Store's alcohol licence approved despite concerns

A convenience store has been given the go-ahead to sell alcohol despite objections from residents.

Hanley Supermarket in Stoke-on-Trent secured permission to sell alcohol daily between 06:00 and 23:00 GMT from the city council's licensing sub-committee on Monday.

It came after multiple objections were raised from people living nearby, with some complaining about the potential for noise and anti-social behaviour.

A representative of the store's owner Harem Mohamed Amin said no alcohol would be consumed on the premises and CCTV would be in operation 24 hours a day.

Resident June Turner, 88, said in her objection that cars would be stopping virtually outside her front door and the noise and disruption would be "unbearable".

She added: "How much sleep will us residents get if you allow the application to go through?"

Another objector, resident and business owner TC Chung, said groups would often block the doors to businesses and homes before subjecting people to verbal abuse when they were asked to move.

The committee meeting was told there were no objections from authorities, including Staffordshire Police, before members voted to approve the licensing application.

A statement read out on behalf of the applicant's representative said: "The client wishes to start a new venture. The business will not be offering alcohol consumption on the site or in its boundaries.

"There is anti-social behaviour within the area, but this is the case in many other parts of the city, too."

They said the owner was willing to support the neighbourhood by having 24-hour CCTV recording and monitoring, which would "help to deter troublemakers from the area".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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