Off- licence bid thrown out after more than 400 object

Councillors debated for an hour- and- a- half before announcing that the application had been rejected outright.

Cllr John Peach, committee chairman, said: “We believe that granting the licence would give rise to negative impacts.”

The move had also been opposed by local councillors.

SpeakingatthemeetingCllr Marion Todd ( East, Con), said: “This area has high density unemployment and deprivation and with that comes alcohol and drug abuse.

“I’m not saying that the shop will have anything to do with that but to meit will exacerbate the problem even more.

“There are six outlets in Star Road already, another one would be ridiculous.”

Cllr Nabil Shabbir ( East, Lab) added: “There are groups of youths gathering i n the streets at midnight drinking.

“The bins are over- flowing and there are beer bottles strewn in the streets, something has gone wrong here.

“I hadphonecallafterphone call and email after email, telling me not to support this.”

Surveyor Langford Smith, speaking onbehalf of the applicant, Harkan Tas, said: “There werelots of objections fromthe public but tellingly the police did not oppose it.

“It seems it is now fashionable to blamealcohol whenyou don’t like something.”

Mr Tas was given 21 days to appeal the decision.

The site of the proposed off- licence and grocery