A CONVENIENCE store was refused permission to sell alcohol at a new shop on Cardiff’s Chippy Lane after concerns were raised by the police about levels of crime in the area.
South Wales Police, Cardiff Council’s licensing authority and local businesses objected to the application relating to 37 Caroline Street, fearing that it would exacerbate issues with anti-social behaviour and alcohol related crime.
Representatives from the police told Cardiff Council’s licensing sub committee members at a meeting on Wednesday, March 12, they did not think the proposed conditions were sturdy enough and that a shop run by the applicant had appeared to breach licensing conditions.
Some businesses and residents objected to the plans on the grounds that they felt it would worsen on-street drinking.
A written objection by Mitchell & Butlers raised concerns about the issue of urination in shop doorways and aggressive behaviour “fuelled by cheap drink bought from existing city centre off-licence” being made worse by the store.
One resident wrote to the council to say they “constantly see examples of anti-social behaviour fuelled by cheap alcohol from the several local off licences” and regularly witness “on street drinking and all that goes with it, in particular public urination and worse”.
Ian Rushton of JL Licensing, who was representing the applicant, Santhosh Reddy Ashireddy, said his client was a responsible operator with decades of experience.
Police licensing officer, Claire Dewhurst, told licensing sub committee members that she attended one of Mr Ashireddy’s shops, 64 Leckwith Road in Cardiff, on Tuesday, March 11, and could only see that seven out of the 13 licensing conditions there were being met.
Ms Dewhurst said there was no incident log book at the store and that a member of staff there said they could not operate the CCTV cameras.
She also said there was a lack of alcohol refusal policy signage on display.
A written representation by South Wales Police to Cardiff Council states that they “strongly believe that the area is already saturated with off licences.”
Caroline Street falls within Cardiff’s cumulative impact assessment (CIA) area.
The CIA relates to a zone in the city where there is a high concentration of premises that are able to sell alcohol and includes streets like Queen Street and St Mary Street.
It is covered by policies that are aimed at controlling future applications for licensed premises which are subject to stricter rules.
Applications for a licence to sell alcohol in the CIA area need to demonstrate that they are exceptional.
Mr Rushton argued that Mr Ashireddy’s planned conditions and proposed amendment to restrict the sale of alcohol after 9pm made the application exceptional and that the CIA should not be a “blanket ban”.
He added: “This is a brand new business run by a significantly experienced operator.”
However, police and the licensing authority disagreed that the application was exceptional, with one representative of the licensing authority telling licensing sub committee members, “A number of the conditions are unworkable and not fit for purpose”.
A written representation by the licensing authority states: “Careful consideration should be given to applications for licences with off-sales of alcohol in areas where street drinking or disorder are prevalent.
“The area surrounding Caroline Street and adjacent [St Mary] Street is one such area.
“Applicants are advised to give particular consideration to the hours that they are applying for and the type of alcohol products they are offering.
“Persons who are alcohol dependent may be drawn to particular premises if they are licensed to sell alcohol at earlier/later times.
“Whilst the application has sought to include conditions by way of a refusals policy that may address some aspects of street drinking, it does not go far enough.”
Mr Ashireddy spent more than £75,000 refurbishing the shop on Caroline Street, according to Mr Rushton.
The shop owner’s representative at Wednesday’s meeting questioned how the shop will make crime worse in the area, adding that it will not attract additional people to the city centre like a new nightclub or bar would.
Mr Rushton said: “They [the operator] will fully comply with their conditions. They are… sensible and they are enforceable.”
Mr Ashireddy recently had an application to sell alcohol at a corner shop on Caerphilly Road in Cardiff approved by the council.
The premises on 115 Caerphilly Road was granted permission to sell alcohol until 12am throughout the week despite objections from local councillors and residents who said it was too close to a residential area.
