Residents are pleased after plans by Aldi are turned down by licensing committee

A controversial application for a supermarket in Kilburn to serve alcohol from 7am has been rejected by licensing officials.

The Aldi store, which will be in the High Road close to the junction with Quex Road, is due to open this spring but residents branded their requests to serve alcohol from 7am as “totally unnecessary.”

Aldi claimed it was to ensure they were “in line with local competition” and insisted they would be responsible in their selling.

However, the was application rejected by Camden Council’s licensing committee yesterday.

Kash Zafrani, who fought against the decision on the basis that the High Road was home to too many drinking establishments and had a problem with street drinkers, said he was relieved it had not been passed.

He told the Times: “Its good news for the area that this was rejected – they will now have to come back and prove that there is a need to open and serve alcohol at that time.”

Had it been granted permission Mr Zafrani claims it would have been the earliest establishment on the high road serving alcoholic drinks.

Cllr Thomas Gardiner, a Labour councillor for the Kilburn ward of Camden Council said: “It’s difficult to think of an argument why they would need to sell alcohol that early.

“I think it will be a relief to residents that the council hasn’t made it easier for people to buy alcohol at an inappropriately early hour of the morning.”

The High Road, which Brent and Camden councils share responsibility for, has been the subject of much debate over recent years with its increase in off-licences and pay day loan companies.

Both authorities recently launched a £60,000 project to improve and regenerate the area.

Aldi will now either have to appeal against the decision or launch a fresh licensing application.