Labour ministers said there has been no planning or evidence base for Burnham’s policy to change the licencing laws for vape shops. Who could have guessed…
This is Burnham’s policy:
“The government will consult on removing vape shops from Class E and making them sui generis – “of its own kind,” – a standalone category that always requires a planning application. This would mean every new vape shop needs permission, giving councils real power to cap numbers or restrict locations, such as near schools.”
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook, responding to a parliamentary question on 16 July – mere weeks ago and four days before Burnham became PM – said:
“My Department has made no specific assessment of the ability of local planning authorities to prevent the reopening of vape shops, where no planning permission is required because the use remains within the same use class.
The ‘Commercial, business and service’ use class (Class E) encompasses a wide range of uses which attract people to high streets and town centres.
Separately, the sale of tobacco and vaping products is being regulated through the Tobacco and Vapes Act which provides powers for Ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce, within their respective nations, a licensing scheme for the retail sale these products.
The Department for Health and Social Care intend to consult on the new retail licensing scheme next year.”
Where does this leave the plan to licence every retailer of vapes pursued by DHCSC? Joined up government latest…
