24-hour alcohol sales licence application

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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.

Action on litter

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A recent meeting of the Greener, Cleaner, Safer Environment (GCSE) group discussed a number of problems relating to litter and rubbish in Kings Heath. Several ideas were reviewed that could help to reduce the amount of litter in the area.

The group covers both Moseley and Kings Heath and is supported by Birmingham City Council.

One of the problems with litter is that it comes from several sources. As a result, the group is working with different parts of the community to try to clean up our streets. Part of this effort is a Litter Strategy. The plan is to get residents and local forums involved in developing and introducing a strategy. This will involve the group making sure that residents’ groups are able to comment on the strategy.

The business community is already involved. Several local businesses have signed up to the voluntary litter agreement and more will follow. In one case, the owner of Costcutter in Institute Road, has offered to supply and empty a bin outside his shop. Although he has been told by the City Council that he can’t do this, the GCSE group is working with the city’s Fleet and Waste Management (F&WM) team to get the ban overturned.

The F&WM team is also looking at the positioning of existing City Council owned bins. The plan is to make sure they’re in the right places and, if they’re not, to reposition them.

Schools also have an important role in reducing the amount of litter and they are being approached in two ways. Councillor Straker Welds, who chaired the GCSE meeting, will write to schools in the area and ask them to get involved in the Litter Strategy. He will also ask them to involve their pupils and will offer to go to the schools with the principal operations manager of the F&WM team to talk about the litter problem.

There was also a suggestion that members of staff, such as canteen support staff and cleaners, could clear litter from school surroundings.

In one particular case, the city’s Waste Prevention team is to visit Bishop Challoner College in Institute Road to advise on what the College can do to help tackle the local litter problem. Leaflets will also be distributed to residents in the area.

Keeping pavements clear

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Obstructions on the pavements in Kings Heath High Street have been annoying residents for several years. Recently, the road safety group within the Kings Heath Forum took up the problem with local councillors and Birmingham Highways Maintenance and Management Service.

There are a number of issues covered by this subject but they all relate to one concern: whether there is enough space available for people with limited mobility, visual impairment or parents with push-chairs.

The restrictions usually have one of three causes:

  • parking on pavements
  • ‘A boards’ outside shops
  • work on pavements by the utility companies

It has been difficult to get any solid information so far but it seems that there is a standard that should be applied. In areas with few pedestrians such as the High Street near Sports Direct, there must be a 1.2 metre (almost 4 feet) width of pavement available free of obstructions. In areas with more people moving around, the minimum is 2 metres (about 6 feet 6 inches).

One of the difficulties is that there seems to be some confusion over who should be enforcing these standards. A statement from Birmingham Highways Maintenance and Management Service seems to suggest that enforcement is a matter for the Police although the highway authority can remove ‘A boards’.

However, the statement also said that local traders agreed at a meeting ‘several years ago’ to self-police the ‘A board’ problem. Since then, it has been suggested that Amey, which is the highways maintenance contractor for Birmingham, has a contractual responsibility for making sure that pavements are kept clear. This has yet to be absolutely confirmed.

The difficulty now seems to be that the traders’ agreement is being overlooked and ‘A boards’ are being positioned in such a way as to obstruct pavements. As a result, the available width of pavement is narrower than it should be.

In February the Residents’ Forum asked Birmingham Highways Maintenance and Management Service a number of questions in relation to this issue and suggested that clear guidance should be produced for local businesses.

As yet, no further information has been provided. When it is, an update will be posted.

Excellent attendance at Forum AGM

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More than 50 local residents gathered at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Kings Heath Residents’ Forum on 2 March 2016 to hear about the work of the Forum and to make their own views known. They heard that progress has been made on controlling litter, on road safety and on initiatives to help young people in the area. Residents raised concerns over several issues including parking, anti-social behaviour and speed limits.

The chair of the Forum, Jon Jaffa, emphasised that the group represents all residents within the area it was set up to cover. It works with similar groups in other electoral wards and helps residents to get in touch with their local councillors.

On road safety, the Kings Heath strategy has been so effective that it is being extended across the whole of Birmingham. The most recent development is the ’20 is plenty’ programme. This involves the introduction of a 20 mile an hour speed limit on Kings Heath High Street. New roadside signs have begun to appear and drivers will be reminded of the limit by signs painted on the road surfaces.

In addition, a safer cycle network is being developed.

