the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign

The council has launched a licensing policy consultation, which will include a review of the Mill Road cumulative impact zone (and other CIZs). The Council’s website states that “We need to keep these policies under review to assess whether they are needed any longer or whether they need expanding”.

The CIZ is part of the framework which governs alcohol licensing applications in the area, and aims to control the alcohol-related issues on Mill Road. Tesco’s application was recently refused, and applications from other retailers would undoubtedly face similar opposition given the presence of the CIZ at present.

If you want to comment, all the relevant information is on the City Council’s website.

The deadline for comments is 5 September 2010.

Responses must be e-mailed to licensing@cambridge.gov.uk or posted to Cambridge City Council, PO Box 700, Cambridge CB1 0JH.

We cannot help point out that if the manager, Mr Capone, and his staff cannot get a simple thing like this right, what hope is there for the more sensitive task of ensuring that alcohol is only sold in a legal manner, a matter which is subject to examination in the Magistrates’ Court shortly…

raymond.brown@cambridge-news.co.uk

TESCO has been ordered to remove adverts for cheap wine from its shop in Cambridge’s Mill Road – because it has no alcohol licence.

Trading Standards officers launched an investigation after the adverts were displayed at the controversial Express store.

Campaigners accused Tesco chiefs of “contempt for the community” for plugging half-price Dino Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio wines, in an area where new alcohol licences are routinely opposed.

Trading Standards officers visited the store and spoke to manager Luke Capone, who agreed to take down the posters – which advertised deals available in other Tesco branches.

The Mill Road shop, which opened last August, was refused an alcohol licence after police objected because it falls within a ‘cumulative impact zone’ – which creates a presumption against giving out new licences.

Beverley Carpenter, co-ordinator of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign, said: “We are dismayed that Tesco has once again demonstrated complete insensitivity and lack of respect for the local community in posting advertisements for cheap alcohol in Mill Road.

“Their half-price offer on bottles of wine as seen in the window of their Express store on Mill Road is not only within a ‘cumulative impact zone’ but in a store that has been expressly refused permission to sell alcohol amid a huge public outcry and unprecedented publicity for any alcohol licence application in Cambridge.”

Supermarket bosses are appealing against the Cambridge City Council decision.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Trading Standards said: “I can confirm that we have received an inquiry from a member of the public, and we investigated the advertising used by Tesco in their Mill Road store.

“One of our officers visited the store and spoke to the manager who took down the adverts.”

Tesco’s appeal against the licence decision will be heard at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court later this month.

Cambridge Evening News, 1st February 2010

The CEN has published an article about a recent breakage of the window in Tesco’s window, as below.

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to make clear that No Mill Road Tesco is not associated with this attack and that we deplore any form of violence. We deplore the way that the Cambridge Evening News has mixed two separate issues – this attack, and the alcohol licence appeal – in its article below. We were not approached for a comment, and the quotation given was from several months ago.

The article also failed to point out that the Londis store (opposite Tesco) was also attacked at the same time and that alcohol was stolen from their store.

Shop attacked as Tesco bids for drinks licence

raymond.brown@cambridge-news.co.uk

VANDALS have struck twice at Tesco in Mill Road, Cambridge.

A brick was thrown through the front window of the store, which opened despite a two-year fight by residents and other shops who said it would ruin the road’s character.

In the other attack, someone tried to put their foot through the window. No other shops in the area were targeted.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We are working with the police on this matter.”

Tesco is appealing against a decision not to give the store an alcohol licence for its Mill Road store. The chain sought a licence to sell alcohol from 10am-10pm seven days a week, but the area is a “cumulative impact zone”, which creates a presumption against giving out new alcohol licences.

Police objected to the original application, saying it could add to disorder in the area.

When the city council’s licensing sub-committee rejected the application for a drinks licence last year, it was greeted with loud applause from campaigners.

Ruth Deyermond, planning co-ordinator of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign, then hailed the decision “a victory for common sense and the community”.

The No Mill Road Tesco Campaign has vowed to fight Tesco’s appeal for a drinks licence. A spokeswoman said: “We will maintain the opposition we successfully put forward at the licensing committee.”

The case will be heard at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Cambridge Evening News, 16th January 2010

john.downing@cambridge-news.co.uk

TESCO’S new store in Mill Road will open without booze after city councillors rejected its application for a drinks licence.

The licensing sub-committee’s decision yesterday was greeted by loud applause from campaigners who had fought the supermarket giant’s plans every step of the way.

Ruth Deyermond, planning coordinator of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign, hailed the decision “a victory for common sense and the community”.

Solicitor Jeremy Bark put the case for Tesco’s application, saying the store would open “in any event” on August 26.

Tesco sought a licence to sell alcohol from 10am-10pm seven days a week.

He said 7 to 8 per cent of the sales at a typical Tesco Express are alcohol and the company had a “good history of working with police” to ensure all sales were legal.

Cambridgeshire police opposed the application, arguing further alcohol sales would exacerbate alcohol-related problems.

The Mill Road area was designated a “cumulative impact zone” in May 2008, meaning new applications would normally be refused unless the applicant could show it would not add to drink-related trouble.

Insp Marcia Nichols said the area suffered a “disproportionate” level of alcohol-related trouble and was already a “hotspot for violence”.

Dr Deyermond, speaking on behalf of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign, told the meeting the application was “totally inappropriate” in a cumulative impact zone.

