Off licence set to replace barbers on Sheffield's party street despite concerns over number of booze shops
“How many alcohol outlets do we need?”
A Turkish barbers which has traded in Sheffield city centre for years is being replaced with an off licence despite concerns from residents.
The shop once home to the Anatolia barbers on West Street is to re-open as a ‘Captain Store’ off licence.
The plan has raised concerns from a city centre residents’ group which has been campaigning to limit the number of shops selling alcohol on the busy street, which is lined with bars.
Changing Sheff, which represents city centre residents, last year said it was "scandalous" that there was no policy to control the sale of alcohol in Sheffield city centre, after another office licence was given planning permission to open on West Street.
It said at the time that there were already 12 bars and six off-licences in the area.
And, Peter Sephton, chairman of the association, renewed his call for restrictions with the news of another off licence opening.
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He said: “We’ve been asking Sheffield Council since 2015 for a cumulative impact policy on West Street - but still we have not got one.
“How many alcohol outlets do we need? Every other town or city has looked into this so that they have the power to say no, we have enough.”
Changing Sheff, which represents city centre residents, said Sheffield was the only city area in South Yorkshire which did not have a cumulative impact policy giving councillors powers to restrict the number of outlets selling alcohol.
Sheffield City Council says it is gathering relevant information in order to assess cumulative impact in the city, and adoption of any cumulative impact assessment would be considered after statutory consultation and consideration by the relevant committee.
The authority said: “A Cumulative Impact Policy was proposed back in 2018; however, it was not adopted at that time.”
It added that it recently consulted on its updated ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’, and that all licence applications continue to be considered on their individual merits against the licensing objectives.