Green light to sell alcohol for 24 hours a day
RESIDENTS EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, NOISE AND LITTER
A DERBYSHIRE petrol station has been given permission to sell alcohol 24/7.
Residents near The Junction Service Station in Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton had raised concerns about a noisy tannoy system and plastic gloves littering the area.
They also suggested that 24/7 alcohol sales could lead to disruption and anti-social behaviour.
A licensing hearing was held by Erewash Borough Council on August 13, with councillors choosing to approve the extension of hours from 6am to 11pm to 24 hours a day.
Katie Maughan, who lives next to the site, told the hearing that she was frequently impacted by the tannoy system at the service station.
She also complains that a large number of plastic garage gloves are frequently found in her front garden.
On behalf of MPK Garages, which owns the site, Gill Sherratt and Wayne Harrand told councillors that the tannoy system is there for health and safety reasons and has “no relevance” to the premises licence.
They said the garage was “unaware” of the litter issues but said this, too, was “not relevant” to the venue’s licence, but that management would be happy to speak to residents about the matter.
In a formal decision notice, the panel of councillors approved the extension of hours, saying: “Members appreciate the concerns expressed by the interested parties as to the likelihood of noise, anti-social behaviour and litter being exacerbated by an extension in the opening hours of the premises for the sale of alcohol and provision of late night refreshment.
“However, it is not considered that such concerns can be justified.
“No representations have been received from responsible authorities as to the running of the premises to date and no reports of anti-social behaviour at the premises have been presented.”
It details that the petrol station could choose to open 24/7, but without the sale of alcohol and late night refreshments without a premises licence.
The decision notice says the panel was satisfied that the extension of alcohol sales “would not create the risk of noise, anti-social behaviour and littering to which the interested parties (the neighbours) refer”.
In its application for the extension, MPK Garages Ltd, which owns the Wilsthorpe Road site along with 60 other sites in the UK, wrote: “The premises are a well-established filling station and forecourt with a convenience store which have been owned by the applicant for several years without complaint, problems or any issues.
“The convenience store where alcohol is sold is part of the Morrisons Local brand and is a valuable resource for the local people in the area.”