THE AREA HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE’: Rainham Residents Celebrate Major Berwick Manor Decision
“It has been horrendous.” After years of complaints about noise, disturbances and anti-social behaviour, residents living near Berwick Manor Hotel in Rainham are celebrating after Havering Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee took action.
For residents Natalie and James, who live close to the venue, the decision represents a major moment after years of battling what they describe as an unacceptable level of disruption.
Natalie says the noise from events at Berwick Manor has had a huge impact on their lives, leaving them unable to enjoy their own garden during events.
She told the Havering Daily:
“We are surrounded by music from 2pm in the afternoon right through until 11pm. I couldn’t sit in my garden it was that bad. The DJ would start screaming and then encourage the crowd to scream back. It has been horrendous.”
But Natalie says the problems have gone far beyond loud music.
She describes what she says has been a catalogue of disruption around the area, including people urinating in the street, vehicles revving late at night and roads being obstructed.
Natalie told the Havering Daily:
“We have had people urinating in the street, cars revving and making loud noises at 2am. Vehicles have blocked off roads, residents have not been able to enter their own streets. The area has been a nightmare.”
She also raised concerns about fireworks being set off late at night, particularly during the current hot and dry conditions.
Natalie said:
“They let off fireworks late at night and look how dry the grass is.”
For residents who have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of events at the venue, the licensing hearing has been closely watched.
The licensing review followed an investigation by Havering Council’s Public Protection Service into concerns relating to the prevention of public nuisance.
The Council has confirmed that the Licensing Sub-Committee considered the matter and took action.
The hearing went ahead despite no representative from Berwick Manor being believed to have attended.
Dagenham and Rainham MP Margaret Mullane has welcomed the decision and strongly supported residents throughout their campaign.
Margaret said:
“Residents have suffered noise nuisance and disturbances for too long from the activities at Berwick Manor Hotel. My team and I have made strong representations to Havering Council to take action to control and stop these nuisances, so I am delighted that the Council’s Licensing sub committee has today listened and acted. I know from my discussions with local residents that they will be relieved.”
And relieved is exactly how residents are feeling.
Natalie has also paid tribute to the Council officers who she says went above and beyond to support residents throughout the process.
She specifically thanked two Havering Council Environmental Health Sound Officers, saying:
“The two Havering Council Environmental Health Sound Officers have been amazing. They have gone above and beyond. Chief Inspector Vale has also been very supportive and our local MP Margaret Mullane has been fantastic.”
For Natalie, James and their neighbours, this is about more than one licensing decision.
It is about finally being able to feel that their complaints have been heard.
They say they have spent years dealing with what they describe as excessive noise, late-night disturbances, traffic problems and other disruption associated with events at the venue.
Now, following the licensing review, they believe they have finally achieved a breakthrough.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Councillor Terry Brown, also praised the work of the Public Protection Service and the agencies involved.
Councillor Brown said:
“We are proud of the work carried out by Havering’s Public Protection Service, working alongside local councillors, the Metropolitan Police, the local MP and affected residents.
The licence review followed a detailed investigation by Public Protection officers to gather evidence relating to concerns raised about the premises. The officers involved have been praised by local residents for their support throughout the process.
I welcome the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee, who also recognised the hard work and professionalism of the Public Protection Service. There will remain a statutory 21-day appeal period following the decision.”
There remains a statutory 21-day appeal period, meaning the matter is not necessarily completely over.
But for residents who say they have spent years living with disruption, the decision represents a significant victory.
Natalie and James are now hoping that the action taken by the Council will finally bring some peace back to their neighbourhood.
For Natalie, the message is simple.
Residents should be able to sit in their own gardens, sleep at night and access their own streets without having to endure what they describe as years of disruption.
And after years of fighting to be heard, the residents of Berwick Manor finally believe someone has listened.
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Now thats what a proper MP should be doing – supporting their constituents with their problems. Perhaps Margaret could give a few lessons to Andrew😂😂