Lambeth Council wants to turn the whole of the borough into a "controlled drinking zone" (CDZ) raising fears for the future of Spring Gardens. It follows similar moves that have seen drinking in public in Camden become a gauntlet for the middle classes as well as all of the local drunks and addicts.
Spring Gardens AKA Mount Edna or The Grassy Knoll, which is tucked away behind the RVT in Vauxhall, has long been a meeting place for gays or as they used to be called "musicans and actors". However, those "in the know" fear that due to the regular problem drinkers that gather there (the badly dressed 24/7 ones), the council and police could use these new powers to "clean it up" - especially given that new building that's going up. Read on to see what you can do.
Lambeth claims that "the introduction of a CDZ does not mean a blanket ban on outdoor drinking, but provides police with powers to reduce alcohol-related anti-social behaviour."
So, probably boils down to what the neighbours say and what the police want to do. What do you think? Are we a blight on the grassy knoll? Are we the real dirt on the knoll? Do the neighbours deserve better Sunday drinkers than us? Does the knoll resemble an amateur remake of Thriller each and every Sunday that it's warm? You decide. HAVE YOUR SAY!
Local residents are being asked their opinion as part of a consultation process which ends on 31 July. We've already emailed saying that the knoll is not just a historic meeting place for gays, steeped in history as well as syringes and drugs, but a place where many who are too afraid to come out go to have their first gay experience. We also said some sensible stuff and urge you to do the same. To comment just email CDZ@lambeth.gov.uk.
