Anti-social behaviour fears over Walsall newsagent's alcohol licence
Residents fear anti-social behaviour could rise in part of Streetly if a newsagent is allowed to sell alcohol.
Walsall Council’s licensing sub-committee will meet on September 2, to discuss an application by Taylors News in Blackwood Road for a premises licence.
If approved, the store will be able to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight, seven days a week.
Taylors is open for walk-in trade from 6am to 6pm every day and sales of alcohol after closing time will be for deliveries and not to customers in person in the shop.
There have been no objections to the proposal by public health, community protection or the police, who have agreed conditions with the owners to put in place on the licence. But the application has caused some concern to nearby residents with a dozen representations being sent in to licensing officers at Walsall Council.
One resident claimed alcohol was already being sold there as part of gift hampers – but a report to the committee said an investigation found no alcohol on sale in the products.
The report added that owner Aidan Stanton owned other licensed premises within close proximity of the newsagent.
Other residents, however, said there was no need for any more outlets selling alcohol in the area and raised fears that it could lead to more problems in the area.
David Erfani said: “It will bring a whole load of trouble to the park for anti-social behaviour – the drug use there is already high.
“The young people gather and would nip to the shop behind parents backs to drink adding to the disaffected anti-social behaviour already taking place at the park.
“We have already seen two attacks happen at these shops in the last 12 months and easy access to alcohol will fuel behaviour.
Gail Wright said: “There is a lot of anti-social behaviour in the area so the last thing we need is selling alcohol to make this worse on the surrounding streets and in the local parks.
“We have enough outlets in the area already selling drink. Selling alcohol for such a long period of time seven days a week is unacceptable. We do not want an increase in crime.”
