Outrage as shop bids to sell alcohol during school hours
A shop which had its alcohol licence opposed last year over fears of drunk parents at a local school has launched another bid to extend its hours of sale.
Eden Manna Supermarket on Frances Road, in Stirchly, which sits opposite Cotteridge Junior and Infant School, is applying to extend the hours it sells alcohol to allow for the sale of booze from 6am until midnight Monday to Sunday.
The shop made a similar application last year, prompting an objection from the nearby school’s headmaster on the grounds parents sometimes stand outside the gates and drink alcohol, and making this more readily available at a nearby shop would only exacerbate the problem.
A form of compromise was eventually reached with the council’s licensing committee, with a licence granted to serve alcohol outside of school hours – from 5.30pm on weekdays.
However the licence holder will once again appeal to have his operating hours extended this week, this time asking to open at 6am rather than 11am, with both West Midlands Police and local Councillor Mark Locke objecting to the application.
Councillor Mark Locke said: "These premises are opposite Cotteridge Primary School. The amended license was agreed in 2019, but, with amended opening hours.
"I feel that opening hours proposed are totally wrong with the school opposite.
"The amended hours were 5pm until Midnight. Then 11am until midnight Weekends and school holidays.
"I propose that this is a better way forward. There are a number of licensed premises close by also. In the area there is a single parents refuge too."
The application will be heard by the council’s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday, August 3.
