Donald Moore, Dry
Fish Hoek
Here we go again. Now Spar wants to open a Tops Bottle Store at Valyland Shopping Centre.
The proposed bottle store will occupy the premises now occupied by Indulge, situated at the entrance to Spar, the FNB ATM and the pharmacy.
The pharmacy will be relocated in the centre, but I do not know the fate of Indulge, which is so popular, and the FNB ATM.
The application includes a request for a tasting area (a disguised “bar”, I fear) which seems to be dangerously close to on consumption.
You may want to object to the grant of a tasting area to Tops if the licence is granted.
If you would like me to send you a copy of the application please ask and I will send to you.
You will be aware that the Valyland centre is in the immediate vicinity of Fish Hoek High School, Fish Hoek Primary School, Bay Primary School, the Joyce Chevalier Centre for people with disabilities, Milkwood Pre-primary School and Nerina Gardens.
The applicant has not brought the proximity of the high and primary schools or the Joyce Chevalie Centre to the attention of the Liquor Authority.
The application was advertised in the Provincial Gazette on Friday November 1 and in People’s Post on Tuesday November 26.
The 28-day period for lodging objections will close on Tuesday December 24. It is now, accordingly, important to get objections lodged as soon as possible.
When your objection has been completed please submit it by email to the Liquor Authority at Robin.petersen@wcla.gov.za and to the representative of the applicant at info.dhman@gmail.com and to Warrant Officer Middleton at fishhoekdfo@saps.gov.za
If you are unable to send your objection by email, please give me a ring at 021 782 0343 and I will arrange to collect your objection and submit it by email.
* Police spokesman and designated liquor officer, Warrant Officer Peter Middelton, confirmed that Tops Spar in Valyland had submitted an application at the beginning of November.
* Spar co-owner Chris Dare responds: As far as the licence application is concerned, we contracted a highly experienced consultant to do our application.
The process is quite specific, and the application was made strictly in accordance with the necessary requirements. Although every establishment may not appear on the initial application document, I can assure you that during the application process the liquor authority has been made aware of other establishments in close proximity to the centre, and specifically those mentioned below. Furthermore, the application process allows any member of the public to comment, and if there is an establishment they believe may be negatively affected, they can inform the liquor authority.
I would also like to add that prior to our application being submitted, we did meet with both the headmasters of the high and primary school to discuss our plans and their concerns.
