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Off licence at top of Somerset Avenue - Council decision overturned by magistrates

Submitted by Mary Reid on Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Spar shop at the garage at the top of Somerset Avenue applied some months ago for an off-licence. I'm pleased to say that councillors in Kingston turned it down.

Then Spar appealed against the decision. Unlike planning decisions, the appeal is heard in the local magistrates' court.

One of the people who lives in Somerset Avenue went along as a witness on behalf of the local residents, who don't want an off-licence nearby. He was very disappointed when the appeal was allowed; in other words, the garage will be selling alcohol in the future.

Apart from the madness of mixing alcohol and driving, the shop will undoubtedly attract new customers who will just be picking up their beers and alcopops.

I'm not against sensible drinking - I do it myself! - but we don't need an off-licence here.

What really annoys me is that once again we have an example of local democracy being over-ruled. Why on earth did the Government pass responsibility for licensing to local Councils a few years ago, if their decisions can be overturned by others?

Mary Reid's blog

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Who am I?

I live in Hook - the one in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, not the one on Hampshire -.and blog about local things that interest me, and sometimes about the big political issues as well.

I was a Liberal Democrat councillor for Chessington North and Hook ward from 1997-2010, and retired undefeated.