Author: Sal
TC News Applies To Sell Alcohol - Comments Needed By Thursday
Saturday, 22nd December, 2007 at 2:27 pm, Isle of Wight
Something that has been brought to our attention via the forum is that the High Street newsagents, SLV News (formerly TC News) has an application in with the council to change from selling Newspapers, sweets and fizzy pop to selling alcohol.
From looking at the application form and plans, it appears that they intend to take over the Country Kitchen (No. 37) and extend into there, expanding the business considerably.
From comments on the forum, it’s clear that many feel that another source of alcohol in town is unnecessary.
The newsagents is situated more-or-less opposite an off-licence (Perks), there is another around the corner in Pier Street, which you have to pass Somerfields to get to. The Londis and Spar both sell alcohol, as does the Brewery and Tesco Express is due to open in 2009 just up the road. There are also the nine pubs around town too.
Is it wise to have another alcohol outlet in Ventnor? As one forum member says , “Do we really want our kids having alcohol thrust at them when they go in to buy comics and sweets?”
Looking through the application form, the agent is a company called Cavan Martin Associates, who are based at The Pub Shop, Birmingham.
If you don’t like the idea of yet another alcohol outlet in Ventnor, you can object, but you’ll have to get your skates on as the cut off date is 27 December. We understand that at the time of writing there has only been a small number of objections, so it’s likely to be granted.
Visit the application online and make your comments there.
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December 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
I’ve had a look at the plan on the Council website, and the setup shown there seems to be the delicatessen rather than the news outlet, with the alcohol shelves behind the cheese and cooked meats counter at the back. So it does seem that the comment about “kids having alcohol thrust at them when they go in to buy comics and sweets” doesn’t really apply, because there won’t be alcohol in the newsagent. So it’s not very different from Londis or Spar - if underagers want to get hold of alcohol they are more likely to try Somerfields, where everything is open on the shelves to help themselves. That said, I agree that it is probably not helpful to have yet another such outlet in the town, though I don’t think I would stick my neck out to oppose this one.