Birch Hill & Hanworth Community Pages
Quick links, just click on the links below to get you to the information that you need. |
| Birch Hill & Hanworth Latest News |
Birch Hill Mum takes on a Challenge of a Lifetime
Aldi
Clean up for Birch Hill Shopping Centre
Work is to
include cleansing the paved areas, tidying up planted borders and
cleaning brickwork. It was pointed out to the council that the white
boarding with the Birch Hill Shopping Centre wording on was in need of a
clean too. This is handled by a different department, but it will be
followed up by the Neighbouhood Action Group. 9th March 2008 McColls gained their license to sell alcahol today at the hearing. Over the last six months the Birch Hill Community have pulled together over two issues that have or are happening on the estate, the first being the Waitrose debate that unfortunately ended with the planned move to Sandhurst going ahead anyway. Now we have got another issue that has spurred the residents into making their feelings being known with the Colin McColls Newsagents application for a license to sell alcohol. Martin McColl’s our new convenience store have not only spotted a gap in the market which they are filling by selling a range of groceries and fresh foods but they have submitted a request to sell alcohol between 8.00 in the morning until 10.00 at night. Local residents have submitted many objections to this application and some of those residents who live within a particular geographical area which has been defined by the BFBC Licensing Officer were invited to a mediation meeting with the Licensing Officer, staff from Martin McColl’s (District Manager, Solicitor and two others). The purpose of this meeting was for the license to be adjusted so it could be re-presented to BFBC in such a way that the objectors would be in agreement. This has not happened. In spite of Martin McColl’s agreeing to change some aspects of the license the objectors are still determined to do whatever we can to stop this application completely. We do not want or need another alcohol outlet in the area. This would make three alcohol licenses with 100 yards, The Birch, the retail outlet and now this application. As was said at the mediation meeting the people who would have to deal with the many and various problems would have to be dealt with by us, the residents, not the McColl’s management staff, not BFBC Licensing Officer nor the administration staff from the police. Our beat officer Michael Foot and his PCSO Michelle Noone would be at the forefront and I would be very surprised once this license was granted we would have any chance at all to get it withdrawn in spite of assurances by both Police and Licensing Officer. We the residents have called a meeting on Saturday 5 April at the Scout Hut starting at 1130 to talk about our next moves.
In September 2007 we heard the shock news that Waitrose were moving out of Birch Hill to take residence in Sandhurst. In spite of a very strong attempt to change their minds they went ahead and we are now left with an empty retail store that is fast becoming resonant of a Beirut bomb site. In spite of many attempts to pin down Aldi who have purchased the site we cannot get a definitive date when the shop will reopen. We have heard that Aldi have purchased two more properties in the Reading area which will be up and running first and the Birch Hill property will not be open until close to Xmas. |
