The co-owner of a South London supermarket has pushed back against criticism of a front extension to the store which has been the subject of a local backlash.
ELIF Foods Centre in North Cheam, Sutton, came under fire last month after it replaced temporary shop awnings with a permanent structure enclosing several front doors to the flats above and the shop’s fresh produce.
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), one resident who woke to find her door covered by the shelter described the shelter as a “tin conservatory”.
Speaking at a Sutton Council licensing meeting on May 13, at which their application to sell alcohol seven days a week was approved, Serap Yumak, co-owner of ELIF Foods Centre, defended the new structure against local objections.
Ms Yumak told the committee on behalf of her partner: “There are millions of people living in England. This is the first time I have experienced someone talking like this about the business.”
The shop initially sought to sell beer and spirits from 7am to 11pm daily, but following discussions with the council, the closing time was reduced to 10pm. One local objector suggested that both the alcohol licence and the new shelter would bring trouble to a part of Sutton that has previously struggled with antisocial behaviour (ASB).
In their letter, the objector said ELIF Foods had “zero interest in the crime and ASB that alcohol sales will promote on the streets beyond the newly constructed front extension and additional ‘barrier’.”
In response, Ms Yumak firmly rejected the claims, stating: “People don’t drink outside the premises.”
She also noted that 10 of their other supermarkets hold 24-hour licences, none of which have been revoked. However, when questioned about a recent fire scare caused by faulty wiring connected to one of the store’s fridges, Ms Yumak seemed unimpressed it had been brought up.
While she acknowledged the issue, she emphasised that the wiring would be replaced, and dismissed concerns raised by objectors, saying: “When something like this happens, it should not be advertised because it does not look nice to customers.”
Later in the meeting, Ms Yumak told Councillor Louise Phelan that the structure would be a permanent fixture on the high street and that she hoped they would be there “for a long time”.
She added: “There are little things we’re looking to get done to it, but it won’t get any bigger. It is something we had to do because of safety.”
Last month, Ms Yumak told the LDRS that they needed to “act quickly” to secure the front of the shop, as the previous awnings had been damaged by wind, rain and cigarette butts reportedly thrown onto it.
Ms Yumak, who took over the shop earlier this year, also admitted that upstairs residents had not been informed about the plans to build the new structure around the front doors. At the meeting, she said they were working with their neighbours but noted that one upstairs resident was not being cooperative.
Sutton Council has confirmed it is conducting an “ongoing investigation” into the new shelter, which could result in further action. In the meantime, the council granted the alcohol licence on the condition that staff undergo mandatory health and safety, as well as emergency evacuation, training.
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