The Lilburne Walk shoppig parade owned by Brent Council
The controversial application LINK for an off-licence at a Brent Council owned shop on St Raphael's Estate came before Brent's Alcohol and Licensing Sub-Committee yesterday. Although residents and community organisations failed to stop it completely, they did win some concessions.
Three in-person objections were made at the meeting, on top of 70 objections from local residents and objections from Sufra Foodbank, An-Nisa Society, St Patrick's Church, Dar Ilm Learning Centre and St Raphs Youth Club. Cllr Abdi Aden also objected,
The default committee position of granting a licence was modified after a strong case was brought:
Sale of alcohol was restricted to 9am to 8pm rather than the 9am-11pm hours that applicant wanted.A proposed beer fridge is to be located with other alcohol and not near the front of the shop as proposedAll alcohol sold must have a shop identification
The licence holder to be responsible for clearing rubbish within 5 metres of the shop front even if it is on public or private land
The licence holder will also be responsible for any botttles or cans found elsehwre on the estate that bear his shop identification
If the above conditions are breached campaigners will be able to apply for a review of te licence that could lead to it being revoked.
Other conditions included no spirit minatures or beers above 6.0%ABV to be stocked or sold and Challenge 25 to be adhered to.
Asif Zamir of St Raphael's Voice said that on balance is was a good outcome but returned to the broader subject of residents' voices in such applications. He told Wembley Matters:
I will continue to push for changes to the council tender process for their own commercial assets. A resident panel must be formed for each ward and have the ability to play an advisory role early on in the process rather that retrospectvely at a planning committee.
Reviews of licenses can be requested if other attempts to improve matters fail via this LINK.
26 comments:
Partial win? Bent Council should know better. What's the chance that the next shop that comes up will be a betting shop of some kind? Bent is a busted flush of a Labour Party that's obsessed with Build Baby Build orchestrated by the Labour YIMBEY group that includes Councillors: Ex-Cabinet member Towerblock Tatler, Planning Chair Matt Kelcher, Cabinet member Neil Nerva, Lesley Smith, Planning member Liz Dixon, Cabinet member Fluer Donnelly-Jackson, Planning member Robert Johnson, Daniel Kennelly, candidates Tina Amadi H &Kensal Green, Tashi Thomas Bronesbury Park. If you add to that lot the members of Butt's family, the future will be terrible for the residents of Bent. Cllr Akram and S Butt are also members of the planning committee. What Butt says goes, and if you don't do as you are told, Towerblock will have you removed!
So, if Labour's right-wing keep control of Bent Council, watch out for a street near you, the tower-blocks are coming, but they are not homes for Brent residents!!!
They could have said NO, as its only a short walk to Monks Park Off Licence or Tesco. .
Yet again, the Council pay no attention to the concerns of Residents, and how their decisions affect them.
Developer-led
People have the right to buy alcohol in this country. Even it’s successful and it will remain open, which mean locals want it. Or it will close. Let’s all be adults about this. The idea a council can say where a beer fridge goes in a shop is a complete waste of taxpayers money
But the Council and Police can dictate to the public as and when they can purchase Alcohol as it happens every event day as all off Licence, supermarkets refuse to sell to fans , zero Tolerance.
Not to mention the 4 other offlicences in close vicinity. One 3 units away, the other 200 metres away
All about community balance and what this likely diverse neighbourhoods needs are in the area of these key local shops.
For example in South Kilburn children's playgrounds (three) are removed by its Developers from existing public green spaces and not as yet replaced? How does that support children's rights to play when housed in car-free/ no garden flats at a more than double the population density in 2001?
Developer-led can and does drift off into creating hostile environments and that is why councillors should re-engage with brownfield zone social issues in Brent.
You think fridge placement is good value of taxpayers money?
Its not all adults housed in the 8 Brent population growths zoned and even in the unlikely event that it was, doubt even then that they would all drink alcohol.
Do you think clearing up drinkers litter and cleaning up urine stains fron our streets, parks and open spaces is a good use of public money???
What about the cost to the National Health Service for medical care for drinkers?...
"Harmful drinking appears to be increasing. The upward trend in alcohol-related death and hospital admissions accelerated in the pandemic.
The costs of this to drinkers, their families and society are significant. Alcohol costs the NHS an estimated £3.5 billion per year in England and costs an estimated £21 billion per year to society.
However, the local authority spend on alcohol services and the number of people going through treatment have decreased since responsibility for public health moved from the NHS to local authorities in 2014."
