Birmingham Nisa wants to sell alcohol around the clock but locals object

Residents of Acocks Green, Birmingham have objected to an application for a shop licence to sell alcohol 24-hours a day, claiming there is already “broken glass, shattered bus stops and fights every week” in the area.

Vanniyasingham Gulaseelan has applied to Birmingham City Council to sell alcohol round the clock at a new branch of Nisa convenience store at 31 Shirley Road.

But unhappy locals have argued that they already have two 24-hour booze shops nearby and that opening a third would be excessive.

In a letter to the council’s licensing committee, one frustrated neighbour wrote: “I am a resident of Shirley road and strongly objecting to allowing this property to have an alcohol license.

“During my past 5-7 years living experience in here, that causes an awful lot of anxiety and stress for the local residents due to the increased amounts of violent incidents as well as anti social behaviour.

“Broken glass, shattered bus stops and fights every week just to name a few.

“In this situation, another added alcohol shop will not add anything positive to the local community.”

Another resident echoed these concerns writing: ” I am worried that it will attract more late night activity around my premises, both on the street and in the rear car parks.”

“This would also be detrimental to the residents living above all of the retail  properties in this area.”

In a third letter, the author expressed concern that “although the public feel safe right now” a third 24-hour shop will “create more problems in the area”.

They added: “There would be more intoxicated people on the road which would make the general public to be scared to even enter the shop to get their general necessities.”

Birmingham City Council’s Licensing subcommittee will meet on Monday at 10am to hear from Mr Gulaseelan and those who oppose the application before deciding whether to grant the licence.