New store ‘won’t increase boozing’
The Christchurch man behind a controversial bid to open a liquor store in Harewood says it will not increase alcohol consumption in the area.
Harewood residents have been fighting to stop Samarth Rajeshkumar Limbachiya’s application to sell alcohol from a shopping centre at the corner of Trafford St and Harewood Rd.
Long-time residents Bruce Tulloch and Colin Fussell presented a petition against the licence, which has about 1100 signatures, on the first day of a public hearing before the Christchurch District Licensing Committee yesterday.
The Fendalton-WaimairiHarewood Community Board is backing the community’s opposition.
Limbachiya’s lawyer, Andrew Riches, said no objection had been raised in terms of his client’s suitability as applicant by the public health officer, police or the council inspector.
None of the authorities had raised an objection against the application itself either.
The community had been ‘‘very vocal’’ and ‘‘very passionate’’, which was reflected by the large turnout at yesterday’s hearing, Riches said.
‘‘But this is not a community that has any particular susceptibility to the problems from alcohol any more than anywhere else in Christchurch.
‘‘I make that submission based on the fact that, in terms of its socio-economic levels, it is an area slightly above the balance in Christchurch, it has a higher level of car ownership, a higher level of families, rather than groups that would be particularly susceptible to harm from alcohol.’’
Examples of susceptible areas could be Riccarton and Ilam, which had high levels of university students, or parts of east and south Christchurch, which could have higher levels of ‘‘socio-economic deprivation’’, Riches said.
The likely outcome of granting the licence would be to draw customers and sales away from other areas.
‘‘We certainly wouldn’t submit that the placement of this store is going to overall increase the use of alcohol in the area,’’ Riches said.
‘‘The proposal here is not to create a store where it’s an eyesore, where there are signs for RTDs, Woodstock bourbon, a giant sign perhaps saying ‘discount liquor’ – that’s certainly not the intention here.’’
Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board member Aaron Campbell appeared in support of the community’s objections.
‘‘The concerns raised included an off-licence premises being located on such a close proximity to a quiet residential area, two schools, the Breens Intermediate and Isleworth Primary School, and the elephant park, which is a very popular children’s playground, and Nunweek Park, a heavily utilised sports park, and the potential related anti-social behaviour,’’ he said.
The community board noted there were three off-licence stores already located in the Bishopdale Mall area, all within walking distance of Trafford St.
Fussell and Tulloch, who are yet to give evidence at the hearing, have been vocal in voicing their objection to the application.
In March, Fussell said there had been ‘‘consistent problems in the Bishopdale area with armed robberies and stabbings and goodness knows what’’.
The hearing continues today.
"We certainly wouldn't submit that the placement of this store is going to overall increase the use of alcohol in the area." Applicant's lawyer Andrew Riches