A community has been left divided over a cafe in South Liverpool bidding to sell alcohol.
An application has been made to Liverpool Council for a proposed cafe and takeaway on Storrsdale Road to sell alcohol at its premises. Applicant Nikolaos Fyllditakis is seeking to run the business from 10am to 10pm daily, with the sale of alcohol and music playing throughout.
Almost two dozen representations have been made to the local authority in relation to the plans ahead of councillors debating their decision at Liverpool Town Hall. Residents have been split on the new venture, with messages of support and opposition being received in equal measure.
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One opponent of the plans wrote: “The intended operating hours of the business are into late evenings, combined with the sale of alcohol, can easily turn the premises into a site of crime and disorder.” The objector also added: “The late business hours and the sale of alcohol will very likely cause not only noise, but also offensive public behaviours”.
The proposed cafe is situated directly opposite The Storrsdale pub, which has caused consternation for one person at least. They wrote: “This restaurant is not ideally situated at all for a residential area already swamped by extra vehicles, with double parking as a norm.
“This would cause further distress to residents who already have one of the most busiest residential roads in the South Liverpool area. Common sense surely must be allowed to prevail here.”
Parking was an issue that also irked one fellow objector to the proposals. They said: “I am really concerned about this so called application for a cafe from 10am until 10pm, totally unrealistic in a residential area, the parking at the moment is horrendous due to local businesses that operate in the adjoining shops.”
No concerns about the plans have been raised with Liverpool Council by the licensing authority, Merseyside Police or environmental health. A number of residents had submitted letters of support for the new venture.
One wrote: “I think that a new local independent business will be amazing for the community” while another added: “Fully support this proposal. Great to have something like this round the corner.”
The location of the site opposite the pub was not an issue for one supporter who said: “I think it's a great idea to have a restaurant here. I live in the area, in Mossville Road, as the shop has been empty for a while and opening another business can only be good for the area.
“I don't see a problem with them playing recorded music as it's just music, as long as it doesn't disturb local residents. There is a pub opposite so can't see how selling alcohol will be any worse than the pub doing the same.”
The plans go before Liverpool Council’s licensing and gambling subcommittee later today.
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