WALTHAMSTOW: Decision day looms for controversial supermarket bid
3:37pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Where I Live By Daniel Binns
A BID to open a supermarket selling alcohol between 6am and 1am seven days a week in a former pub will be decided on this month.
Berivan Sahin is seeking a licence for the new store in the historic Plough Inn in Wood Street, Walthamstow, which closed in January 2011.
A council meeting at the town hall will be held on Monday February 13 at 7pm to decide on the application, which is opposed by 19 residents including three ward councillors.
Mr Sahin has also applied to sell alcohol until 3am every Christmas Eve.
In his application he says care will be taken not to disturb neighbours, and CCTV will be installed to combat potential anti-social behaviour.
But objectors fear the new shop will encourage drunks and criminals, while also causing noise disturbance.
In an objection letter, Labour ward councillor Angie Bean said: "This [plan], in my view, will increase the problems already presenting in that area in regard to street drinkers and their nuisance behaviour, which our over-pressed police have to regularly be called out to deal with".
Jane Ellwood, chair of Upper Walthamstow Residents' Association, agreed.
She wrote: "Residents are aware that there is already a street drinking problem in Wood Street [and] we feel this would make matters much worse.
"Residents are concerned that they will be at risk of attack, mugging or unpleasant abuse."
She added there were also concerns about littering and drunks urinating in the road.
Neighbour Shane Vahey, of Upper Walthamstow Road, added she feared the shop will bring increased traffic to the area and heighten the risk of car crashes.
Fellow objector, school worker Ian Hewison, of Wood Street, wrote: "I have no problem with the sale of alcohol as I will no doubt use the shop. My concern is the hours. 8am until 10pm is a much better time and is in accordance with the other shops on Wood Street."
The building operated as a pub for more than 100 years prior to its closure and had become a popular music venue in recent years.
Former co-owner Edward Sline said the pub had become non-viable as a business and was losing money.
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Comments(9)
mad-dog
says...
7:56am Sat 4 Feb 12
Why dont we close the cinema and turn it into a church for brainwashing and laundering money as well. Close the dog track and build loads of lats cram them in , build pop up ghetto's around the Wood St library, more flats everywhere great, doesnt matter about community spitit, jobs & ammenities etc they can always watch the fountain in Wood Street!
BarryTLemur
says...
11:06am Sat 4 Feb 12
Have you taken a close look at Wood Street lately? That horse bolted a long time ago!
dukes of hazzard
says...
9:24pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Sam Hain
says...
12:15pm Sun 5 Feb 12
BarryTLemur
says...
12:17pm Sun 5 Feb 12
Walthamster
says...
8:58am Mon 6 Feb 12
Of course if you're well organised you can buy all the alcohol you want in the afternoon. But guess what, problem drinkers tend not to lead orderly lives, and they want it when they want it.
Of course this will make matters worse.
myopinioncounts
says...
9:14am Mon 6 Feb 12
mad-dog
says...
1:16pm Mon 6 Feb 12
Dave mp says...
7:08pm Fri 3 Feb 12