A Putney corner shop has become the first business to test Wandsworth Council’s new restrictions on late-night trade along Putney High Street, after applying to sell alcohol until 2am every night of the week.
Best One, located at 169 Putney High Street near Putney railway station, currently closes at midnight. Until 2022, it was licensed to remain open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays but voluntarily reduced its weekend hours. It now wants to restore those later hours and extend them across the entire week.
The application [pdf] will be considered by the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee tomorrow, Thursday 7 August. Council officers have recommended it be refused, despite the shop offering new mitigation measures aimed at controlling noise and nuisance.
These include CCTV coverage inside and outside the premises, a requirement for two trained staff to be on duty after 11pm, daily risk assessments to determine the need for additional security, a Challenge 25 age verification policy, and clear signage to discourage loitering or street drinking.
New CIP
However, the council’s Environmental Services officer has raised formal objections, arguing that the extension would breach the borough’s new Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) for Putney. Adopted last month, the policy creates a presumption against any new or extended late-night operations after 11pm unless applicants can demonstrate they will not contribute to public nuisance or anti-social behaviour.
The officer warned that while residents may tolerate some noise earlier in the evening, disturbances become harder to bear as background noise levels drop later at night. They also noted that alcohol sales in the early hours tend to attract a different clientele, and that noise from revellers, smokers, delivery drivers and other street activity cannot be effectively controlled by the premises.
Because of its location near residential properties, and the fact that no other local shops operate after midnight, officers believe the store could attract greater-than-usual demand simply by being the only business open. That could intensify the impact on neighbours and undermine the purpose of the new policy.
The Cumulative Impact Policy was passed despite a minimal public consultation response. Just 27 people submitted feedback during the consultation period, and only 20 supported the proposal. Nevertheless, the policy was adopted in July and now applies to all new or varied licences for late-night alcohol or hot food sales along the High Street and surrounding area.
Best One’s application is the first to be judged under the policy, and the outcome of this week’s hearing is likely to set an important precedent for other businesses on Putney High Street.