Janette Evely, a parent from Argyle Street and a teacher at St Philip’s Primary School, said pupils often encountered antisocial behaviour related to street drinking, and Mill Road did not need another outlet selling drink.

Cllr Mike Dixon, sub-committee chairman, announced the application was rejected for its failure to adequately address the cumulative impact policy and the council’s planning policy.

Dr Deyermond said: “We think this is a victory for common sense and the community.”

Insp Nichols said: “The issue was never about Tesco. The increase in sales of alcohol by any premises would have had a detrimental impact.”

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed but are looking forward to opening the store on August 26 as planned.”

Cambridge Evening News, 18/08/2009

The decision whether to allow Tesco to sell alcohol on Mill Road, an area with a known alcohol problem and recently designated as a alcohol Cumulative Impact Zone, will be decided this week.

The meeting is at 10am on Monday 17th August 2009, at the Guildhall. The meeting is open to all, and we encourage NMRT supporters to attend if they are not at work that day.

The police have objected, and engaged a lawyer to write their objection.

There have been 120 representations submitted about Tesco’s application.

The full agenda and main paper for the meeting has been published.

Saturday 15th August, 12-1pm will see another event outside the Wilco site. We will be continuing to put pressure on the council to act but also raising awareness about the Tesco’s application for an alcohol licence (which is due to be heard on Monday at the Guildhall at 10.00am).

We would ask you to come along and dress the fence with us between 12 and 1pm, bringing with you empty beer cans to form part of our artistic intervention.

Please come and make your voice heard in an artistic and legal way!

We have noticed some interesting things in Tesco’s store plan, which forms part of their alcohol licence application.

On the balance between types of stock:

• The proportion of shelf space for alcohol is inconsistent; the list down the side mentions 6 “mods” (shelving units, basically) for beer wine and spirits, but the drawing itself shows 10 “mods” for booze.]
• 10 out of 82 mods represents 12% of the store’s shelf space to be given over to selling booze.
• 12% of the store’s shelf space means booze represents twice as much as the total space planned for milk, juice, butter, cheese, meat and poultry combined.

On the basis of these figures, the place looks like an off licence/sandwich and snack shop (lots of crisps and sweets)/newsagents, with not very much of the store selling “real” food.

On the right hand side is marked “Affluence: Upmarket”.

The delivery regime also contains an admission of breaking the planning regulations: “Deliveries: Via Entrance”.

Click to view the full-size version

They are also planning to sell “deserts” …

We have received notification of the Premises Licence hearing, which is to be held on Monday 17th August 2009, at 10am, at the Guildhall. It is a public meeting.

Objectors must notify the Assistant Licensing Officer <licensing@cambridge.gov.uk> by 7th August if you wish to attend or speak, “to amplify any points you have made in your written representation”.

Please contact us if you plan to speak.

A new poster you might wish to use, in the light of Tesco’s attempts to sell cheap booze in an area with an alcohol problem …

Click on the thumbnail below for the full-size version.

Many of you will know that Tesco have recently applied for a licence to sell alcohol on Mill Road. We hope that you will share our view that they should not be granted an off licence, and this email is to inform you what you can do to help stop the licence being awarded.

Please send in your objections to the licensing officers at the council:

Email:
licensing@cambridge.gov.uk

or write to:
Licensing Department (Alcohol Licences)
Environmental Services
Cambridge City Council
PO Box 700
Cambridge
CB1 OJH

Please entitle your letter/email ‘Representation regarding Tesco’s application for an off licence on Mill Road’. [There is no reference number]. Please also make sure you include your address, so the council know you are a local resident.

The consultation period ends on 23rd July 2009, so please make sure your objections are received before that date.

Please copy it to your local councillors, whose contact details are listed below:

Romsey (which is the ward containing the premises):
Catherine Smart <chlsmart@cix.co.uk>,
Sarah Ellis-Miller <sarah.ellis_miller@ntlworld.com>,
Raj Shah <raj.shah@cambridge.gov.uk>,

Petersfield (which Mill Road is also part of):
Ben Bradnack <ben.bradnack@cambridge.gov.uk>,
Kevin Blencowe <kevin.blencowe@cambridge.gov.uk>,
Lucy Walker <lucy.walker@cambridge.gov.uk>,

Coleridge:

Jeremy Benstead <j.benstead@cfr-uk.co.uk>,
Lewis Herbert <Lewis.Herbert@cambridge.gov.uk>,
Chris Howell <chris.howell@cambridge.gov.uk>,

Abbey:

Caroline Hart <caroline.hart@cambridge.gov.uk>,
Miriam Lynn <miriam.lynn@cambridge.gov.uk>,
Margaret Wright <margaret@corona4.fsnet.co.uk>

There are 4 acceptable criteria on which to object to a licence application, and they are as follows:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm.

You can object on any number of these grounds, which all carry equal weight, but they are the only grounds on which you may object. We would encourage everyone to give their own reasons when they write, but would just make a few points of background information which may be of interest:

This is the first application for an off licence since Mill Road became a Cumulative Impact Zone. (Two on-licences have been granted).

We know that many of you will have written as local people in support of the introduction of the CIZ; the same reasons are still relevant in the context of this application.

So, whether you are a parent, someone who has been the victim of alcohol-induced anti-social behaviour, or just someone who cares about Mill Road, please do take a few minutes to make your views known by sending your objections to the licensing officer and copying your e-mail to your local councillors.