Community leader quits over booze shop battle; Woman says she has lost faith in police after off-licence approval.

Byline: Tim Lewis 

AN ORGANISER of a local community group has given up her role after "losing faith" with police.

Debbie Gray said she will no longer attend PACT (Partnerships and Communities Together) meetings after South Wales Police failed to object to an application to open a Bargain Booze store in Splott, Cardiff.

Councillors and people living in surrounding streets were strongly opposed to the application for the off-licence to begin trading in Splott Road.

They are worried it will lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour and fuel problems with underage drinking.

Despite being rejected by Cardiff council's licensing sub-committee, the licencewas granted by magistrates on appeal.

Mrs Gray said: "I won't be going to any more meetings. I don't see what good the PACT is doing.

"We brought the problems with street drinking up in the meetings and it was made a PACT priority, but no-one from South Wales Police then objected to Bargain Booze. "The community officers on the ground are excellent but they have no power. Senior officers have given us no support at all. "Everybody in the community has completely lost faith in them."

South Wales Police said at the time it did not object to the plans because the applicant had met a list of conditions.

Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael has said he will take up the problem with Cardiff council.

He wrote to 80-year-old Eleanor Read after she contacted him about the protest against the new shop opening.

Mr Michael said: "I am writing to let you know that I am makinginquirieswiththechief executive of Cardiff council on your behalf and I will contact you again in due course."

Mrs Read collected more than 200 signatures for a petition against the Bargain Booze shop and says she is determined to continue fighting against it, despite the magistrates' decision.

She said: "I will walk up and down the street with a placard if I have to.

"The community does not want another off-licence and we will continue to make our feelings known."

CAPTION(S):

The old Post Office in Splott Road, Cardiff, which could become a Bargain Booze store. Below, Eleanor Read who wrote to MP Alun Michael about the plans PICTURES: Andrew Davies [umlaut]