Sunday, April 01, 2007

Village says no to Booze

Tesco has been refused a licence to sell alcohol in its Bournville store, near Birmingham. The Bournville village was built according to Quaker principles and has no pubs or off-licences.

Residents were concerned that the supermarket giant would ruin their idyll by selling alcohol in an Express store, just metres from Bournville's border. However, Tesco's application for a licence to sell alcohol was rejected by Birmingham City Council.

Councillor Nigel Dawkins said the decision was a "fantastic" result.

He said: "This shows Tesco that they have to talk to communities and they cannot just walk over them. This has put a line in the sand - people like Tesco who think they can come and sell alcohol without consulting the communities cannot."

Bournville village was founded by Quaker George Cadbury, who wanted pleasant housing at a "garden village" for employees at his famous chocolate factory.

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