Cllr Andy Mann and Joe Webster were at the Town Hall today, for the licensing committee meeting looking at the application for the former Woolworths store to sell alcohol. The application was to sell alcohol from 06.00 to midnight, seven days a week in the store, in Collier Row Road. It has also been confirmed that the store will become a Costcutter.
Havering Police had objected to the proposed hours of use and had suggested a earlier finish time, more in line with other shops in the Town. The applicant made a good presentation on how he was going to run the store and what measures he would have in place to deal with any anti social behaviour, such as cctv cameras, separate area for alcohol, training of staff, etc.
There were only four formal objections allowed to be heard and a two of those spoke at the meeting to voice there concerns. Despite being elected to represent the people, Councillors are not allowed to speak, unless they actually live in the direct area and are personally affected.
After the debate, the three Councillor members of the committee retired to consider their decision, after an hour’s debate, they returned. The committee decided to grant the application; however they only allowed the license to start from 07.30 in the morning and to end by 8.30pm.
If the application was refused entirely, the applicant would be entitled to go straight to a magistrate court and appeal, and would have got far greater hours, so as it goes, this was probably the best outcome that could have been achieved.
Mawneys Action Member Joe Webster said “Despite objections from residents, the decision that was taken to reduce the operating hours was the best that could have been achieved, as a former member myself of the Licensing Committee, I know that the limitations members have under the rules”
Cllr Mann said “We will be watching the store closely over the coming months once it is open, we all except that we need shops and stores open in Collier Row, but there has always been as issue with the amount of alcohol that is available to young people, which has often led to anti social behaviour”.
Havering Police had objected to the proposed hours of use and had suggested a earlier finish time, more in line with other shops in the Town. The applicant made a good presentation on how he was going to run the store and what measures he would have in place to deal with any anti social behaviour, such as cctv cameras, separate area for alcohol, training of staff, etc.
There were only four formal objections allowed to be heard and a two of those spoke at the meeting to voice there concerns. Despite being elected to represent the people, Councillors are not allowed to speak, unless they actually live in the direct area and are personally affected.
After the debate, the three Councillor members of the committee retired to consider their decision, after an hour’s debate, they returned. The committee decided to grant the application; however they only allowed the license to start from 07.30 in the morning and to end by 8.30pm.
If the application was refused entirely, the applicant would be entitled to go straight to a magistrate court and appeal, and would have got far greater hours, so as it goes, this was probably the best outcome that could have been achieved.
Mawneys Action Member Joe Webster said “Despite objections from residents, the decision that was taken to reduce the operating hours was the best that could have been achieved, as a former member myself of the Licensing Committee, I know that the limitations members have under the rules”
Cllr Mann said “We will be watching the store closely over the coming months once it is open, we all except that we need shops and stores open in Collier Row, but there has always been as issue with the amount of alcohol that is available to young people, which has often led to anti social behaviour”.
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