Volunteers oppose shop’s licensing application in Birmingham
A Small Heath shop should not be allowed to open 24-hours a day, a local group of voluntary street cleaners have argued, due to the potential impact of waste and fly-tipping on the area.
Al Aruba Cafe on Coventry Road is due before the council’s licensing committee next week with an application to extend its opening hours to operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
However one local group, the Waste Warriors Management, has written to the council objecting to the proposals, with fears that the level of fly-tipping could increase as a result.
Back in May police and council officers announced that they were investigating claims that illegal street traders were operating after dark along Coventry Road, with reports that the traders were simply dumping their waste and rubbish on the street at the end of each day.
And a spokesperson for the Waste Warriors Management believes there is a risk that the issue could worsen if Al Aruba is granted a 24-hour licence, saying in a letter to the council: “We like to refuse any licence to these shops on Coventry Road due to the continuous fly-tipping and litter issues we are having.
“So as you are Birmingham City Council you may make money from these shops but there is a lot of waste issues daily. This goes out to all of these shops using pavements for their business when it should be for pedestrians. You give them a hand they will take a arm. Then it becomes difficult later on as permission has been granted.
“Therefore a zero tolerance on all Coventry Road shops of expansion of their business due to waste and health and safety for pedestrians and car drivers.”
And local residents aren’t the only ones objecting to the proposals, with a council official stating that any extension of the cafe’s hours would be a breach of its current conditions.
“I have reviewed the planning history for this site and can advise that there is a planning condition placed on this site by Regulatory Services restricting the hours of operations, in order to define the permission and safeguard the amenities of occupiers of premises/dwellings in the vicinity” a letter to the licensing committee states.
“Based on the above condition by Regulatory Services restricting the hours of operation I can confirm that the planning department objects to the proposed use operating 24 hours 7 days a week and a license should not be issued on this basis.”
The hearing is scheduled for August 11.
