Barber's 15-year-old bench needs a £500 council licence
Camden calls it well-loved by locals, but wants £350 every year after the first fee
A Kentish Town barber has been told he can keep the bench that's sat outside his shop for 15 years, but only if he pays Camden Council £500, plus £350 every year after that.
Michael Vasili runs George's Barber Room, opened by his dad George in 1989. He rescued the bench from a closing-down pub, and says it's used by waiting customers and passers-by, especially elderly people. He's removed it and started a petition to bring it back.
Camden says the bench is on the public highway, so a licence is legally required. The council also called it "well-loved by the local community".
Should a bench outside a shop need a licence at all?
Full story: Daily Mail – News
