Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Plans submitted to open a Londis store at 4 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, operating daily from 6am to 1am in two currently vacant retail units.
The ideas will be decided at a meeting on Tuesday, August 19, by the Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council. Alcohol would also be served daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., according to the original plans, although the Metropolitan Police expressed worries about the potential effects on the nearby residential neighborhood.
Since then, the applicant and the Met Police have decided that the proposed alcohol off-sales will finish at 12 a.m. every day, one hour earlier.
If the license is granted, Trading Standards has asked that other requirements be included, such as the implementation of a Challenge 25 program and the recording of any refusals to demonstrate that the policy is being applied properly.
However, the plans have caused division in the town, with 24 people supporting the application and 61 homeowners and local groups opposing it.
As of August 14, 128 people had signed a petition on change.org calling for the plans to be rejected.
Some locals on Melbourne Grove have expressed worry over how the store’s hours of operation would affect their “quiet residential street,” claiming that other nearby companies already have licenses requiring them to close by 11 p.m.
In their reasons for objecting, one resident said:
“Moreover, the proposed late-night sale of alcohol, both for on-site consumption and takeaway, raises serious concerns.
It is likely to encourage public drinking outside the premises, disrupting the residential character of the area and affecting the wellbeing of local residents.”
Other residents called the proposed location “inappropriate” due to the proximity of it to the Charter School East Dulwich. The Friends of Charter School East Dulwich said:
“The open display of alcoholic drinks so close to the school, in a shop which will unfortunately draw in the pupils for the hot snacks, crisps and sugary sweets on sale, will provide immediate access to alcoholic drinks and encourage the pupils to consume alcohol. We are also concerned about potential access to cigarettes and vapes.”
However those in support of the plans said while they understood concerns had been raised over the closeness of the Charter School, they didn’t think it should be “a valid reason for refusal”.
They said:
“Schoolchildren pass by briefly at around 3pm, not during the late hours when alcohol is sold and there are already other off-licences within a minute’s walk which they use without any problems. There has never been an issue there, and I see no reason why this store would be treated differently.”
Another person added:
“It seems like common sense that a convenience store like Londis should be allowed to open and sell alcohol like any other shop on Melbourne Grove, Grove Vale and Dog Kennel Hill. This isn’t a bar, it’s not a pub, and it’s definitely not a nightclub — people don’t drink inside, they take things home.
There are no outside tables or seating, so there won’t be any noise or people hanging around. It’s a quick-in, quick-out kind of place — the same way Tesco or Sainsbury’s Local works.”
They went on to say:
“Everyone I’ve spoken to in the area — including parents, renters, elderly neighbours — wants the shop to open. Most people don’t have time to write official comments, but they’re all saying the same thing: it’s about time something useful opened in that unit.
A shop brings more benefit to the local economy than yet another empty café or estate agent. It creates jobs, offers affordable essentials, and gives people an option after work or school.”
Next week, during a licensing meeting, the plans will finally be decided.
What is the community’s opinion on converting these units into a Londis?
There are different views in the community regarding the conversion of two vacant buildings at 4 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, into a Londis convenience store. Some locals view it as a useful addition that satisfies local needs, and they value the convenience of having a local business open late every day.
Many others, however, are worried about possible drawbacks like increased traffic, noise, and disturbance in the mostly residential and green area. Some worry that the change might detract from the neighborhood’s character and cause problems that are usually associated with late-night businesses.
Overall, despite the convenience store’s potential to provide practical requirements, it has sparked conversation among locals about how to combine preserving neighborhood harmony with providing easily available facilities.