The building in Squirrels Heath Lane. Credit: Google / Havering Council
(Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sebastian Mann)
Ali Uzun, the owner of Hornchurch Food and Wine, successfully applied for a licence to sell drinks until 11pm, seven days a week.
A written verdict approving the application has now been published, after the scheme was debated by Havering Council’s licensing committee in March.
Hornchurch Food and Wine will be the newest of around seven off-licence premises in the mostly residential area, which prompted concerns among locals. The building was previously an interior design shop owned by Ancombs.
A resident in nearby Station Road said in a formal objection there were already “far too many” shops selling alcohol in the evening, and each new one “adds to the disturbance in the street and antisocial behaviour”.
He added that people were “often disturbed” by “noisy” customers walking to and from other shops in the area.
A petition with 13 signatures was also presented to the committee, warning a new off-licence would likely infringe on “our right to a peaceful existence”.
Despite the furor, no residents attended the hearing, which the committee said was “regrettable”.
“The members found this regrettable as the residents had essentially forfeited their right to amplify on their respective representations and/or to put questions to the applicant,” the committee wrote in its report.
Councillors felt that Uzun could demonstrate a “reasonable understanding” of licensing law, pointing to his 20 years’ experience running similar shops in Leyton.
The Metropolitan Police had met with Uzun ahead of the licensing hearing and he agreed to four extra licensing conditions.
Employees will need to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent customers congregating outside. Clear signage must also be displayed to remind customers about underage drinking laws and inform them they are being filmed by CCTV cameras.
Neither the council’s own licensing department, separate from the committee of elected councillors, nor the police objected to the scheme.
A further eight licensing conditions were imposed by the committee, after it voted to approve the application.
Many of them are standard procedure for licensed premises: the shop will need to operate the ‘Challenge 25’ policy and keep log-books for incidents, refusals, and staff training.
Additionally, a direct phone number for the manager must be displayed at the front of the shop at all times.
