Wolverhampton garage booze sales branded ‘ludicrous’ by councillors
Plans to give a petrol station in a residential area a licence to sell alcohol has been criticised by city councillors.
An application has been made for the Shell garage, also known locally as the Triton Garage, on Tettenhall Road, to sell booze.
Now councillors have spoken out about the plans after residents called on them to take a stand ahead of a meeting of the council’s licensing sub-committee meeting due to take place on Tuesday, May 16.
Concerns are that the garage is only streets away from hostels for people dealing with alcohol misuse issues.
The garage is also part of the Public Protection Order area which was brought in by the council earlier this year to ban street drinking.
Residents have written to the council against the plans.
Councillor Mike Hardacre, Labour councillor for Park ward has issued a statement of objection to the council over the application.
Councillor Hardacre said: “It’s absolutely ludicrous. This application makes a mockery of the Public Space Protection Order and of the licensing objectives.
"How can the council issue an order banning street drinking in the ward whilst at the same time be considering an application to sell alcohol from a garage for 24 hours?
“We have a lot of vulnerable people living in this ward and this will only make matters worse.”
Councillor Craig Collingswood who also represents Park ward said: “The area is already well served by off-licences and small supermarkets that sell alcohol.
"The Public Space Protection Order was introduced to try and help tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour that we have been dealing with in the ward for some time.
“If this application is approved, it will mean that people will be buying alcohol from the garage which cannot be consumed on site, meaning it will undermine what the protection order is trying to do.
"There is a really strong sense of feeling over this and I hope residents will be able to express their concerns.”
Councillors have said they are against the proposals on the basis of prevention of crime, protection of public safety, prevention of public nuisance and protection of children.
Shell was unavailable to comment. on the application.
