OUTRAGE! RBKC APPROVES Silvertime Licence!

We have received confirmation that this Conservative-run Council has APPROVED the Silvertime Amusements Ltd’s licensing application.

But the application was opposed by thousands of residents from Earl’s Court and surrounding wards. Earl’s Court ward councillors Sofia Gurrola, James Ortiz and Linda Wade, have been working with resident associations, Joe Powell MP for Kensington and Bayswater and the borough’s Labour Group, to oppose a new 24-hour Adult Gaming Centre licence.

The approval is particularly controversial as local Conservatives were very vocal in opposing the Silvertime move to the old Lloyd’s Bank before the election, but have gone quiet since the election. The Licensing sub-committee that approved the application consisted of the Chair, Conservative Councillor Greg Hammond of Courtfield Ward, Conservative Councillor Preety Hudd of Campden Ward and Labour Councillor Abdullahi Nur of Dalgarno Ward.

Additionally, questions have been raised about the rush with which RBKC has pushed ahead with this application, especially as there was a request to postpone which was not opposed by the applicant. The request for a postponement was needed because the Council’s Licensing Portal has not been fully operational following the recent cyberattack. Several residents submitted objections before the deadline, but these were not properly recorded. As a result, residents were left to chase the Council to confirm whether their objections had been received. In several cases, valid objections were not registered, meaning those residents were not notified of the hearing or given the opportunity to register to speak.   

The Silvertime application was robustly opposed by your ward councillors, your MP, local residents, including Bianca Jagger, and residents' associations. This is a hugely significant application for Earl’s Court and the wider Borough.

Silvertime have indicated that they intend to appeal the Council’s refusal of planning permission, which was issued in April, following the outcome of this licensing application.

Residents have made their views clear. The strength of feeling against this proposal has been overwhelming, and the community is united in opposing it.

Your Lib Dem Councillors are considering next steps. They have already written to the relevant members of the Council asking for clarifications on the planning use for the old site, which, hopefully, will provide us with a route to stop this corner building from becoming a gambling eyesore. 

We will, of course, keep you updated with any further developments.