Alcohol treatment services - Committees - UK Parliament https://share.google/1QttVpXjl0NNDQCrr
Yes, the estate doesn’t really need another off-licence, but the bigger issue is that some of the objections aren’t about the community at all, they’re about imposing his religious views. I’ve seen posts from Asif Zamir saying he hoped the shop could become a nursery tuition centre. Why would a small shop front be suitable for that? The space isn’t big enough for a proper centre, and it’s not about what the community really needs. We already have a nursery on Pitfield Way. I’m not sure how anyone could call the Black Hurt a community centre, it’s a hub that doesn’t serve the whole estate. If he’s so passionate about a tuition centre, why doesn’t he run it in the Black Hurt?
There’s so much rich history on this estate, and the people who live here genuinely care about it. Yet he talks down on the estate online, putting it down as if it’s nothing, and acts like he represents everyone when he clearly doesn’t. That is not a community leader. The estate isn’t one community, it’s made up of different groups and voices, and we shouldn’t let one organisation or person claim to speak for all the people living here. I just hope he doesn’t get his hands on that shop and that it goes to someone who really cares about what they’re delivering. If it’s going to be something for the community, it should represent the whole community, not just a part of it.
Also, who agreed to a pizza shop? I have so many questions about the shop spaces. There was a comment made about the off-licence being a short walk to Monks Park, but the same could be said about the mosque. There’s a mosque in Monks Park, and for some reason we end up with a mosque on the estate. I think the Monks Park mosque is also a tuition centre.
It’s also worth noting that only 70 objections came from local residents. I wonder how many people even knew this was up for debate or were made aware of it, because I didn’t get a notice through my letterbox.
To anyone reading this who attends the mosque, could you please ask the men to stand to one side when they’re having a conversation? It’s really annoying having to walk through them or around them, and no one steps aside. Please also ask the women, when standing by the bridge, if they could stand to one side so I can cross without having to walk through them or squeeze past.
I get your point about the council, but the bigger issue is how the estate is represented. I don’t agree with how Asif Zamir talks about the estate—he often puts it down and acts like he speaks for everyone, when he really only represents part of the community. The estate isn’t one group, it’s made up of different voices, and decisions about shops or services should reflect all residents, not just a few.
We need a way for residents who actually live on the estate to be involved from the start, so decisions aren’t made in an echo chamber and whatever comes next genuinely benefits the whole community, not just those on the outskirts in places like St Raphael’s Way or near the North Circular. The “partial win” with the off-licence shows that residents can push back, but we shouldn’t have to be reactive, we should have a real say from the beginning.
I'm sorry that you feel I often put the estate down. But having difficult discussions and calling out issues for what they are is the only way to invoke positive change! I am extremely proud of what has been achieved so far. I live on St Raphs estate, and I work with residents from every creed and culture and am an active member of the community. This campaign was done working with residents, hence why organisations - key stakeholders have also supported. They understand the negative impact a fifth off licence could potentially have. Organisations such as St Patricks Church, Sufra, #straphs Youth centre. I agree we should have been involved from the start, however this needs support from everyone, we will continue trying to push for this. The Partial win is a big win - social responsibility for keeping our streets clean, reducing the chances of youth getting access to intoxicating products and working to preventing street drinking is big.
Imposing religious views? Did not take long for the closet Islamaphobes! Glad that people that try and rage bait people are a minority. Let me respond to the points you have raised.
The shop is quite a large shop, so able to accomodate a variety of businesses. To clarify I was not saying there must be a tuition centre in that space, I was merely making the point that the council did not engage residents on an asset they own that is embedded within the estate and that applicants that could have added more social value were overlooked on the basis the property was let to the highest bidder.
In response your comments about a temporary community building that you refer to as the black hut; we dont just talk about change we make it happen! We actually do run a weekly out of school Maths tuition centre. We have 2 youth clubs, a football club, a sharing space where everyone fromnthe community is invited to attend every Wed. We have ladies only fitness classes, we have mixed martial arts for youth, we have a football club that utilises the estate facilities, exercise classes run by a Jamaican lady named Madeline, advice services, police SNT meetings, annual events for xmas, summer and spring, Anne - Marie from unity centre runs a family roller skating project there too!
The Islamic centre on the estate which was purchased for a large sum of money is a well used amenity by the local community and has been a life saver literally. During covid I used the centre to setup a food redistribution hub which served everyone!
The imam saved someone who was a victim of an attack by giving him first aid and calling the police.
The 70 objections were from concerned families, the alcohol licence is permissive in the first instance, it does not require support! Brent licence team by their own rules are only required to put the notice up on the shop that applied for the licence and a nearby lampost.. So I am assuming you did not pass the shop for approx 2 months.
We have 6 off licences nearby
1. NGEE'S OFFLICENCE & CONVENIENCE
2. Super singhs next to old red shop - 200 yards away from NGees
3.DSK food and wine NCR
4.Mr Patels newsagents NCR
5. Costcutter MONKS park 9min walk
6. Tesco Extra
There is also a PSPO tp prevent street drinkers however this requires enforcement!
