Kings Heath library

Library opening hours changing

Cuts to the library services in Birmingham have resulted in reduced opening hours for Kings Heath library. From Monday 11 July 2016, the new hours will be:

  • Mondays: open from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm
  • Tuesdays: open from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm
  • Wednesdays: closed all day
  • Thursdays: closed in the morning and open from 12 noon to 7pm
  • Fridays: open from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm
  • Saturdays: open from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm
  • Sundays: closed all day

Apparently these new arrangements are temporary. There is to be a consultation ‘on a future model for the community library service’ although at present the members of the Residents’ Forum have not been told what shape this future model might take. Nor is there any indication of when the consultation will take place.

When more information is available, it will be posted on the website.

Photo: Kings Heath library by Tony Hisgett (CC BY 2.0)

Residents’ Forum letter objecting to licence application at 52 High Street

The Residents’ Forum has written to Birmingham City Council Licensing to register its objection to a licence application which, if granted, would permit the sale of alcohol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from premises at 52 High Street.

You can read the Forum’s letter in full at the following link:

Letter to Birmingham City Council Licensing objecting to licence application no. 96450 (pdf)

Yesterday, we shared a copy of the full application details (pdf). Anyone who wishes to comment on the application, should do so by 19 July 2016 in writing to:

Birmingham City Council
Licensing Section
P.O. Box 17013
Birmingham
B6 9ES

 

24-hour alcohol sales licence application

An application has been made for a licence to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from a shop at 52 High Street, Kings Heath. The shop is located between Restaurant Veneziano and Bike Pro, opposite the derelict Kingsway cinema. The application also covers the sale of what are described as ‘late night refreshments’ from 11pm to 5am, again, 7 days a week.

If granted, the licence will be for drinking off the premises. In other words, it looks as if this will be a supermarket, selling alcohol in the way that supermarkets normally sell it. The difference in this case will be that it will be permitted round the clock, every day of the week.

This application comes just months after consultation on a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The relevant website claimed that, ‘in Moseley & Kings Heath ward, this is being introduced to address unlicenced street drinking related anti-social behaviour’.

Representations relating to this application must be made in writing by 19 July 2016 to Birmingham City Council, Licensing Section, P.O. Box 17013, Birmingham B6 9ES.

View the full details of the licence application (pdf)

The Residents’ Forum management committee discussed concerns at a meeting held 6 July 2016. The Forum will respond to Birmingham City Council Licensing specifically objecting to the sale of alcohol after 11pm. (More information to follow shortly.)

Other potential reasons for objecting to this application include:

  1. Anti-social behaviour.
  2. Litter and street cleanliness.
  3. There are already two 24-hour shops selling alcohol, and two other late-night closure shops; no need for any more.
  4. Noise at night.
  5. Traffic and road safety.
  6. This licence application will not help achieve the aims of the Public Space Protection Order.
  7. Lack of toilets.
  8. Unsocial hours.
  9. Close to residential housing in Bank Street, Grange Road and apartments in the future Kingsway development on the opposite side of the High Street.
  10. Risk of underage sales of alcohol to local school children.