An application to sell alcohol from a shop on Armley Town Street has been refused by Leeds City Council.
As previously reported by The Dispatch, Rezan Osman of Krol Mini Market had applied for a licence to sell alcohol daily from 9am until 10pm.
But yesterday’s licensing sub-committee heard that there were already 18 licensed sites in Town Street alone, 12 of them being off-licences.
They also heard how alcohol-related anti-social behaviour continued to affect the Town Street area, despite a number of initiartiuves to tackle the problem over the past couple of years.
Concerns about the plans were expressed by both West Yorlkshire Police and a council licensing officer. Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves and Armley councillors were among those who opposed the plan.
The area is now protected by a Cumulative Impact Policy, which makes it difficult for new applicants to gain licences to sell alcohol.
Applicant Mr Osman had agreed to run CCTV, a ‘Challenge 25’ scheme and had stated he would not sell booze to people under the influence of alcohol.
The decision was welcomed by Armley councillor Alison Lowe, who also spoke at the meeting, and Rachel Reeves. They tweeted:
Fantastic news – people of Armley are being listened to – we don’t want any more off licenses on Town Street. https://t.co/lKCb7jqXQT
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) May 29, 2018
The background papers to yesterday’s meeting can be read here.
Just 5 mins Down the rd you have b&m and lidle both sell alcohol why where these given licenses