Desperate locals complain convenience store smells like 'fish and death'
Furious residents living close to a convenience store say they are at breaking point with the chaos, rubbish and a stench of "fish and death". The former Phythian pub on Farnworth Street in Kensington, Liverpool, is now operating as Best Foods Mega, and a wave of complaints has prompted a Liverpool Council investigation.
Locals say inconsiderate parking, dumped rubbish, and planning issues have made life unbearable. "People are living in this forced situation," one neighbour told the Liverpool Echo. Among the most vocal is Andrew Rowe, whose parents live nearby. He's been sending weekly emails to council officials, including council leader Cllr Liam Robinson, sharing photos of cars clogging pavements and loading bays.
A manager at Best Foods Mega said they are aware of the concerns and cooperating with the investigation, telling The Mirror they are "working very hard to sort the problems".
Mr Rowe, who has sent almost a year's worth of correspondence to the Cunard Building, said issues began in 2022. He explained: "I can't remember a time when it wasn't as bad as it is now." Problems included the smell emanating from the fishmonger and takeaway, with Mr Rowe likening the scent to "death and fish at night".
He added: "In my job, I've smelt death and a couple of times it was exactly the same." Residents have called the area "the worst street in the city". Mr Rowe said: "People are living in this forced situation, the thing we struggle against is that it's so popular. It doesn't serve a purpose for us here as a community."
Due to its popularity, the shop often finds itself surrounded by parked cars, despite the business putting up signs encouraging people not to leave their cars in an anti-social fashion. Mr Rowe said his family had sometimes struggled to get out of their front gate, because of the number of cars left in the road.
He said: "There's disgraceful mess left by customers after they've eaten at the takeaway, which they treat as a street vendor. This is a residential street, not a high street or public restaurant."
Neighbour Roy Linney, who lives opposite the shop with his wife, Mo, said: "It's constant, seven days a week, from 8am we hear noise, things being loaded right into the night, it's full on." Mr Linney added that he felt frustrated at the lack of action from Liverpool Council. "Everything feels totally drawn out. The way rubbish has been dumped we've seen a big increase in rats, flies and mess like that," he said.
In December last year, a planning application was rejected for a three-story extension to the building to incorporate nine flats as well as amendments to the building. According to a design and access statement attached to the application, the business sought to "modernise to accommodate a variety of retail units, including a takeaway restaurant, fishmonger, butcher, clothing store, and jewellery shop, each with ample stockroom storage within the commercial unit."
It said the proposed works would "have a positive impact on the local community and economy. By revitalising the commercial scene and providing essential amenities, we will attract new businesses and customers to the area, boosting foot traffic and revitalizing the local commercial scene".
This was rejected by city planners who said the development would be "excessive and harmful to the residential amenity and character of the areas due to the associated deliveries, customer visits and comings and goings linked to the nine residential flats".
A spokesperson for the city council said it continues to monitor the situation through its enforcement task group. The authority said representatives from its planning, environmental health, highways and parking services teams are "actively engaged in assessing and responding to issues raised by residents".
Among these are the failed planning application, resident complaints about a hot food counter and use of the building, and a structure within a council-owned alleyway. Weekly site monitoring has been undertaken, with city council officials reaching out to shop staff to discuss operational impacts on the surrounding area.
The spokesperson said: "To ensure swift and robust action, enforcement measures are being applied where necessary. Highways has issued a notice regarding the unauthorised alleyway structure; Environmental Health continues to monitor activities at the fishmongers for any potential nuisance issues such as smells, noise, and waste; and Parking Services is visiting the location to enforce regulations."
In the last year, nine penalty charge notices have been issued around the business, while planning officers have begun a review of developments on site "following concerns that unauthorised work has begun upstairs". The spokesperson said it was "important to maintain an open dialogue with both residents and local businesses".
The statement added: "Residents are encouraged to continue to report any concerns through official channels as this will ensure proper case documentation and further enforcement where appropriate.
"Liverpool Council remains dedicated to upholding planning and environmental standards while ensuring that any actions taken are fair and proportionate. Multiple teams from the council will continue to work collaboratively to address any ongoing concerns regarding this business and the surrounding area."
A manager at Best Foods Mega told the Mirror the store was working with the council, community officer, highway officer, and environment officers and talking to them personally. He said: "We are working very hard to sort the problems." In response to parking complaints, he said they have brought in security from 3 to 7pm to control parking.
The manager also said the store did "not smell like fish", as it was sold in a closed area of the store, but could possibly smell on delivery days.
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