John Hayes says Spalding has too many off-licences and he is ready to take a stand against further applications being approved.
South Holland and The Deepings’ MP is concerned about the detrimental effect that granting more licences might have on street drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Spalding town centre already has more than half a dozen off-licences in addition to large stores such as Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury’s.
Mr Hayes’ comments came in response to our report last week that The Station Gates pub in Winsover Road is set to become an Eastern European food store. Zagros Abdullah has applied to South Holland District Council for a licence to sell alcohol from 8am to midnight seven days a week.
Last month the council’s licensing panel granted an application to Fantasia, a proposed off-licence in Bourne Road, amid strong opposition from the public and ward councillor Angela Newton.
Mr Hayes said: “I think there are too many off-licences in Spalding.
“I’m happy to support the councillors if, in their wisdom, they decide there are enough off-licences. I will try to intervene to see what can be done.”
He added: “I worked hard towards getting restriction of consumption in the town centre and there was a noticeable improvement in street drinking.
“I will ask the council about meeting the licensing team to discuss what the cumulative impact is and how we can stop licences being issued where that cumulative impact on the town centre is negative.”
Several readers have voiced their concerns too.
Bert Collins (75), of Matmore Close, Spalding, said: “I think I speak for quite a few people in the area when I say that the council doesn’t seem to take on board the concerns of people regarding the problems.
“Granting more licences encourages people to buy more and exacerbates the problem.”
The Voice asked the 11 Spalding district councillors what their opinion was of Eastern European shops and off-licences and the effect on the economy, perception and diversity of the town centre.
Only Coun Newton and Coun Gary Taylor – whose Castle ward covers much of the town centre – supplied responses (see below).
Leader Gary Porter declined to comment and there was no response from the eight other councillors, including Spalding Town Forum chairman George Aley, planning committee chairman Coun Roger Gambba-Jones and licensing committee members Christine Lawton, Graham Dark and Roger Perkins.
The licensing authority has a duty to carry out its function with a view to promoting four objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm.
Each application is dealt with on its own merits (for example, free from the imposition of quotas on the number of licensed premises). However, their cumulative impact on the promotion of the licensing objectives can be taken into account.
COUN ANGELA NEWTON: I am not opposed to anybody opening a shop in town. I would have preferred to have seen some independent niche shops rather than more of the same.
I do not think we should compartmentalise people into where they came from. What we should be interested in is how they present their shops and how it sits within the historic market town of Spalding.
I personally do not care for the way they dress their windows with hideous stickers, effectively blocking out the interior, nor the strong colours they choose to paint the exteriors, particularly in conservation areas.
I think it is sad that some communities feel it necessary to be able to purchase alcohol from before dawn and beyond dusk. The council’s licensing panel (or some of them) feel able to ignore protests on behalf of local residents relating to the detrimental effect on the neighbourhood, and allow these shops long hours, perhaps from 6 or 7am to 11pm to sell alcohol.
Word on the ground is that comments from local people should be taken into account. I would like to assure your readers that if the Independents have control of the council after May 7, more notice will be taken.
COUN GARY TAYLOR: I do share residents’ concerns regarding the appearance of some of these premises. I believe customers should put pressure on these businesses to offer a more welcoming appearance, rather than obscured windows.
I also believe this situation would be improved if the businesses would engage more with the wider community to improve our environment and street scene, which could include providing litter bins and carrying our litter picks around their area, which could form a part of our Pride in South Holland campaign.
We have seen some progress made with our policy to prevent the sale of single cans of alcohol.
We are now also seeing the intended consequences of the relaxed licensing laws which led to the possibility of 24/7 drinking in some areas and also the smoking ban which has seen crowds of smokers outside shops, offices and businesses and then the litter which is created by cigarette ends being dumped in the street.
This is again an issue where we need to work together to resolve these issues, which range from education to enforcement.
