A DECISION on whether to allow a shisha café in East Finchley to go ahead has been deferred by councillors.

Barnet Council’s planning committee decided tonight (November 26) to let the owners of Oasis Café, in Church Lane, have more time to develop their proposal, so they could address concerns about smell.

The café wants to develop its outdoor area so 43 people can smoke shisha pipes, as well as extend its opening hours.

After consulting with the council’s environmental health team, planning officers had recommended it was refused because of the odour of the shisha pipes.

But barrister Tim Comyn, representing the owners, said it had not been an issue until November 18 – which meant they had no time to address the concerns.

He told the committee in Hendon Town Hall: “We had no idea it was going to be an issue until just eight days ago. We did not have the option to question it. As a matter of fairness, it should be deferred. There are many ways of dealing with odour. We would like to have the option to look at that.”

The application will go to the next planning committee.

The committee also heard from James Nassour, who lives opposite the café, which was previously The Alexandra pub.

Speaking in support of the plans, he said: “The pub that was there was a nuisance. I have made many, many complaints to the council and the police about these, but since Oasis restaurant has moved in, I have had no complaints.

“As with many other neighbours, I have found the new establishment has fitted in well. It faces my bedroom window and my lounge window. I have not heard so much as a peep. This place is primarily a family restaurant. It is an ideal facility.”

But Helen Lord, representing residents of Leopold Road, said: “We are objecting to the planned change of use which includes a new shisha area. We don’t object to the restaurant, we merely object to the planned change of use.

“Proximity to the smoke will affect residents. We have evidence this will produce more smoke than has existed in this area previously.”

She said each shisha pipe would produce “up to 200 times” more smoke than a cigarette, “just metres away” from children’s bedrooms and Martin Primary School.

Ms Lord said: “This will produce carcinogenic smoke. This development will make it much worse for the community around it. There has already been smoke detected at the gates of Martin Primary School, before it has been approved to be operating.”

Asked whether it was not better for neighbours having a café than a pub on their doorstep, Ms Lord said the smoking area had always been at the front, away from people’s back gardens.

She added: “Most people would spend two or three minutes smoking a cigarette. The average smoking time for a shisha is 45 minutes, and produce a significant amount more smoke than cigarettes."

East Finchley councillor Arjun Mittra said: “This is a heavily used junction by children, and I know some people have strong concerns about the impact on people walking by the odour. Officers have said this is detrimental. There is a huge amount of concern. The problem is the shisha.”