RESIDENTS say granting a late-night alcohol licence to a new corner shop for Lyde Green could cause “public disorder”.
But South Gloucestershire Council has granted a premises licence for the new shop in Thistle Close, opposite the Sainsbury’s Local store.
Residents told councillors in July that the new shop in Lyde Green, which will stay open until 11pm, could cause an increase in anti-social behaviour, problem parking and littering.
Initially the applicants planned to stay open until 2am, but brought forward the closing time to 11pm after discussions with Avon & Somerset Police.
Resident Tom Heard told the licensing hearing: “Studies have regularly shown that an increase in the number of licensed premises directly corresponds to an increase in public disorder.
“This would be the third, and potentially the fourth if the micropub is still to go ahead, within a 10-metre radius.
“The area around the site is extremely busy.
“The road is regularly used for dropping children off to school.
“Invariably there are many people parking not just on the double yellow lines, but also mounting the kerb on both sides of the road.
“An extra shop is going to bring in more cars and there isn’t anywhere really for people to park.
“Littering and drunken behaviour are also likely to increase.”
Other residents wrote to the council to object to the licensing application, with several highlighting the initial plan to stay open until 2am, much later than other premises on the estate.
Some also questioned the need for a shop given the presence of the Sainsbury’s store.
Oisin Daly, a licensing consultant representing the applicant, said: “I’ve got a local Sainsbury’s in my town and it’s the only supermarket.
“We’ve got a little joke, me and my wife, that every time you buy a bag it costs you £30 because you can’t walk out of there without spending about £30.
“A little convenience shop allows local residents to have smaller purchases.
“They tend to be places where you can get some cereal or milk for the morning.
“Obviously they sell alcohol as well. This will be the 12th shop in the chain, and they’re going from strength to strength.”
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service