Message from our Chair:
At a licensing sub-committee meeting at the town hall held 18th April 2013 Sainsbury’s were granted a licence.
Residents made representations making reference to opening hours and the need for reassurance about safety related to the junction and alcohol abuse. The committee took note of over 170 pages of objections. We do not know yet whether Sainsbury’s and the council will be able to evolve a good solution for the crossing at Brixton Water Lane or conduct a traffic impact survey. Sainsbury’s are meeting Lambeth highways 18th April.
While the sub-committee are empowered to adjourn a case if they believe it is in the public interest, on legal advice they concluded it would not be appropriate for a licensing committee to postpone a decision based on something other than the provision of alcohol (in this case fears of additional traffic and related safety concerns). The conditions of the licence have been amended in consultation with police and those, together with Sainsbury’s own suggestions, mean operating conditions are as follows (to be verified in final document from committee):
- Opening hours: 7am to 11pm, with no seasonal variation.
- Deliveries: will not take place after 11pm or before 6am. There are various mitigation measures to minimise noise; no reversing signals, rush matting rather than concrete surface for delivery areas, cages kept inside, acoustic roof.
- Security: there will be a security post at the front door; 24 hr monitored CCTV; the premises will be lit 24hrs, and will be occupied 24hrs; the side passage will be gated and locked to prevent undesirable use.
- Alcohol: no super-strength beer will be sold (defined as 6.5% ABV or more); no beer sold in less than 4-packs with staff trained not to accept less at the till; no miniatures of spirits to be sold (i.e. less than 30cl.); no alcohol to be displayed within 5m metres of the doors. These steps were intended to minimise any increase in ‘pre-loading’ in the street outside bars and clubs, and street-drinking generally.
Next steps: we believe Sainsbury’s will continue to consult locally, and we will continue to engage with them and Lambeth on the topics outlined below: traffic, junction and pedestrian crossing; delivery routes; impact on parking and bikes; local employment. As with all licences, once it is in operation it can be reviewed if problems arise.