Shops' alcohol sales plans spark concerns

Plans by two shops in Scarborough to sell alcohol from 07:00 every day have been criticised by some local residents ahead of a meeting to discuss the proposals.

North Yorkshire Council's licensing sub-committee is due to consider applications from One Stop and Food Plus, both on Newborough in Scarborough, at a meeting next week.

If approved, the licences would allow the shops to sell alcohol from early morning until late evening, seven days a week.

One objector warned the area risked becoming "dominated by off-licence alcohol availability" and said that would not be "in the interests of the local community".

The One Stop shop at 50-53 Newborough has applied to sell alcohol and operate between 07:00 and 22:00 every day, while Food Plus, at 54-55 Newborough, wants permission to sell alcohol and remain open from 07:00 until 23:00 daily.

However, the applications have attracted objections from local residents and a nearby business owner, who have raised concerns about the potential impact on the town centre.

In representations submitted to the council, one local business owner said extending alcohol availability could increase the risk of "street drinking, littering, loitering, anti-social behaviour, proxy purchasing and underage access to alcohol".

"The grant of these applications would undermine the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm," the submission stated.

The objector asked that if councillors decided to approve the licences, a number of additional conditions should be imposed.

Those included restricting alcohol sales to between 10:00 and 21:00, prohibiting the sale of single cans and bottles and banning the sale of beer, lager and cider above 5.5% alcohol by volume.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the objector also requested spirits be kept behind the counter or in locked display cabinets, and wanted both shops to operate a Challenge 25 age-verification policy at all times.

Members of the council's statutory licensing sub-committee are due to consider the applications on 10 August at Scarborough Town Hall, with members of the public invited to attend.

The panel can approve the licences as submitted, grant them with additional conditions, or refuse all or part of the applications.

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