Bulwell store granted booze licence extended

A Bulwell store has been given the go-ahead for a total extension of 37.5 hours a week when it can sell alcohol.

The decision, reached this week by a Nottingham City Council licensing panel, means that Londis, of Highbury Road, can now sell drink from 6am to 2am seven days a week.

Coun Alan Clark and Eunice Campbell, who are Labour members for Bulwell Forest ward on Nottingham City Council, represented more than 50 people who objected to the application.

But Roy Light, for Londis, said 300 people had signed a petition at the store in support of the extension.

Coun Clark told the hearing there were concerns over likely public nuisance and anti-social behaviour if the extra hours were granted.

“It could lead to more street trouble with young people hanging around,” Coun Clark claimed. “The current operators are not aware of incidents directly outside their premises and are not responding to them.”

Steve Jones, who lives near the store, said his eight-year-old son had been disturbed at night by ‘gangs’ congregating outside the premises. Another resident, Jane Lakey, told the tribunal: “It would send out a bad mixed message to promote alcohol use and misuse in this area.”

Mr Light said the store was a popular venue. The applicant and the store manager had a lot of experience running such a business and there had not been any complaints about how they operated.

He added that the police were unhappy about an earlier application for 24-hour alcohol sales at the premises but now had no objection.

Mr Light said security at the store had been greatly increased since a robbery eight months ago when three men stole cigarettes and £100 from the till. There were 13 CCTV cameras inside the store and three outside.

Announcing the decision, chairman Coun Brian Grocock said the panel sympathised with residents’ concerns but had to take case law into account. He pointed out that if problems did occur, anyone could apply for a review of the licence.