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Bretton: Hundreds sign up to oppose off licence
PLANS to open an off-licence selling East European alcohol have met with tough opposition from worried residents.
PLANS to open an off-licence selling East European alcohol have met with tough opposition from worried residents.More than 380 people in Bretton have signed a petition pleading with Peterborough City Council to reject the new premises licence for an existing shop in the Pyramid Centre, in Bretton,
Mini Poli, which is involved with several off-licences in the city including a number on Lincoln Road, submitted the application for the shop to continue as a general store but now selling alcohol.
But fears from residents that there will be a rise in anti-social behaviour with the increased availability of liquor led them to band together and start a petition.
And now they are set to voice their concerns through Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald at the city council's licensing act sub-committe next week.
North Bretton Residents Group chairman and local shop manager Denise Defraine said she had been asked to start the petition by concerned customers.
She called the proposed application a "step back" for the centre.
She said: "Residents feel that this will take the centre backwards rather than forward as the area had started to turn around with its new community hub and more police presence in the area.
"I know because I work in the shop nearby, Premier Late, people might think I have a vested interest, however I was asked to put the petition together by the customers who are already sick of being hassled and intimidated by youths to buy them drink, and they worry that this will get worse."
Cambridgeshire police withdrew their complaint after the applicant agreed to the reduction in the hours of selling alcohol from midnight to 10pm.
Councillor Pat Nash said she had put forward similar concerns after consulting with Neighbourhood Policing inspector Dominic Glazebrook.
She said: "There is a worry that there will be an increase in anti-social behaviour however it is up to the licensing committee to decide."
Langford Smith, who is acting on behalf of Mini Poli, said the shop was needed to fulfil an existing need for its services.
He added: "It seems stupid if you are using the shop to buy your Polish food for instance that you would then have to go somewhere else to buy alcohol."
The licensing sub-committee meeting will take place on February 11 at 10am
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Weather for Peterborough
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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