Merton Council is calling on residents and local business owners to have their say on a revised draft statement of licensing policy that could lead to shops and other businesses seeking licences to sell alcohol in Mitcham, having their applications turned down. 

Residents and businesses who would like to get involved in the consultation have until the 14 September to make their views known.  They can email their views to licensing@merton.gov.uk or they can send a paper copy to the Licensing Team at the civic centre in Morden. All responses will be considered at the Licensing Committee in October and, if approved, will go to full council in November.

The proposed licensing policy includes what is called a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) for Mitcham. The council will be asking residents and businesses if they think a CIZ covering Mitcham town centre and main roads leading in and out of Mitcham, would be of benefit. There are already two CIZs in Merton, for Wimbledon town centre and Wimbledon Village.

If a Cumulative Impact Zone is agreed, the council’s Licensing Committee would have the power to refuse applications from businesses to sell alcohol should a greater number of licensed premises lead to an increase in alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and disorder. Several Mitcham councillors have raised concerns about street drinking, and empty cans littering pavements and some green spaces, including Three Kings Pond. The council is seeking views from residents and businesses as to how extensive these problems are, and whether they would want the proposed CIZ to be implemented.

The proposed CIZ could affect applications for all licenced premises, or could apply only to off-licences, so as to not to restrict restaurants from opening up in the area, or from seeking licences to serve alcohol with food.

Chair of the Licensing Committee, Councillor Jeff Hanna, said: “Merton is one of the safest places in London to live. We want to keep it as free of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour as we can, and that might mean restricting the number of businesses selling alcohol in and around Mitcham, having already set up CIZs in Wimbledon.”

“This is why we are asking residents and local businesses owners for their thoughts, whether they think proposed restrictions would help, or are unnecessary, and whether the area suggested is right, or whether we should exclude some of it, or even add some other roads in Mitcham.”

To view the revised statement of licensing policy visit www.merton.gov.uk/licensing

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