Shopkeeper’s Christmas spirit blow

THE ban on selling alcohol for three months at a convenience store and off-licence in Swindon will not be lifted for Christmas.

Chintam Shah, who runs Meadowcroft Express in Upper Stratton had his licence to sell alcohol suspended for three months in September – with the ban running until mid-January – for selling drink, tobacco and vape products to youngsters under 18.

He applied to Swindon Borough Council’s licensing team for a special temporary event notice licence to be able to sell alcohol around Christmas.

Mr Shah was not present at the meeting of the licensing panel convened to consider his application yesterday but his brother Jay spoke on his behalf.

Mr Shah said: “We’d like to do this because we are facing increased costs and losses with rising inflation, but if you don’t want to give us the licence, we don’t have any issue with that.”

The panel decided not to allow the temporary event licence.