Ealing Council Fights to Keep The Old Bill Shut

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Cleveland Councillors join angry residents' campaign to stop notorious pub reopening

Cleveland ward’s Conservative Councillors are fighting to stop a notorious pub in Hanwell reopening its doors.

Two years ago Ealing Council effectively closed the Old Bill in Copley Close, known for being a centre of antisocial and criminal behaviour. The pub had been a centre for drug trafficking in Copley Close for many years. At that time, the Licensing Committee heard how mothers taking their children home from school in the middle of the afternoon were regularly intimidated by patrons from the pub.

A condition was put on the licence which required the licensee to have two door staff on duty seven days a week from 3.00pm until closing time. This would have cost more than the total turnover of the pub and as a result the pub has remained closed ever since. Trust Inn Ltd, who own the Old Bill, have now applied to have the condition removed so that they can re-open the pub.

Cleveland Conservative Councillors Ian Gibb, John Popham and Greg Stafford are heading a campaign to keep the pub shut. They were joined last Saturday by a group of angry residents who do not want the pub reopened. A petition is being produced and signatures collected. Cllr Ian Gibb said:

“The people of Copley Close and surrounding streets have been the winners of the closure of the Old Bill. Shutting down a pub where people were dealing with drugs has significantly reduced crime in the area, and it would be a disastrous step backwards to allow the pub to re-open now.

Anyone wanting to object to the reopening of the Old Bill, Copley Close must write to the Licensing Department, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, London, W5 2HL before Wednesday 18 June, 2008.

For further information contact Cllr John Popham 07962 204380.

June 13, 2008