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Resident Teresa Merrigan and her children, Carla, 6, and James, 3, outside the soon-to-open Spar |
Stub out this early-morning racket, street smokers told
Supermarket off-licence wins approval despite fears of rise in binge drinking
THE cigarette ban has brought misery to residents in Islington as smokers gather in streets outside pubs to light up in the early hours, a Town Hall committee heard this week.
It was told of smokers and drinkers shouting and swearing, and in one case fighting at 3am outside a public house.
The residents were objecting to an application for an off-licence – the fourth in the area – at a soon-to-open Spar supermarket in Penton Street at the Angel.
The licensing committee heard on Monday that Spar had scaled back the original closing time for the sale of booze from midnight to 11pm.
Cab driver Roger Cousins welcomed the change, but was unhappy that the supermarket will still sell drink until 11pm.
He said: “This is a small, mainly residential area and we have a large number of licensed outlets – including two pubs – nearby already.
“In the case of at least one pub, smokers stand outside until the early hours and make a lot of noise.
“There are children in some of the flats nearby and people need their sleep. In one incident police were called to the pub at 3am because there was fighting outside in Penton Street.”
More than 30 residents signed a petition against Spar’s planned off-licence on the grounds that it could encourage more anti-social behaviour and binge drinking.
But Stephen Forster QC for Spar, said that by reducing by one hour the period when it would sell alcohol the supermarket was showing goodwill towards residents.
But he added it could not be responsible for what goes on in licensed establishments elsewhere.
He said: “We are a large organisation who take our responsibilities to our neighbours very seriously. All our staff are trained and we have CCTV security cameras on-site.
“It goes without saying that our staff wouldn’t serve anyone under age or under the influence of drink. We will also have a sign in the store reminding customers to be quiet when they leave.”
The committee, chaired by Lib Dem councillor Stefan Kasprzyk, granted the supermarket permission to open an off-licence.
But members advised residents that if they have a problem with a local pub they should seek a review of its licence.
Under the 2002 Licensing Act, establishments which break conditions of a permit to serve alcohol can be recalled to a licensing committee.
After the hearing, Teresa Merrigan, who lives nearby, said she was disappointed that the application had been granted.
She added: “They may have banned smoking indoors but many people use the streets to light up these days. It can create a nuisance.
“We just hope Spar at least keep their area free from people who might cause us problems.” |
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