HARRODS RUNS RINGS AROUND RBKC PLANNING CHIEF!

Whoever advises Harrods is running rings around the Planning Department. 

Residents are asking why they have not received notification from the Council for the second application( the letter below refers) and why their  first (and numerous objections) could not be applied to the second application. Residents know Harrods is manipulating the system. They withdrew the first application but two weeks re-lodged it to ensure first objections would not be counted! Smart and devious stuff..... 

 Harrods dominates Knightsbridge. They have a duty to diminish the nuisance they cause residents. It is time the three councillors started to work for residents, rather than accepting hospitality from the store-as one did at the horrendous Lady Gaga launch.

The Cutting Edge programme due out soon on C.4 will prove a major embarrassment to Harrods, the Al Thani family and the Council

Farih Tabbah's letter to Mr Bore, Head of Planning neatly encapsulate the problems: it is well worth reading....

THE HARRODS 'SLUM'

  

Dear Mr. Bore,

Ref. Harrods/planning application no. PP/12/03667

I wish to object to the above planning application for “temporary change of use of food retailers at second and fourth floor and Georgian restaurant at fourth floor level within Harrods from ancillary A1 use to A3 use during the hours 20.00 pm to 23.00 pm 30/10/12 until 30/1/2013”. 

The main issues are the loss of amenities to local residents:

1. If approval is given this will be a continuation of the agony that the residents are already suffering from LADUREE CAFE  which starts at 8 a.m.ends at 9 p.m.

2.  Large number of patrons will be entering and departing Harrods premises  from 8 p.m. o'clock until the end of the evening , and this is  outside Harrods permitted hours of business (Could we please remind the Council Harrods is a Department Store not an entertainment Center).
3. The areas identified on the plans for the later evening use are quite large and the capacity for these parts of the premises could  be substantial (my personal estimate of 3000 people)l. In the worst case scenario a large number of patrons will be  departing and entering the premises until late 23;00 hours in a residential area. Queues will be formed at entrances although the Council and Harrods don't tell us which entrance will be used (we think most assuredly HANS ROAD, THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE). PLEASE CLARIFY WHICH ENTRANCE THEY ARE ASKING FOR ????
- Harrods setting the precedent. The next application is either extension of the hours and / or a permanent whole year round permission (Typical Harrods ploy). 

RULER OF QATAR PLANNING HARRODS NIGHTCLUB

 Rumors are already circulating amongst the Qatari and Middle Eastern community that Harrods is planning to open a NIGHT CLUB soon. Is the application the first step? 

The area will be clogged (as it is already is because of Laduree) by private very very fast cars, taxis, rickshaws, normal traffic, chauffeur driven cars, invasion of residents parking spaces, honking, street rage,  etc....  (The Council have not been able to solve the traffic issue in Hans Road, Basil Street for the last four years).

QATARI AMBASSADOR-IGNORES RESIDENTS

Drunkness, urinating in the street, garbage  and unsocial behaviour are a feature of the area. 

The residents have just recently experienced the most outrageous breach of peace by the Council approving the Gaga Perfume circus. PAMPERS were found in our gardens not to mention all kinds of garbage. The Council is already aware that the whole world has written about, televised and described the area around Harrods as being  a racing circuit by the Qatari Teenagers with the Council doing nothing and the police helpless. Any approval by the Council will be extension to all these activities till the  midnight hours.

- Drug dealers, prostitutes and Albanian/ Romanian beggars.

- The recently opened terrace with parasols adjacent to the Georgian Restaurant WILL BE USED for tens of smokers attending these venues. This will result in complete loss of privacy for Hans Road residents , not to mention the noise. The terrace is overlooking all Hans Road bedroom windows !!

- Harrods will not comply with any Council restrictions when they say 23.00 a.m. it is most likely the departure of the patrons will end at 2 a.m.

In brief Mr. Bore , if application is given this will be a catastrophe for the area. May we please ask you and your colleagues to stop ruining KNIGHTSBRIDGE.

Best Regards

Farih Tabbah

Walton Place