So nothing to do with imposing religious views! Its about ensuring the streets are safe, ensuring licensing objectives are adhered to, our voices are raised for and with the estate to support those that are the most vunerable in society.
Fridge placement is important if you want to stop shoplifting of alcohol by children
One the licencing objectives are protection of children. Tobacco products are behind a curtain or cabinet door in convenience stores and supermarkets. Repositioning the placement of a beer fridge from the front to the back assists to achieve the licensing objectives by not making intoxicating liquids accessible. The brent trade park suffers from high levels of shoplifting and aggressive begging by moving the fridge it also reduces the chances of shop lifting of alcohol by having it all in one place and making it easier to monitor.
Need councillors to re-engage with the diverse populations being grown by 'mining the gaps' in the eight growth zones of Brent. To neighbourhood or not to neighbourhood that is the question for Labour in power. I think we know what Reform will choose.
I have never seen Asif put the estate down but simply want the best for the estate. I can tell why you wrote that comment as an anonymous person. Your comment is exactly what this estate does NOT need. Also, to wrap up my comment. I am pretty sure if you was to ask said persons “excuse me” you know simple manners, they would happily move out of the way for you. I’m
Not sure way walking around people is so incredibly difficult for yourself but I’m just going to assume, based on your comment that you’re a bit of an Islamophobe.
I’m not going to go back and forth with Asif because I don’t get notifications to see your replies. Your first reply to my comment above was okay, but then I saw this one. I had thought we could meet and have a conversation, but after I was told you screenshot what I said and immediately assumed hostility, that’s not very community, is it? I don’t see the point of having a conversation with you. I live on the estate, and it’s a good thing I commented anonymously rather than using my Google account. Screenshots shared without waiting for a reply feel performative and intimidating.
I’m not going to reply to all your points because it’s pointless. You saw the word “religious” and immediately assumed hostility, reacting as though I was attacking you personally. That wasn’t based on my words, it was your assumption. When I said some objections were about “imposing religious views,” I was referring to comments around alcohol licensing and NGEE’S selling alcohol late or not at all.
I live on the estate and walk past the shops regularly, during school runs, going to the station, or going to NGEE’S. You don’t need to tell me what’s visible on the shop because I see it myself. You literally need to walk past a row of shops to see it, or you need to walk past the pizza shop and then you’ll see the sign on the shop. And if you’re walking from the outside and you’re not walking past the shop and you’re just walking along Lilburne Walk, you will not see the sign.
I also don’t see why you felt the need to highlight that the exercise classes are run by a Jamaican lady at the hurt or mention Church Road Unity Centre. That detail isn’t relevant to my points.
That’s all I have to say on this, I’m just speaking from my experience living on the estate.
Yes there is no need to play online post tennis but if you are going to make a post without understanding the whole issue or having sight of all the objections but still make a statement like "but the bigger issue is that some of the objections aren’t about the community at all, they’re about imposing HIS religious views", then you have to expect a response. Your post had hostility written all over it - aimed at me and the wider muslim community.
If you do want to have a conversation, I am happy to, but I did not make the initial post.
With regards to the shop and signage Brent council are responsible for the signage and consultation, not me. If it was not highlighted by myself and others from the local community you defo would not have known!
Our religious views did not form part of our objections. We provided a comprehensive list of objections hence why the committee imposed additional restrictions; for the benefit of the estate.
To anon 13:14 alcohol duties are estimated to raise £13.0 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year. This figure represents 1.1% of all government receipts and is equivalent to approximately £450 per household. Drinkers contribute more to society than they take, and thats before we even consider the positive effects on wellbeing pubs provide a sense of community. We saw this through covid where they were even delivering food, and some are post offices.
It’s not islamophobic to say some muslims of particular denominations don’t like alcohol or bacon as they consider it against their religion. It’s cultural awareness and of couse some families, if they are muslim will not want an off license.
The context of this persons post were clear, they tried to suggest it was about imposing religious views then went on to gaslight the situation and after making that post tried to become the victim. People are not stupid they can read.
Come off it. It’s like saying some muslim groups have beards or wear the dress on a friday for holy day. It’s not controversial and it shouldn’t be controversial to say beliefs, including religious ones have driven politics in this country for centuries. It’s why we have bishops with seats in the house of lords. You’re minimising real racism by claiming it is Islamophobia
Brent urgently needs to engage with lives lived in the growth/ everyday stress zones and councillors need to represent. Very much the model that is followed and supported for Brents conservation areas.
Respect rather than exclusion. What is needed to improve conditions of life beyond the harsh state of permanent development that developers demand inside these population permanent growths zoned?
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