A RAW food chef is causing a stink in his neighbourhood, according to residents who want Camden Council to make him serve his last dish. The council has received several complaints about Peter Pure

Katie Davies

A RAW food chef is causing a stink in his neighbourhood, according to residents who want Camden Council to make him serve his last dish.

The council has received several complaints about Peter Pure - a self-proclaimed student of nutrition who claims he can proscribe seeds that do the job of Prozac, Viagra and even a dentist.

But residents of Goldhurst Terrace, in West Hampstead, say the only thing he is providing from his home-based business is a host of unpleasant smells and noise.

Mr Pure may also have fallen foul of planning laws as he is offering visitors the chance to pay £197 to spend the day with him on monthly parties and learn about his natural remedies. He also sells food preparation products online.

Councillors say he needs commercial planning permission to do such a job from his house

Deputy leader of Camden Council Andrew Marshall said: "I have received a number of complaints. I have seldom come across a case where planning policy has been flouted so blatantly to run a commercial business in a residential property, causing massive distress to other residents nearby.

"I am urging council enforcement officers to take firm action to shut this down and fine this person. I want him stopped before the next one of his parties."

On Mr Pure's website he offers "a fabulous fun day full of unbelievably scrummy foods that make you more energetic, youthful, sexy, intelligent and happy."

The 33-year-old told the Ham&High he is just trying make a living and that neighbours should mind their own business.

"It is completely OK for people to be self-employed and work from home in this country. No one from the council thinks there is anything wrong with it.

"I show people how to be healthy - being alive is a wonderful thing. For the people I see it is really a breath of fresh air."

Despite preparing raw foods such as onions and other types of fruit and veg for his business Mr Pure admitted he has no formal qualifications in cooking.

"I am a student of nutrition and culinary skills," he said, "there is no such thing as a degree for raw food nutrition. There are basically three places in London showing the way.

"It is my lifetime study and I worked with my father who was a student of raw food in the1950s.

"I cook the food for them [his clients] and I show them which food they should have and how they can make it taste better. It can increase your energy levels.

"So many clients testify to the benefits they get from doing my thing. I have people flying in from Morocco, all sorts of places because they can't get the information anywhere else."

katie.davies@hamhigh.co.uk