Licence granted despite fears of drunks in dressing gowns in West Bromwich
Early morning pyjama-clad boozers are making life miserable for people in a Black Country street, it has been claimed.
The sight of drunks in dressing gowns came to light as Sandwell councillors were asked to grant an alcohol licence to a proposed store on Bromford Lane, West Bromwich.
Licensing committee members were told an objector had contacted the authority saying: “We already have two premises selling alcohol that are on the street and we can see regular drinkers walking along, some in dressing gowns, in the morning drinking alcohol from bottles and cans that are then dumped.”
The unnamed complainant also claimed the shop would add to parking and traffic problems on the lane in an area "where it is obvious alcohol is a problem for some people", pleading: “Enough is enough.”
Patrick Burke, representing the applicants, said his clients had many years experience in retail, including selling alcohol, and their store was still being built and had not opened yet.
In reference to early morning drinking he said: “The objector states there are regulars who walk down the road in the early morning drinking.
"My clients cannot be blamed for anything that is already happening, if it is already happening.
“This is a busy road and whatever this shop opens up as it will always be a busy road and issues of parking and traffic are not relevant to the licensing objectives.”
He reminded the committee that guidance to councils required licensing decisions to be based on evidence and not on what might happen.
He added there was only one objector, while the police had raised no concerns.
After taking legal advice councillors granted the application saying the objector had not evidenced their fears.
