Residents protest shop's alcohol bid

CONCERN OVER NOISE, STREET DRINKING AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

PROTESTERS gathered outside a new shop to voice their objections to an alcohol licence application in Stockton.

Residents fear selling alcoholic drinks at Richardson Road Convenience Store will "ruin" the area.

Alaimagan Thangarajah, 47, had applied to sell alcoholic drinks at the shop between 6am and 11pm every day, but has now agreed to reduce the hours to 9am to 10pm. The application is being considered by Stockton Council.

Licensing, environmental health, public health, community safety and Cleveland Police officers all objected to granting a licence in its original form, on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety.

They said it went against policy to restrict alcohol sales in shops and supermarkets to between 9am and 10pm in residential areas, with "at least six" other off-licences in the area according to police.

Residents have sent a petition to the council's licensing subcommittee, which will consider the matter at Dunedin House at 1.30pm next Thursday, October 23. The petition says another off-licence is likely to increase late-night noise, littering and disturbances, add to alcohol related crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour, increase traffic and worsen parking problems.

More than 50 people gathered outside the proposed shop, some bearing signs reading 'say no to alcohol, 'keep the kids safe' and 'less drinking, more thinking, on Tuesday afternoon.

They argued an off-licence on Richardson Road, Oxbridge, near a nursery and family hub, could attract problems like street drinking, rowdy behaviour and nuisance, and wreck efforts to reduce such problems.