Bar is shut after cannabis factory found in flat above
AN UPPER Norwood bar has been closed after police raided the flat above and found the remains of a cannabis factory.
AN UPPER Norwood bar has been closed after police raided the flat above and found the remains of a cannabis factory.
Debbie Ballard, leaseholder of the SE19 Bar in Westow Street, said following the raid on Friday her landlord Ivan Bateman had locked her out.
She said: "There were two other tenants upstairs who were musicians and had been there for six to nine months but we had nothing to do with them."
Ms Ballard added the bar was not involved in the raid but nevertheless they had been unable to get into their premises since it took place.
She said: "This has been very distressing for us, we have had to let a lot of people down."
They had to cancel a funeral booking which had been taken for this week and staff's personal effects were still in the building.
She said: "There is also sound equipment and computers inside which don't belong to us and which their owners need but can't get at."
Ms Ballard said her solicitors were now in contact with Mr Bateman and she hoped the situation could be resolved quickly.
A spokesman for Croydon police confirmed they did not believe there were any links between the bar and the flat.
He said: "Officers from the Crystal Palace Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) attended a flat above a bar in Westow Street on Friday after receiving reports that the flat was being used as a cannabis factory."
They had to cut their way through a steel door to get access to the flat. The spokesman said: "Officers discovered various items associated with the production of cannabis, including insulation, ventilators and dehumidifier machines, although there were no cannabis plants present and the flat appeared to have been recently vacated."
He added that no arrests had been made and inquiries were continuing.
http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk 26/10/2013
S
Soft Secrets
