Charity clashes with residents over Charterhouse Square events licence

‘Oasis of peace’: Charterhouse Square. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons

A charity and former Carthusian monastery is seeking a license to hold events in a medieval green space in the face of residents’ opposition.

The Charterhouse, located between Barbican and Smithfield Market, provides residences to people over 60 in need of financial and social support.

Members of The Charterhouse’s community, or ‘Brothers’ are selected from a wide variety of professions, including teachers, clergymen, writers and editors, musicians and artists.

The application to Islington Council’s licensing sub-committee was put forward by private company Carthusia Ltd on behalf of The Charterhouse.

If successful, it would secure a license for the sale of alcohol, and the provision of live and recorded music, films and plays on the green space in Charterhouse Square.

The license would cover a maximum of 10 events per year, with opening hours between 11 am – 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

However, 32 letters of representationg opposing the application are to be considered by the sub-committee, including documentation from residents’ association Florin Court Freehold Limited as well as Islington Council’s own Noise Team.

One resident said: “This is an historic quiet square, an oasis of peace in the humdrum of the city. The amenity of residents will be affected by the granting of such a licence.

“There are plenty of places selling alcohol within a minute’s walk on the side streets near the square.

“These cause a lot of noise and pavements are frequently blocked with people spilling onto the road. This is bad enough near the square, but they are not actually on the square.

“The square is built over a medieval burial ground. I have a problem with an alcohol licence being granted on a medieval burial site. It does not seem right to me. I strongly object.”

The licensing sub-committee will meet on 7 August at 6.30pm at Islington Town Hall.