Else Kvist, Reporter
Thursday, January 3, 2013
11:40 AM
A pipe stands underneath a ‘no smoking’ sign in a shisha lounge which has been stubbed out by Newham Council’s planning enforcement officers.
An enforcement notice was served against the property, on Sherrard Road, Forest Gate after its use was unlawfully changed from an industrial warehouse to a shisha lounge and snooker club.
The notice was appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, but the appeal was dismissed.
This means the current use of the property needs to stop before February 23.
Newham Council’s Executive Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, Cllr Unmesh Desai, said: “This was an illegal use of this building and we will not stand for that that.”
Newham Council’s rejection of a planning application for the UK’s biggest mosque is set to be the subject of a public inquiry this year.