Call for stricter enforcement of alcohol sales in Millfield and New England as licensing policy up for review

Since April 2013 Peterborough City Council has adopted a Cumulative Impact Policy for all licensed premised in the CAN-do area which requires applicants to demonstrate why their premises will not add to existing problems, such as street drinking or youths consuming alcohol.

The policy has been supported by MANERP (Millfield and New England Regeneration Partnership) which is calling for it to be extended now that it is up for its statutory three-year review.

Former MANERP chair Brian Gascoyne, who now represents the group on licensing matters, told the Peterborough Telegraph: “Our biggest problem is the enforcement which we think has been a bit weak. Those people who have got licenses have not necessarily abided by the rules the licensing committee ordered them to.

“To get someone to do something about it has become more and more difficult. It’s something we will be raising. We definitely want the Cumulative Impact Policy to remain and be policed more vigorously than it has been.

“If someone is in violation of the Licensing Act in the area they should be shut down and refused to be allowed to sell alcohol. Sometimes they change manager or licensee and are allowed to carry on. We think the council should be stronger and they lose their licenses.”

Mr Gascoyne said because police are stretched and cannot make tackling alcohol-fulled problems a priority people have stopped making complaints so it is harder to prove the scale of the problem.

He was also critical of the number of new off-licenses which have been allowed by the council to sell alcohol, although he insisted he had no problems with alcohol being sold in restaurants and pubs.

He added: “A lot of off-licenses in the area sell to the underage, they sell to people who are already intoxicated. They allow people to purchase and drink outside their shops which also creates problems with noise and drunk and disorderly behaviour.

“You just have to go through Lincoln Road at any time of day and night and the evidence is there. But those who don’t want to see won’t see it. It really is an issue and also has an impact on the NHS.”

A Peterborough City Council spokeswoman said: “Since January 2016 there have only been three new premises licences relating to off-licences issued in the Millfield and New England area.

“In the same time period, the Licensing Team has responded to 22 complaints/requests for service.

“While the Cumulative Impact Policy means that applications for new premises that are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact within the area will normally be refused, it does not provide the council with additional enforcement powers.

“The council has the ability to take enforcement action where there is a clear and serious breach of the licensing objectives, however, any enforcement action involves a legal process and must be proportionate, reasonable and led by evidence.

“It is good practice for councils to offer advice on the need for improvement in the first instance. A graduated approach consisting of advice, warnings, and the use of action plans, is appropriate in the vast majority of cases. Revoking a licence is often the last resort.”

A consultation on the Cumulative Impact Policy runs until October 15.

Residents can email their views to [email protected] or write to: Licensing, Peterborough City Council, Sand Martin House, Bittern Way, Fletton Quays, Peterborough, PE2 8TY.

More information can be found at https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/licensing-act.