Members of the Forum have also lobbied councillors for the return of a railway station for Kings Heath. Network Rail has been considering this proposal for some time and now the necessary development work it is included in the financial plan for the period 2019 to 2024.

Residents at the meeting raised a number of issues including the congestion caused by inconsiderate parking. This was said to cause safety issues and traffic congestion. The problem was reported to be worst in Howard Road East, outside the Royal Mail sorting office, and Addison Road.

Councillor Straker Welds (Lab) agreed to arrange a meeting with the manager at the sorting office. He will ask that staff park their cars away from Howard Road East. This will mean there is more space for people collecting post from the sorting office.

On the question of road and pavement maintenance, Councillor Claire Spencer (Lab) is working to make it easier for residents to report problems. She also suggested that it is better if residents use the City Council website to report problems with roads and pavements.

Councillor Spencer also emphasised the need for anti-social behaviour to be reported as soon as possible. If it is not reported and acted on, bad behaviour is likely to become normal. It should be reported by making a telephone call to 101. See the information on Moseley and Kings Heath Police neighbourhood meetings.

Progress is being made in dealing with litter in the area. The Greener, Cleaner, Safer Environment group is setting up agreements with schools, catering outlets and other businesses. As part of the agreements, these organisations are taking responsibility for litter in their local areas.

The efficiency of the waste collection and street cleaning services is being improved. Part of the programme is aimed at making sure that there are enough on-street litter bins and that they are emptied often enough. In addition, shopkeepers are being encouraged to use waste bins that are big enough for their needs and have lids. If they use the right type of waste bins there will be less litter blowing around the streets.

That still leaves the problem of litter dropped by people. Although Birmingham has litter wardens, there is no money available for one dedicated to Kings Heath. It was suggested that there could be random, targeted swoops during the year. Any litter louts caught could then be fined.

Dog mess is a separate problem, especially on roads leading to public parks. Residents were asked to report dog fouling, particularly if it happens at regular times. Again, there is a page on the city council website for reporting dog fouling problems.

In addition to all of that, the Cleaner Streets plan calls for targeted action. In one example, early morning street cleaning is being called for to clear away rubbish after Friday and Saturday nights.

One of the problems brought up by residents was that Amey (Birmingham’s street maintenance contractor) has been accused of leaving barriers and temporary road signs in place after work has finished. Sometimes it takes several weeks before these objects are cleared away. The city council is reported to be working with Amey to stop this practice.

The meeting was also told about two initiatives aimed at helping local young people. In one, the All Saints Youth Project helps young people to develop their confidence and to take on leadership roles in the community. In addition, Luke Holland has been working with young people from the All Saints Youth Project and from the Kings Heath Mosque. He brings the groups together to work collaboratively on community projects.

Summing up the meeting, the chair of the Forum, Jon Jaffa, said:

“It was enormously encouraging to see so many people at the meeting. Even more pleasing was that we were able to report so much positive news. The members of the Forum have worked very hard over the past year in conjunction with local councillors from all the political parties. I think the results show what can be achieved when we all pull together.”

Proposed new Police powers to combat nuisance in Kings Heath

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There are various nuisance behaviours which have been giving concern on Kings Heath High Street and in Moseley Village. Currently these areas are part of an Alcohol Restriction Area. The City Council and Police are proposing to replace this with a new Order under recent laws to pick up a wider number of problem behaviours. This Public Space Protection Order would give the Police additional powers to stop harassment, verbal abuse, threats of violence, carrying open bottles or cans of alcohol, possessing or using “intoxicating substances” (mainly drugs) and making graffiti. Views from the public are being sought  by Friday 11 March 2016.

The widening of Police powers to intervene under this Order is likely to be warmly welcomed by the Forum. However, there is concern at the drafting of certain sections. We are likely to suggest some changes to make it clear that it does not prohibit peaceful gatherings and peaceful protest, that “verbal abuse” is defined, that it does not prohibit the collection of empty cans, that it does not prohibit “authorised” graffiti and that reasonable cafe style outdoor drinking on privately owned spaces or organised events (e.g. the Hare and Hounds, the Village Square, Street Fair, etc.) is not prohibited.

The public have to be consulted before this Order can be made so your views are important.

To have your say in support or against this Order by Friday 11 March 2016, go to the Birmingham Be Heard website.

Also see more information about the consultation and the full details of the Order (pdf).

Please feel free to let us know your views in comments on this blog, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Ken Clayton and Tom Tierney