St Benedicts Street at Norwich Lanes. Picture: Denise Bradley
“Please do not ruin our street” plea fails to stop new Norwich off-licence bid being approved
David Freezer
Thursday, March 7, 2013
6:30 AM
Passionate pleas to “not ruin our lovely street” have not convinced city councillors to turn down an application for a new off-licence in Norwich city centre.
Labour councillor Paul Kendrick chaired the licensing sub-committee.Several residents and business owners of St Benedict’s Street had objected to an application for a new off-licence in the street – but the licence has been granted.
The city council’s licensing sub-committee met at City Hall yesterday to decide on the application, which has been made for 32 St Benedict’s Street by Thuraivan Kalaiarasy, from Coventry.
Objections to the application included one from St Benedict’s Street resident, Michael Leftwich, saying: “I have been a resident for many years and do not want more disruption to our lovely street. Many of the local residents feel the same way, please do not ruin our lovely street.”
Steven Battle, director of Cookes Piano and Organs, said: “The thought of yet another outlet in St Benedict’s selling alcohol fills us with dread for the consequences.”
But the committee – chaired by Paul Kendrick, alongside Paul Neale and Mike Sands – granted the licence with several conditions, which Norfolk police had asked for.
These included the off-licence being able to sell alcohol between 8am and 11pm, but until 10.30pm on Sundays, rather than 6am to 3am, as applied for.
Constant CCTV at the shop and no selling of cheap beer or ciders above 6.5pc alcoholic volume were also imposed as conditions.
The committee also said the off-licence should run a ‘challenge 21’ scheme to fight underage drinking and all its alcohol should be tagged so that empty cans and bottles left in the area can be traced back to the shop.
That was because local residents Christine Way and Harriet Carter had spoken of antisocial behaviour already caused by people drinking in public in the area.
The objectors were reminded that a licence can be appealed if it is not meeting licensing standards and encouraged them to keep records and to contact the relevant council departments or police with complaints if the off-licence is having a negative impact on the area.
Ms Way, speaking after the meeting, said: “I was hoping it wouldn’t be granted. I’m sort of happy they have lessened the hours though.”
- Do you think the councillors made the right decision? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk
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8 comments
Oh, to aspire to Wisbech.
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Mad Brewer
Friday, March 8, 2013
Another coloured envelope in the back pockets of the Licensing Committee at Norwich City Council (Allegedly)
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che bramley
Thursday, March 7, 2013
I've seen some hardened drinkers-druggies mooching around this area after they've been kicked out their nearby dosshouse, guess they will visiting this chap for some of that industrial cleaner they pass of as vodka.....Hell and handcart springs to mind....good old nuLabour and their wondrous ways of turning Norwich into a cloned Wisbech.
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nrg
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Benedicts St really does not need another off-licence. Reds is enough. Already cans and bottles from Reds fill St Lawrence and St Margaret's church yards. Reds nearest rubbish bin was removed last year making the problem worse. The character of St Benedicts is very special but under pressure during the recession. This will not help.
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Rich Hartt
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Which licensing committee, council members have the vested interests then ?.
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"V"
Thursday, March 7, 2013
You dont expect a council to listen to its people do you.!!!
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Johnny Norfolk
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Politicians and health chiefs keep emphasising the increasing problems that alcohol is causing in society and plonkers like the city council’s licensing sub-committee make it all the more readily available, what do they expect?
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John L Norton
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Standards keep dropping as usual with this lot.You get what you wish for i am affraid
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PaulH
Thursday, March 7, 2013