MEDIA RELEASE – 21/8/11

Residents’ Group vow to fight on against all new liquor licences

The Ilam and Upper Riccarton Residents’ Association led a highly successful community protest against a new liquor outlet yesterday, which has encouraged the group to continue to fight on and ensure that not only this liquor licence but any other new liquor licence application in the area is thwarted.

Close to 200 members of the community joined a protest march and subsequent rally, supported by hundreds of bystanders and people in cars tooting support for the stand being made against the new Henry’s liquor store.

A subsidiary of Foodstuffs, Imperial Discount Liquor Ltd was planning to develop this new Henry’s liquor outlet on the corner of Yaldhurst and Avonhead Roads. At the same time the operator of another Foodstuffs store has applied for a liquor licence to operate in the nearly completed New World supermarket in Peer Street.

The protest group, which consisted of people ranging in age from under five to over 75 years old, walked and chanted their way along two main thoroughfares to the site of the proposed new Henry’s liquor store, before moving on to the Avonhead School nearby for speeches.

“We were delighted by the large turnout and encouraged by people’s enthusiasm” said Jane Tyler-Gordon, chairman the Residents’ Association.

Following her opening speech at the school, the speakers all encouraged the Residents’ group to fight on, including Sam Collins, National candidate for Wigram standing in for Hon Gerry Brownlee who was unable to attend. A strongly worded letter from the Minister to the District Liquor Licensing Authority expressing opposition to the Henry’s liquor licence was read out. An equally strong letter opposing the outlet from Lianne Dalziel was also read. Other speakers included Megan Woods, Labour candidate for Wigram, Dr Kennedy Graham, Green MP and a resident in Ilam, and Hon Jim Anderton, the standing member for Wigram, who each congratulated the crowd and inspired them to keep going.

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