Locals fighting against another Alcohol License

In this area nearly all the shops have alcohol licenses. Many open until the early morning hours and one is open 24/7. That's apart from Sainsburys local, the pubs and the Dome nightclub.

On the Camden side of the road most of the residential and commercial properties are owned by one landlord. The rents are so exorbitant. Every year as the rents rise many shops have to close and the premises remain empty for a long time. There are several like that on the main Fortess Road. One such property is on the corner of Burghley Road opposite the entrance to the Acland Burghley school.

When the shop fitters moved in there was great expectation as to what kind of retail outlet was going to open. The owners are Turkish so it was presumed we might get a variety of European foods only currently available in Kentish Town. Then the sign went up 'My Shop Food and Wine'. On the front shutter is a public notice for an extended hours alcohol licenses, 8am - 1am, (Ref: APP\PREMISES-NEW\000754). The shop is due to open 19th Jan the day they expect the license permission to be granted.

Many locals are up in arms. What kind of irresponsible landlord would let out a shop to sell alcohol directly opposite a school and in a residential area. Letters of objection have been sent to Camden's Licensing Team by residents, local councilors, local shop-keepers naturally fighting for business and the Kentish Town police.

Apparently the applicant has set out some basic steps they propose to take under the protection of children from harm objective. However, there have been problems with groups of students from the school at break times and after school hours. Groups of them congregate around many of the existing shops in Fortess Road, Brecknock Road and the supermarket on the corner of Tufnell Park Road by the Tube station.

The Safer Neighbourhoods Team and school liaison officers have been working on these sorts of issues for a while. There are going to be concerns about older pupils buying for underage pupils and challenges around effectively implementing an ID check system.

It's also been suggested that the address of the application is misleading. It reads 173 Fortess Road which to anybody who is not familiar with the area would naturally think it's another shop on the main road. It seems that because of a historical quirk the bottom section of Dartmouth Park Hill to Burghley Road on the left hand side has a postal address as Fortess Road. Purely speculation but the new owners when they submitted their application, may be banking on the fact that the licensing team members are ignorant of the shops actual location.

Not long now before 19th and the outcome of the Licensing Teams decision. Personally I'm incensed about the whole thing and have submitted my own objection. The owners of the shop however, in anticipation of their application being successful have already started to stock up the shop.

Update: The school has also put in an objection to the application. With so many objection submitted we are expecting a Notice of Hearing duting the next couple of weeks. Good the shop stays shut for the time being.