A COUNCILLOR has denied claims he is “playing politics” over the future of a controversial Whetstone club insisting he is representing his residents.

The owners of Sutra in High Road had accused local politicians of making their lives difficult and victimising them, after they were handed a 28-day licence suspension on Friday.

Police were called to the club last weekend when a huge brawl started outside, the latest in a string of incidents where officers have been called.

Director Socrates Protopapas claimed the venue, formerly Upstairs @ the N20, had not been given a chance by local ward councillors, adding 40 staff were likely to lose their jobs before Christmas.

However, Totteridge councillor Brian Coleman, who objected to the unsuccessful licence extension application in May, denied the ward councillors were playing politics.

He said: “We have been inundated with complaints about the behaviour of people coming from this club and the police have been called numerous times.

“I have been there myself at 2am to witness what happens and it is reminiscent of the worst scenes from Trafalgar Square on a Saturday night. It is simply in the wrong place in the middle of a residential area.

“Not a week goes by when we do not get a complaint about it and many residents have had enough. We will be making representations when the licence comes up for review.”

It is expected the future of the venue will be decided before Christmas.