A dessert shop that opened in Fulham this summer has been granted permission to run a late-night delivery service, with orders allowed until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight from Sunday to Thursday. The decision by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee follows concerns from residents about noise, pollution and anti-social behaviour.
Dr Dessert, which sells crepes, waffles and ice cream from its premises on Wandsworth Bridge Road, originally applied to open until 11pm daily with deliveries until 12.30am Sunday to Thursday and 1.30am Friday to Saturday. After discussions with the council’s noise and nuisance team, the applicant, Nedwin Ltd, agreed to reduce those delivery times to midnight and 1am respectively.
Conditions imposed on delivery service
The licence comes with a series of conditions. Nedwin Ltd accepted eight conditions following correspondence with the council’s noise and nuisance team, including a requirement that drivers only arrive when an order is ready and that staff actively monitor the outside areas. A further six conditions were agreed with the Met Police, such as stipulating that the premises shall be delivery-only after 11pm.
Committee members also added two additional conditions, including one requiring a responsible member of staff to organise meetings with residents at least once a year. The premises will close to the public at 11pm, with delivery service only after that point.
Residents raise concerns about disturbance
Seven objections were filed opposing the application. One came from Sarah Chambers, Chair of the Walham Green Panel, who noted that while the premises is in a neighbouring ward, “the application raises the same issues as seen in many applications around the North End Road which you will be familiar with”.
Ms Chambers wrote: “The delivery drivers are likely to disturb residents including children in the side streets off Wandsworth Bridge Road and elsewhere as they wend their way through the streets to their destinations as quickly as possible. It is also worth noting additional deliveries will increase not just noise pollution but environmental pollution through emissions from the deliveries themselves, increased litter and the packaging materials used.”
The Barclay Road Residents group and five residents also filed objections, though one resident appears to have withdrawn their representation after the further conditions were agreed. One resident, who said they regularly shop and travel on Wandsworth Bridge Road with their two young children, raised concerns about the impacts of late-night activity and the potential attraction of additional crime.
They wrote: “While the premises will close to customers at 23:00, the proposal simply transfers activity from in-store customers to late-night delivery operations. The resulting noise, vehicle movements and rider activity are incompatible with the residential nature of the surrounding area and undermine the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance.”
Council data highlights street’s problems
Henry Blomfield, speaking on behalf of Charlotte Dexter and Barclay Road Neighbourhood Watch, told councillors that the council’s own data identifies Wandsworth Bridge Road as one of the borough’s 24 most impacted streets. “It’s disproportionately affected by nuisance and by anti-social behaviour,” he said.
Ms Chambers said: “Our concerns are that as a result of these extended hours the residents of Fulham, and in particular in the immediate vicinity around the premises, will be subject to increased noise, pollution and litter. This isn’t compatible with the licensing objectives preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm as demonstrated in my representation.”
She noted that she had visited the premises and that there are two storeys of residents above Dr Dessert. She added that the conditions are “largely unenforceable”, in particular restricting the types of vehicles delivery drivers can use.
“I think the café itself is a great addition to the street, and the more businesses there are the better,” she said, “but I do think that they should be sticking to their hours of 11pm for closure for off- and on-sale sales, and therefore I would ask on behalf of the Walham Green Ward Panel that the committee please refuse this application.”
Applicant defends track record
Nick Semper, the applicant’s licensing agent, said Dr Dessert primarily deals with cold food and that the impact of the deliveries would be minimal. He added there is “not a shred of evidence” that challenges the way the premises has been run to-date.
Mr Semper said the concerns raised amounted to “fear and speculation”, with none of those living above Dr Dessert filing objections. On the claim the proposed conditions are unenforceable, he said: “It’s a bit mad really, because the conditions that we’ve agreed are the ones suggested by the police and the noise management team. They’re not our conditions…the conditions that are actually proposed are proposed by your staff and your police officers.”
Committee members agreed to grant the licence with the earlier hours than originally sought. The premises is to close to the public at 11pm, with delivery service only after that point. Members also added a further two conditions, including that a responsible member of staff is to organise meetings with residents at least once a year.
