OVER 100 residents have made their mark on a petition to stop a bottle store from opening in a Van Riebeeck Park shopping centre.
The owner of Spar at Bennie Jacobs Centre on the corner of De Wiekus and Blackthorne streets plans on opening a Spar Tops at the centre.
However, concerned resident Anne, who is also spearheading the petition, is quite adamant that the area does not need another liquor store.
“There are already three liquor stores in close proximity to the proposed bottle store, including one at the top of De Wiekus Road. Is it really necessary to have a bottle store one kilometre in each direction?” Anne asked.
She also feels this could add to the crime and violence that are already in the area.
“My son was shot last year at a small shopping area where he lives, when a gang of five people entered all the shops at the same time. This year, Edleen Spar and Tops were robbed and residents were hurt. Van Riebeeck Park residents do not want the same scenario here. That is the reason why I tend to think bottle stores bring more problems.”
She also mentions that the shopping centre is close to two schools, Laerskool Van Riebeeck Park and Hoërskool Jeugland.
“The closest school, Van Riebeeck, is 350m from Bennie Jacobs Centre and Jeugland is 950m. The kids from these schools pass these shops daily.”
The liquor licence was granted on July 7 and residents were given 21 days after that date to submit their objections.
There are currently three petitions people can sign. One is at Deoadanté Hair Creations, one at the chemist and the third one at the MediCinic doctors’ office, all at the same centre.
Residents aim for at least 3 000 signatures.
This is not the first time the residents were able to stop the opening of a liquor outlet. Twenty-five years ago Anne was involved in another successful petition against an application to launch a bottle store at the same centre.
For more information, contact Anne on 062 189 9225.
