Birmingham City Council has banned supermarket giant Tesco from selling alcohol in a ‘dry’ community, after residents opposed the plan.
Tesco applied to sell alcohol at its new store in Bourneville, but hundreds of residents signed a petition objecting to the proposal. Alcohol has been banned from being sold in the village since Quaker, George Cadbury, built it for his chocolate factory workers in the 1800s.
At a licensing sub-committee, where the application was thrown out, councillors voiced concerns over crime, and litter before making their decision. They also listened to concerns raised by interested parties over the amount of under-age drinking already occurring in the area, and fears that an off licence would make this situation worse.
Cllr Penny Wagg, chairman of the licensing sub committee, said, following the meeting: ‘In reaching this decision, the committee was particularly concerned by the issues raised relating to crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour and litter, which are prevalent in the area.
‘Even with conditions applied, we feel the granting of a licence would only exacerbate them.’
Protecting the public realm without shutting it down
As Martyn's Law approaches, this free special report from LocalGov and Hill & Smith sets out how councils can protect public spaces without shutting them down.
