"Rob Smith opened his second-hand record store, Recycle Vinyl, just off Dalston's Kingsland High Street in late 2024. As the next few months saw a sharp drop-off in takings, he planned to host a series of day parties over the summer to attract more customers. Yet after the first dance event he hosted last June led to several noise complaints, Hackney Council blocked Rob from putting on subsequent events they had already granted him permission for."
"Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 40,000 for business premises, or seizure of equipment. But Rob has challenged the basis of this order and asked the council to remove it. He claims the complaints are mainly fake and his shop was the target of a co-ordinated campaign led by one individual neighbour, damaging his business in the process."
"In July, Rob told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he became convinced of this when a more sympathetic resident turned up to the shop and revealed WhatsApp messages sent by one individual to neighbours in a group chat. These messages, seen by the LDRS, appear to show the person encouraging others to complain about one of Rob's planned events five days before it took place."
Rob Smith opened a second-hand record shop, Recycle Vinyl, just off Dalston's Kingsland High Street in late 2024. After takings dropped sharply, he planned a series of summer day parties to attract customers but the first dance event in June prompted several noise complaints. Hackney Council and the Metropolitan Police prevented further events despite previous permission, with Environmental Health citing the risk of a DJ-led sound system and opposing a proposed 'silent disco'. The council served a noise abatement order that carries penalties including fines up to £40,000 or seizure of equipment. Rob has challenged the order, claiming complaints were mainly fake and coordinated by one neighbour.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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