Eastern Green store applies to sell alcohol 17 hours a day

A covenience store in Coventry wants to sell alcohol to customers seven days a week.



An application has been submitted to Coventry City Council for News Express in Eastern Green to supply liquor Monday to Sunday from 6am until 11pm.

The application for the Sutton Avenue store has led one angry neighbour to submit a lengthy objection letter to the council stating no fewer than 17 reasons why it should not be granted.

The letter reads: “In the opinion of our family and near neighbours this application for a grant of a premises licence to News Express would cause demonstrable harm to us as we are the owners and occupiers of the said residential properties.

“These are our homes. It is where we live and raise our families.

“If this proposal were allowed to go ahead, we anticipate an increase in anti-social behaviour, noise, nuisance, litter, criminal damage, traffic and general disturbance.

“It is likely this would happen up to and beyond 23:00.”

It goes on to say it would be inappropriate for a shop that is so close to nurseries and primary and secondary schools to sell alcohol.

Officials for The Midcounties Co-operative, which owns the store, promised in the application to adopt a Challenge 25 policy and said: “The training manual used in connection with age restricted sales would be a tool used to protect children from harm. Staff would be trained in accordance with the manual.”

The application also said: “Save for age-related sales, there are believed to be no issues relating to public safety that could arise from the day- to-day running of the store.

"Of course, day-to-day policies and procedures govern other aspects of trade.”

It has also been agreed that if the application gets the go-ahead at a council licensing meeting next week, CCTV cameras will also be installed with a register of refused customers also kept at all times.

Staff would also be trained in basic licensing laws and what are acceptable forms of identification.

Councillors will vote on the application at a council licensing and regulatory committee hearing on Wednesday, February 8.

Eastern Green store owner wins bid to sell alcohol seven days a week despite residents' protests

A CONVENIENCE store owner in Coventry's Eastern Green has won his bid to sell alcohol seven days a week.

Councillors yesterday voted to approve a liquor licence for News Express in Eastern Green, Coventry.

It came despite strong objections from local residents against the application by store owner Midcounties Co-operative on grounds of increased nuisance, antisocial behaviour and its proximity to local schools.

The applicant applied to sell alcohol from the Sutton Avenue shop Monday to Sunday from 6am until 11pm, attracting 36 letters of objection from neighbours and two objection letters from local councillors.

Speaking on behalf of Midcounties Co-operative, Philip Somarakis sought to reassure members of the licensing committee that alcohol sales in the store would be well managed with a Challenge 25 policy, refusals record and fully trained staff.

He said: “The idea about being able to sell alcohol from early in the morning until late was to give people the convenience.It’s very much a convenience-led business.

“It’s not about selling alcohol at knock-down prices. It’s for people buying their shopping to give them the chance to buy wines, spirits and beers as well.

“We don’t expect to see any significant increase in the number of people using the store.”

Councillor David Skinner (Con, Westwood) said: “I don’t understand why, if you don’t expect any more customers, you have applied for this in the first place.

“However responsible you are we know its not always responsible people doing their shopping in the store.”

Councillor Heather Johnson (Con, Woodlands) speaking on behalf of the objectors, said: “The issues are protecting children from harm, public safety, the possibility of public disorder.”

Resident Alan Adcock, of Frederick Neal Avenue, said the sale of alcohol would be a “magnet for criminals”.

Councillors granted a licence on the condition it would only run until the 10pm closing time instead of 11pm as applied for.

It was also granted on the condition all deliveries, except newspapers, would be restricted to between 8am and 7pm to limit disruption.

Also, two members of staff must be on the shop floor at all times and CCTV cameras must be installed outside the premises.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Adcock said: “I’m disappointed.

“The sale of alcohol will lead the area to go downhill through the availability of booze.”