Angry residents are opposing a plan to sell booze at a new supermarket.
Low-cost store Lidl want to open a new branch on Seven Sisters Road, Holloway, and wants to sell alcohol from 7am until 11pm.
But, despite their promise not to sell booze for two hours before and after Arsenal’s home matches, residents and police want to block the move due to street drinking, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in the area.
In her objection, Betul Baris from the Multi Agency Geographical Panel (MAGPI), said: “At present, Nags Head/Seven Sisters Road is one of the borough’s hotspot areas for public space violent crime which is often linked to alcohol.
“The street drinkers [who used to congregated outside the premises] regularly had fights between themselves, caused mess and general nuisance to passers-by.”
One resident from nearby Sussex Way said: “At the very least I would ask that this area on Seven Sisters Road is kept very well lit to maximise the safety of people using that bus stop after dark.”
Islington Police’s licensing team also opposed the application on the grounds of the cumulative impact of too many off-licences in the area.
The decision goes before an Islington Council licensing committee on Thursday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here