B&M Acton granted alcohol licence despite resident concerns

A B&M supermarket in Acton has been granted permission to sell alcohol until 11pm, following a decision by Ealing Council's licensing subcommittee. The decision was made on Wednesday, November 3, despite objections from a local resident concerned about potential increases in street drinking and drug use.

The store, located in The Oaks shopping centre, opened its doors on October 24. While the supermarket has secured a licence for alcohol sales up to 11pm, its stated intention is to close by 9pm on most days, extending to 10pm during the festive season.

Resident's Concerns

Alice Driver, who lives in flats above the store, told the councillors that she had observed daily drug activity in the vicinity. She stated that while the issues predated B&M's arrival, she feared that another outlet selling alcohol could exacerbate the problem. Ms Driver also mentioned that she had contacted the council about these issues but had not received a response. She noted that a graveyard at the rear of the properties is sometimes used by individuals, and she was concerned about noise and activity if alcohol was available later into the evening.

Ms Driver informed the committee that she had lived in the block for eight months and had not personally reported issues to the police, though she believed neighbours might have. She expressed her worry about whether people would be around the area later if the store sold alcohol until 11pm.

Licence Granted

B&M did not send a representative to the licensing subcommittee meeting. However, councillors assured Ms Driver that the store would be equipped with CCTV and could employ a security guard if necessary. The subcommittee, led by Cllr Rima Baaklini, acknowledged Ms Driver's concerns regarding existing anti-social behaviour and the potential impact of later alcohol sales. The councillors noted her clarification that the current problems were not directly caused by B&M but were wider issues for the council to address.

In their decision, the subcommittee stated that they had considered the store's operational plans and safeguards, including CCTV, staff training, and the Challenge 25 policy, deeming them sufficient to uphold licensing objectives. The evidence presented, they concluded, did not justify imposing additional conditions or reducing the requested hours. The application was found acceptable on its individual merits, despite being located in a special policy area and concerning hours outside the council's core operating times.