London: Historic India Club saved from demolition
The India Club in London, a hub for Indian nationalists in the UK during the Indian independence movement in 1930s-40s, has been saved from demolition after Westminster City Council's planning committee refused to give permission to Marston Properties (building's freeholders) to demolish the Club to build a luxury hotel. India Club attracted over 26,000 signatures for its online "Save India Club" petition. Here's more.
Application to demolish India club considered unacceptable: Planning meeting
In a unanimous decision at a planning meeting on Tuesday evening, the committee concluded, "The application is considered unacceptable due to the loss of the India Club, an important cultural and night time entertainment use, and is accordingly recommended for refusal."
Club's manager moved an application to recognize it as historic-landmark
Phiroza Marker, Manager of India Club, had earlier led an application to Historic England for the Club to be listed as a historically important landmark in an additional bid to prevent its demolition. While that application was turned down saying there were similar organizations operating for Indian community, a decision on its appeal is awaited from UK government's Department for Culture, Media, and Sports.
India Club is a constant reminder of Indo-British friendship: Marker
"The India Club is a constant reminder of Westminster's multicultural identity and Indo-British friendship. We will continue to campaign for the building's long-term preservation, including applying to Westminster for its designation as an 'Asset of Community Value'," said Marker.
India Club is functional in London since 1946
The Club, which has functioned as an Indian restaurant in the heart of London since 1946, is located on the first floor of 26-room Strand Continental hotel. Marston Properties had put in an application for the "partial demolition of Club". The application had attracted an unprecedented 26 public-appeals against such a move, with the Club being categorized as having "unique historical value to Londoners."
Parsi-origin Yadgar Marker, his wife has been running the Club
Parsi-origin Yadgar Marker has been running the establishment with his wife Freny and daughter Phiroza since they rescued it from ruin in 1997 as the Director of Goldsand Hotels Limited. The Club is the contemporary incarnation of the India League - established by Annie Besant in 1921 and then revived by Krishna Menon, India's first High Commissioner to the UK, in 1929.
