Knightsbridge residents have a right to peace but they should not have the right to stop legitimate businesses such as Harrods running a restaurant that will serve both locals and visitors
Knightsbridge residents are known to be vocal sorts and those that complained about noisy super cars certainly have a point. However, in trying to put a stop to legitimate business, as the Evening Standard revealed on Wednesday, they simply have gone too far.
In an article about Harrods submitting plans to extend their Georgian Restaurant’s opening hours from 9pm daily to midnight on weekdays, 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and 11.30pm on Sundays, Karen Morgan of the South Knightsbridge Residents’ Group is quoted as having commented:
“We believe it will lead to further crime and disorder in the area. Such venues operating later on at night, populated by the wealthy, as they will tend to be in Knightsbridge, attract undesirable individuals such as pickpockets, beggars, petty criminals, prostitutes and also pedicabs who often charge extortionate prices for short and noisy rides”.
Another, Farhat Tabbah, added: “There will be an increase in beggars preying on the wealthy patrons of the premises and by association residents surrounding Harrods late into the night” whilst whilst an additional complainant, Parkash Judge, stated: “The boy racers are going round and round… During the times that such clientele are in the area, it attracts sex workers. I objected to one of such who had her naked breasts hanging out of a window and she spat on me”.
Just as was the case when the ridiculously named Panda Morgan-Thomas appeared on the television show Knightsbridge’s Playboy Racers in 2013, certain residents simply show themselves to be intolerant busybodies. These people, after all, do not live in a “village” – as some claim – but in the heart of prime Central London. If it is complete peace that these individuals desire, they ought to move to the Outer Hebrides and given that there are already countless other local restaurants open over the extended period Harrods proposes, one has to ask why they do not complain about them.
The Steeple Times wholeheartedly supports Harrods’ plans and urges our readers to do the same.
Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here: