Accrington shop to have drinks licence reviewed (From This Is Lancashire)

Accrington shop to have drinks licence reviewed

5:40pm Monday 9th November 2009 in

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A SHOP which has been accused of contributing to a rise in anti-social behaviour in a part of Accrington could be set to lose its licence.

A special review hearing will take place tomorrow after scores of complaints were lodged about the Heywood Road Off Licence in the Milnshaw area of town.

Police said the premises, which had been operating since August, had also failed two recent test-purchase operations, selling booze to under-age children.

And officers said a series of measures had been put in place to halt crime and disorder, public nuisance and protect children from harm.

But the supervisor at the shop said the problems were ‘nothing major’ and claimed they had many people in the community supporting them against the police accusations.

In a report to the council, PC Les Sholicar said: “The premises licence holder has failed to uphold any of the licensing objectives.”

Problems including large groups of youth congregating as well as vandalism and anti-social behaviour have been listed at the site, he said.

Shop supervisor Atif Wasim said: “We have problems, just like all off-licences do but it is nothing major. We do get kids hanging around but we tell them to move.

“We have collected a petition, which is eight sides of A4, full of names of people who support us.”

At the meeting of Hyndburn Council’s licensing sub committee tomorrow the shop could lose its alcohol licence or have it suspended for up to three months.

Yesterday residents near the shop, which has been operating for over a year since a Bargain Booze closed at the site, said the problems had caused chaos in the street.

And Coun Malcolm Pritchard will lead a delegation of residents at the meeting to voice their concerns.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There are kids outside there all of the time and it is intimidating.”