The World Turned Upside Down: councillors defer Domino’s decision

Bermondsey Community Council considered the planning application by Domino's Pizza on Wednesday night.

Objectors include residents of Kingsley Flats and Waleran Flats who are concerned about noise and smells from the pizza takeaway, and disturbance from motor scooters used to deliver orders.

Planning officer Sonia Watson and principal environmental protection officer Alan Blissett explained to councillors that a proposed condition on the planning application would require delivery scooter riders to turn off their engines and wheel their vehicles through the alleyway to reach the garage at the back of the pub.

Ms Watson told the community council that the World Turned Upside Down was "not the best of pubs" and "did cause some nuisance to residents".

Cllr Mark Gettleson was keen to emphasise the historic significance of the pub: "It's one of the oldest pubs in this part of London," he reminded his colleagues.

Gian Kataora from Peabody Trust, which owns Kingsley and Waleran Flats, said that he thought the proposed conditions to restrict the use of scooters were unworkable. "I don't think – from our experience – it would work," he said.

"We are very keen on this site and have spent some time overcoming the issues," said surveyor Richard Ogilvy, representing Domino's Pizza.

He said that Domino's proposal would safeguard the fabric of the pub. "I don't think anyone wants a derelict pub underneath their flat," he said.

Community council chair Linda Manchester said that she wasn't prepared to make a decision on the application without making a site visit and her recommendation to defer the application was agreed unanimously.