'No thank you to the music': Waterloo residents protest Abba-themed musical restaurant

Ella Wills7 November 2017

Waterloo residents took to the streets to protest plans for an Abba-themed musical restaurant from Swedish superstar Bjorn Ulvaeus.

Mr Ulvaeus has been battling local campaigners since proposals for the restaurant based on his Swedish pop-group were made earlier this year.

Campaigners voiced their opposition by singing altered versions of Abba’s hits on the vacant site, in advance of a meeting to decide planning permission on Tuesday.

Protesters believed the site should be used for social housing and are concerned that the restaurant will bring disruption to the local community.

Protestors sang Abba's hits as they protested the new venue
Waterloo Resident's Alliance

Mr Ulvaeus submitted plans to build a branch of his themed restaurant Mamma Mia! The Party on a corner plot on Stamford Street, Waterloo, next to a community centre and nursery.

He called the South Bank the “perfect place” for the Party and said: “The building could be used for other activities as well, outside Party hours, so we hope it would be an asset for the whole community.”

Mamma Mia! The Party will see audiences dine on Mediterranean food in Greek tavern surroundings while a live show unfolds around them.

But local residents have slammed plans for the 500-seater auditorium.

The show is supported by social enterprise Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB), which has offered to lease the land for five years.

The developer has said the restaurant will provide up to 50 jobs, and it will turn the building into a neighbourhood centre after the five years is up.

Residents have also confirmed they have been offered early application access to new jobs created by the restaurant.

Stop Mamma Mia Party: Signs posted around the area opposing the venture
Waterloo Resident's Alliance

However, they have strongly objected to plans and are concerned about loud crowds filling up the neighbourhood every night.

Wai-King Cheung, from Waterloo Residents Alliance, said: “It will be catastrophic.

“A night club will be landed on our doorsteps, five metres from people’s homes."

She added: “The design has no allowance for people. They will spill out on to the streets.”

Campaigners say the land is earmarked for social housing, however, CSCB board member Iain Tuckett told The Guardian the site proposed for Mamma Mia! The Party was never intended for this.

While it is intended that the local community use the building outside of party hours, Ms Cheung said the proposed plans are not “conducive” to community use.

“There is only time till 11am for people to use the venue,” she said. “There are going to be four deliveries during the day.”

“It’s not really conducive to people having meetings or classes. It’s not useful for people.”

The Mamma Mia! The Party team have reportedly said they are trying to address community concerns over noise, saying they will fully soundproof the venue and finish the show an hour earlier than planned.

More than 700 people signed a petition against the plans and London Assembly members, including Chair of the Housing Committee Sian Berry have written formal objections to the proposal.

Last week, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that sites such as this should be compulsorily purchased by local councils to meet their housing targets for affordable homes.

The planning meeting is scheduled to take place on November 7 at 7pm.

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