Stratford shop refused alcohol licence

Councillors refused an application from a grocers’ shop to sell alcohol following complaints about groups of street drinkers.

Newham Council rejected the bid, made by Pelene Retail Ltd, on Leytonstone Road, Stratford, at a meeting of the licensing sub-committee on January 29.

The shop lies within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) where councillors felt there were already a large number of premises selling alcohol, taking into account recent reports of anti-social behaviour involving people drinking in the street.

Cllr Unmesh Desai, executive member for crime and anti-social behaviour, said: “We are cracking down on crime and anti-social behaviour associated with drinking across the borough. We will not stand for it in any shape or form.”