The restricted zone goes through parts of Clapham High Street and large parts of the backstreets

A new restaurant has been given a licence to sell alcohol in a restricted area of the local high street.

Lambeth Council has granted a new delicatessen and a restaurant to sell alcohol on their premises.

Local restaurants Megan’s Old Town, that opened on November 23, and Mama V’s locate on the part of Clapham High Street where the selling of alcohol is restricted.

The Clapham High Street Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) is part of Lambeth Council licensing policy. The aim of the policy is to assure that there is no negative impact following the changes of licenses.

The CIZ was introduced following the request of the then borough commander. Michael Stinger said that with the introduction, “extensive research and analysis was undertaken in order to determine whether to introduce the CIP for the area. This was subsequently reviewed and the CIP was retained.”

He further says: “We will be carrying out a further review in the future.”

The licenses were approved by the council during a meeting of a sub-committee held at Lambeth Town Hall

Included in the discussion were local residents, community support officers, councillors and applicants.

Applicants were questioned by the sub-committee and they committed to primarily serving food and would only serve alcohol to those intending on eating within the restaurant.

Council member Michael Stinger said that if any premises falls under the CIZ, “there is a presumption of refusal however under the Licensing Act 2003 each case is considered on its own merits.”

The council also forced the restaurant owners to reduce their serving times from 1am to 11PM.

Objections were raised that the serving of alcohol would provide rowdiness as more venues serving alcohol would      attract drunken people to the area. Further arguments included reasons such as the venues were on the ground floor and there were residential homes above it.