Plans for a convenience store to be set up in a “crime and anti-social behaviour hot spot” have been met with concern by the leader of Liverpool Council.
Proposals have been submitted to the city’s licensing and gambling sub-committee by Suresh Ponnampalam for a premises licence at an address on Boaler Street. The application seeks to secure a right to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 9am to 11pm daily.
However, the plans have been met with concern by Kensington and Fairfield ward members including council leader Liam Robinson.
In a written submission to the committee ahead of a decision being made at Liverpool Town Hall tomorrow, Cllr Robinson, alongside cabinet and ward colleague Cllr Liz Parsons and former acting Mayor Wendy Simon, the members said they had concerts the premises would add to issues in a “crime and anti-social behaviour hot spot” and “it is not clear from the application how these issues would be prevented.”
Regarding the licensing objective of preventing public safety, the Labour councillors said, “There are already drink-related street drinking issues on this road emanating from another nearby establishment, it is not clear from the application how this application will not add to further issues in the area. The area also suffers from real issues with litter and again it is not clear how the application will prevent any further issues of this nature.”
The plans for the former hot food takeaway have been put forward by Suresh Ponnampalam, who would act as designated premises supervisor. His proposals did little to win over the ward members, who raised fears regarding the proximity to two primary schools and a youth club.
They wrote, “Apart from a later start time to proposed sales it is not clear how the application will ensure no children are exposed to the negative impact of alcohol in the area.”
Should the proposals be given the go-ahead by the three person committee when it meets tomorrow morning, it has been suggested by Cllrs Robinson, Simon and Parsons that conditions be put in place, including a restriction on single can sales and minimum size bottles.
The members have also called for no products to be sold above 4.5% abv and the business to comply with street cleaning in the vicinity.
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