Neighbours object to 24-hour Morrisons drink sales

People living near a mini-supermarket said they were "very concerned" about its plans to serve alcohol through the night.

The owners of Morrisons Daily in Sprowston, near Norwich – which opens 24 hours a day - have applied to extend its drinks licence to sell "late-night refreshment" between 23:00 and 05:00.

Five residents near the Chartwell Road store have objected to the plan, with one warning that granting a licence extension would set "a very dangerous precedent" for the area.

Police have told Broadland District Council – which will decide on the licence – that they do not object if the store only makes sales through a hatch during the extended hours, which the site's owners have agreed to.

In letters to the council, people living nearby warn of the potential for late-night noise affecting the "large residential area" nearby.

One said they feared that other businesses in the area would want 24-hour drinks licences and that, if the Morrisons store was given one, "a very dangerous, frightening, unwelcome and unwanted precedent will have been set".

The shop - a franchise store, rather than part of the main Morrisons chain – opened earlier this year, replacing a former branch of Co-op.

Winckworth Sherwood, the agent acting on behalf of the shop's management, said it had agreed to the condition.

Senior partner Robert Botkai told the BBC its client "successfully operates a number of 24-hour stores".

"I will be addressing the resident concerns at the council meeting," he added.

The council's licensing committee is due to make its decision next week.

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