For those of you that aren't aware of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, located along Druid Street and Enid Street in Bermondsey, it is a loose amalgamation of brewery bars and bottle shops. 

Whilst it is a brilliant location for tourists, this stretch of road is nothing but a hindrance to residents. The bars all open at roughly the same time on a Saturday afternoon, meaning that from early morning, residents are awoken by the unloading of deliveries and the noise of vehicles. Roads are also blocked by the size of the vehicles and the crates being delivered. What happens if an emergency vehicle wanted to get past? What happens if a disabled resident needed to get through?

Far from residents being able to catch a break, from midday people flock to the 'Beer Mile' (which is nearing two miles long these days) and bring noise, pollution, and rowdy behaviour. As you'd imagine, a location dedicated to alcohol also brings public urination, littering and explicit language - especially when residents ask them to move away from their properties. 

What started out as a promise, from the Arch Company, to residents of a positive community space, with florists, bakeries, and groceries becoming an asset to the area, has since evolved into those assets converting their space to become restaurants, bars, and breweries so as not to avoid missing out on custom. It’s almost as if 16 bars – the current number of licensed premises selling alcohol – isn’t enough. 

Businesses also regularly flout the rules of their licenses; a maximum of 30 people are allowed outside at one time, yet you don't need to be a genius to count almost triple that sometimes.

Whilst the regeneration of the area is brilliant for the economy, it is nothing but hell for residents who are unable to open their windows, watch television or sleep due to the noise that happens from morning to well after the licensing hours. 

One woman purposely leaves her house before the activities begin and doesn't return to her home until after midnight. 

Bermondsey is known for being a working-class area with surrounding council estates; let's not ignore the fact that if the residents of these estates were out on the streets drinking and loitering, leaving litter, getting in the way, and causing noise, people would most definitely call the police to break up the behaviour.

We are calling on residents, long-term business owners within the area and anybody else who cares about those in social housing who are afraid to speak up, to help us make a stand. 

Whilst we are not ruling out new businesses opening on this stretch, we are simply asking that Southwark Council commit to not issuing any alcohol licenses to new premises.