14 objections were lodged against the application, and seven residents attended the meeting in person to urge councillors to reject the scheme over safety and antisocial behaviour concerns, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
A new off-licence will open in Walthamstow, despite fierce opposition from locals.
Local Corner Supermarket is the newest addition to Fulbourne Road, open from 7am until 11pm and licensed to sell alcohol between 10am and 10pm.
It was granted permission by Waltham Forest Council’s licensing committee at a hearing today (12th March).
14 objections were lodged against owner Guney Simsek’s application, and seven residents attended the meeting in person to urge councillors to reject the scheme.
A spokesperson for the group said the area was “already saturated” with off-licences and a new shop would “dilute responsibility” and “increase the aggregate level of disorder”.
They told councillors they had seen drunk people loitering outside the previous off-licence – which the council says is entirely unrelated to Simsek’s new business – at 8am, which could be “intimidating”.
Others said in their letters to the authority that “many families” live in the area and green-lighting another outlet for alcohol sales was “inconsistent” with the town hall’s responsibility to protect children from harm, as per its licensing objectives.
When asked by committee member councillor Richard Sweden why he had initially applied to sell alcohol from 8am, Simsek agreed this could be amended.
“I consume alcohol myself but not at 8am, and I think it’s safe to say if you do you’ve got some kind of difficulty,” Cllr Sweden said.
He added that he wanted high-strength beers and ciders, as well as spirits, to not be “so readily available” as they were favoured by alcoholics and addicts.
These conditions were agreed by the applicant and his agent, and councillors imposed an additional rule requiring a “no loitering” sign to be posted by the entrance.
Simsek told the committee that selling beers and wines would help his business “flourish and grow,” and it was “the nature of the job”.
In response to specific concerns raised by residents, the applicant said he would disperse particularly troublesome customers, and call the police if they did not leave.
“I want to feel safe and I want people living near the shop to feel safe,” he added.
The premises was previously occupied by KA Corner Supermarket, which was granted a licence in the summer of 2024. It was subject to a Metropolitan Police-led licence review in June 2025, following reports of a sexual offence at the premises.
The Met was contacted for comment.
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