Washwood Heath supermarket alcohol licence application opposed

The council ‘does not have the resources’ to keep Washwood Heath safe, a local MP has argued - after a local store applied for a new alcohol licence.

And Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne has invited members of the council on a tour of Washwood Heath, so they can see first hand the impact a new alcohol licence would have on the area.

Writing to the council ahead of a hearing to determine whether AK Supermarket should be granted an alcohol licence, MP for Hodge Hill Liam Byrne claimed that granting the application would cause ‘further distress for local residents’.

He added that the council ‘does not have the resources’ to keep the area safe.

Why does Labour MP Liam Byrne believe that Birmingham City Council does not have the resources to keep Washwood Heath safe?

“Anti-social behaviour is rife in the area and currently Birmingham City Council are already struggling to install preventative measures such as target hardening, CCTV and clear ups of local alleyways,” he wrote.

“Bluntly, the council does not have the resources to help keep the current environment safe and pleasant, never mind the added risk of a shop with a late alcohol licence.

“The result will be further distress for local residents. As such, I request the Licensing Committee (a) evaluates the current environment and (b) considers

whether the impact of granting AK Supermarket a license to sell alcohol would either improve or negatively impact the immediate community.”

Has anybody else objected to A K Supermarket getting an alcohol licence?

Mr Byrne’s is just one of several letters of objection written to the council regarding the application, with a 44-signature petition also drawing attention to the potential impact of further antisocial behaviour on the area.

What is A K Supermarket saying about the objections?

However, speaking at a hearing, a spokesperson for the applicant claimed that the lack of representations from responsible authorities such as the police showed that there was no material reason why the application should not be granted.

“It’s a popular shop where many customers have asked whether they would sell alcohol,” he said.

“It should be noted that of the eight responsible authorities none considered it necessary to object, or to ask for amendments to the operating schedule.

“I believe the reason for this is that there is a strong operating schedule to support this application, and there are policies and procedures in place to support a well-run establishment.”

A decision is expected before Monday, November 29

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