After hearing representations from Bournville residents and councillors, Birmingham City Council Licensing Committee refused Tesco a licence application to sell alcohol just yards away from the border of the historic Bournville Village Trust estate earlier this week (Wednesday 2nd January).
The sale of alcohol has been restricted within the estate – which was built by the Cadbury family on a Quaker ethos – for over a century.
Tesco had applied for a licence for the Tesco Express store in Linden Road after originally being refused the licence in 2007 after a community campaign.
The new application was strongly opposed by many residents and by ward councillors Liz Clements and Fred Grindrod who feared an increase in anti-social behaviour, traffic and obstructive parking.
Residents and councillors took their case to the Licensing Committee again, asking Tesco to respect Bournville’s unique character and raising their concerns about the impact of alcohol sales on residents in nearby streets.
The committee decided to refuse the application.
Cllr Liz Clements (Bournville and Cotteridge, Lab) said: “This outcome is a welcome late Christmas present for worried residents on Linden Road and Beaumont Road. I urge Tesco to act as a good neighbour and respect the decision taken by the Licensing Committee today.”
With a 21 day deadline for appeals, and it is not yet known whether Tesco will lodge an appeal with the council.
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