‘Dismayed’ Millfield residents call for ban on new alcohol licenses as area is ‘disgrace to the law-abiding’

Residents in Millfield have called for a ban on new alcohol licenses being issued after describing the area as a “disgrace to the honest and law-abiding”.
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More than 60 “dismayed” residents have submitted a petition to Peterborough City Council in response to a consultation on its Cumulative Impact Policy.

The policy has been in place since April 2013 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.

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The policy is currently up for its three-year review, with both the Millfield and New England Regeneration Partnership and Community First Peterborough calling on it to be extended.

Lincoln Road in PeterboroughLincoln Road in Peterborough
Lincoln Road in Peterborough

The frustrated residents in Millfield said problems caused by the high number of off-licenses in the area selling alcohol include: drug dealing, fighting, harassment, noise, littering, public urination and theft.

The area they are referring to encompasses Gladstone from Taverners Road to the Triangle in Lincoln Road.

The petition states: “The excessive licensing in the area is directly causing crime and disorder and public nuisance.

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“Businesses such as off-licenses are endangering public safety and increasing the risk of harm to children with drinking centred around the busy parts of the area and its green spaces.”

It adds that current policies to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area have “clearly not worked as they are unenforced, measured and the set objectives are not met. This area generates a great deal of income for the council and not enough has been put back for the residents”.

The residents are calling for an end to new alcohol licenses being issued, the licenses of infringing businesses to be revoked and “effective enforcement” in the area.

Cllr Ansar Ali, Labour member for North ward who submitted the petition to the council, added: “I am fully supportive of the residents’ objections to the increasing number of licensed premises (alcohol and gambling) in this small congested area over the last 15 years which have given rise to anti-social behaviour and crime.

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“Residents feel let down by the authorities, feel frustrated and tell me ‘enough is enough’.

“I have been raising these concerns on behalf of the residents and businesses over several years through every opportunity in meetings with council and police officers, emails, and at council meetings.

“I hope the views of residents and businesses will be heard and acted upon and the authorities embark on a strategy to stop granting new licenses and work towards reducing the number of licensed premises.”

The consultation on the renewal of the Cumulative Impact Policy has now ended.