Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Chairman's Report
Yet another very busy year at the CGCA has passed and, as usual, it was not uneventful. The Executive Committee have shown enormous commitment and, in spite of many choppy waters, we have sailed to the finishing line with most of the crew, battered but not beaten and still on coarse. We are, as always, indebted to our co-ordinator and to the many volunteers, without whom we would have undoubtedly sunk a long time ago.
We all know licensing and planning are endlessly on the increase (see the Planning report) and it's very hard to bear when Residents and the CGCA expend valuable time, effort and money explaining the damaging impact yet another bar/club will have on their lives, when all the evidence points to saturation and the only "need" is that of the greedy developer/operator to make more money! For all the evidence on our part to be frequently disregarded by the magistrates and licensing officers is truly infuriating and disheartening. We continually hear the famous line "Well, you don't have to live here ... as a defence against our justified objections. But a large proportion of our 6,500 residents live here because they always have - indeed many were born here, to say nothing of all the newer residents. They are the backbone of Covent Garden, yet time and again their rights are eroded and disregarded. I only wish the Magistrates could live with the results of their approval, as we must, or at the very least do a late-night site visit with us to see what they have unleashed.
This year I have again represented our community by working closely with other societies, including Camden and Westminster Amenity Forums, Charing Cross and Holborn Police, the Area Trust, Jubilee Sports Hall, Bruce House and many tenants' associations.
In spite of all the building works that never seem to stop; in spite of the greedy landlords who subject residents and businesses to frightening rent increases and who push out many of the valued small retailers who have contributed so much to our area; in spite of their being replaced with 'any high street multiples'; in spite of the pubs that allow their customers to block the pavements, the fly-by-night shopfitters, the illegal traders and the countless drunks, Covent Garden is still a very special place in which to live and work. On a sunny Sunday morning, when the blackbird sings on top of the chimney pots, it really takes some beating. This is our neighbourhood and no amount of pressure and bullying will change that fact or make us go away.
The CGCA has an input and influence in this area through planning and licensing policies, policing and the environment. It's not all hard work and disheartening - we have had some notable victories so why don't you join us? We need your enthusiasm, energy and original ideas!!
CGCA is governed by its constitution but guided by its committee. You may not think you have the qualities this Association needs but believe me - you do. In fact it boils down to one element in truth, the willingness to give a little of your time. If you can give just a few hours a week, come on board and help us to continue steering the ship and give voice to those precious residents and businesses that make Covent Garden what it is.
There is so much to do and your community needs YOU!
Jo Weir
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