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Cllr Janet Burgess |
Every fifth shop sells booze, survey reveals
Pressure for curbs on alcohol as cans litter streets
CURBS on the sale of alcohol and a ban on drinking in streets are among proposals suggested by residents in Archway.
Most people surveyed called for restrictions on late-night licences and half of those questioned would like to see a ban on street drinking similar to that in neighbouring Camden.
The survey by Better Archway Forum (BAF) found that, in less than a quarter of a mile from Junction Road, along Holloway Road to St John’s Grove, there were 35 licensed premises, representing every fifth shop.
Residents reported a rise in rubbish problems, with drink cans and bottles littering residential streets, estates and the areas outside shops.
The survey was conducted to find out how Archway is being affected by the recently introduced “24-hour drinking” act.
BAF chairwoman Kate Calvert pointed out that, as well as off-licences, grocery and food shops sell alcohol. She added: “The problem seems to be that under the act it is impossible for Islington’s licensing committee to say no to these outlets selling booze.” One resident counted 11 beer cans outside one shop, and empty bottles of spirits and wine were regularly reported on pavements and walls, according to Ms Calvert.
She said that a recent experience at Archway Tube station shocked her. “It was after 9pm on Saturday night and everyone on the platform seemed to be carrying drinks, apart from my partner and I. The girls mostly guzzled from wine bottles, drinking it as if it was orange juice.”
But she has her own doubts about a ban on street drinking. In Camden it can mean drink is confiscated and poured into the gutter. “I feel that would verge on the nanny state,” she said. “I would certainly be against a blanket ban that might stop people having picnics in the park. But local bans might need looking at.”
Islington Council has recently introduced a “saturation” policy, which should allow licensing committees to refuse alcohol licences if they decide there are already too many in an area.
The scheme was put forward by Junction ward Labour councillor Janet Burgess and supported by the ruling Lib Dems. Cllr Burgess said: “Saturation has to be a subjective thing. But if enough people complain about an outlet wanting to sell alcohol the policy will give them more ammunition when it comes to objecting at licensing committee.”
Green councillor Katie Dawson is calling for restrictions on late-night drinking licences in Finsbury Park. “Things have not improved under the 24-hour licensing act,” she said. “More businesses are applying to sell alcohol and that’s the last thing needed in an area due for regeneration. Alcohol should be restricted. It’s not a good idea to allow corner shops all-night licences.”
But Lib Dem councillor Stefan Kasprzyk, who regularly chairs Islington’s licensing committees, believes the new licensing act has improved relations between pubs and clubs and people living nearby.
He added: “We’ve always made sure before agreeing to a new licence that businesses and residents work together. As a result we’ve been told the borough is a model of common sense.
“When publicans and residents meet regularly they can transform a situation from bristling hostility to an amiable compromise that actually works. This policy includes residents having mobile phone numbers for out-of-hours contact with managers for when there is a problem.
“And if a business – be it a pub, club or shop – continues to pose a nuisance to neighbours they can be brought back to our committee and could lose their licence.” |
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