Shop licence approved, But staff can only sell alcohol till 11pm not 2am following police concerns

THE owner of a new shop in Swansea who wanted to sell alcohol until 2am will reduce the opening hours after concerns were raised by police and nearby businesses.

The Kings Local convenience store will be on King Edward, Brynmill, near Truffle restaurant, and owner Jenan Ragunathan applied to Swansea Council for a new premises licence allowing the sale of alcohol from 6am to 2am seven days a week.

South Wales Police objected, saying such late opening hours would attract an element of anti-social behaviour and encourage people from outside the area to drive there late at night.

The force requested a closing time of 11pm and two additional conditions: no single cans of alcohol above 6.5% strength to be sold; and a personal licence holder to be on duty at all times for the purpose of selling alcohol.

There were six other written objections, including from a Truffle member of staff.

A council licensing sub-committee heard further representations when it met to consider the application, including from a police representative who said a 2am licence would have a detrimental impact on families, elderly people and students in a densely-populated residential area, although she said some students would make use of the late opening.

A Truffle representative said he was concerned that the late sale of alcohol could lead to people congregating outside the shop, potentially deterring restaurant customers. He also raised parking and litter concerns.

He said Truffle, which has an 11pm licence, didn’t have large parties and limited the amount of alcohol customers could bring themselves. “We find our clientèle are less rowdy, and more inclined to come and enjoy the food,” he said. “It is a quiet street at the end of the night.”

The owner of a nearby café said people were worried that the late sale of alcohol proposed would attract “the wrong type of people”. She added: “I’m not opposing there being a shop, it’s just the late licensing – that’s my problem.”

Mr Ragunathan’s legal representative said his client would amend the proposed sale of alcohol to 11pm instead of 2am and that the shop would also close at the earlier time.

He said Mr Ragunathan was investing quite a lot of money in the new convenience store, that he knew how to run them, and that an operating schedule had been drawn up. He also described the area, which several has shops, pubs and other businesses on adjacent Brynymor Road, as having a commercial mix.

“People are concerned about people congregating – I would say it’s not unmanageable,” said the legal representative.

He added that CCTV would cover an area outside the shop as well as inside, that Mr Ragunathan would install a bin outside and make sure the area was clean, and also have lighting in keeping with nearby businesses.

The legal representative accepted the police’s recommended condition not to sell single cans of alcohol above 6.5% strength, but thought the request that a personal licence holder be on duty at all times for the purpose of selling alcohol was not “proportionate or fair”.

The sub-committee retired to consider the evidence and awarded the amended licence setting out the 6am to 11pm hours.

Sufficient litter bins at the exit or just outside must be provided for customers, CCTV must cover directly outside the shop, and clear notices must be displayed requesting customers don’t loiter or congregate outside or in the immediate vicinity.