, thuggish clientèle, seething pimping and prostitution, and endless drug dealing that this pub has festered over the recent 5 years, which I have had the misfortune to witness as a neighbouring resident, then I'm not too sure they would be waxing nostalgically about its potential demise.I'm all for a lively night-life, but would much prefer that my life, and those dangered by the activities surrounding this pub, were in tact, at the end of the night.

ILtSaN said...

As a nearby resident I can't tell you how glad I am that this dump of a "pub" (it didn't really deserve to be called a pub)is to be converted into flats. And if you want to call me names I prefer "ILtSaN" I Like to Sleep at Night.

a said...

This is a great shame such a beautiful pub will be converted into a couple of flats. Taken on by the right people with the right idea this could have made a really pleasant place to spend an evening. I truly hope they don't destroy the exterior as its such a beautiful decorative facade. Massive error people...

Mad Mick said...

The Trolley Stop was my favourite London pub in the 80s & 90s - always lively and friendly atmosphere there under the aegis of publican John and music 7 nights a week - its demise has been quite extraordinary