Licence granted after misinformation claims
Solihull councillors have granted a convenience shop an alcohol licence after hearing arguments there had been a lot of “misinformation” over the application. The shop, named Open Late, is located in Chester Road, Castle Bromwich, and is yet to open at a vacant unit which formerly housed a menswear shop.
Retirement village objections
Pensioners at Henshaw Court, a retirement living accommodation on the road, had flooded Solihull Council with objections to the proposal. Resident Mrs Dunn wrote: “I am concerned a licence could lead to increased late-night noise and disturbance for nearby residents.” Another resident, Maureen Spicer, added: “All our residents are between late 60s and 90s. The last thing we need at our age are people drinking and leaving the rubbish in our area.”
Applicant's response
Sami Atal, the shop’s director, applied to the authority for permission to sell alcohol daily between 7am and 11pm. Agent Michael Nickson from Inn Confidence, representing the applicant, told the licensing act panel on July 13: “This ought to have been a straightforward application, but engaging with local residents has been necessary against the backdrop of some misinformation circulating in the area about the nature of the premises and the hours proposed. Maybe the name ‘Open Late’ has contributed to this. We heard residents were invited to object as it was thought the business would operate 24 hours, which it will not. 7am to 11pm each day – these are entirely conventional hours for a modern convenience store.”
Panel decision
Councillor Keith Green, chairman of the panel, asked if alcohol would be a major sales item or an add-on. Mr Nickson said: “It’s certainly not alcohol led. The expression ‘off licence’ is misleading – it’s a convenience store, a one-stop shop.” He also highlighted no objections from West Midlands Police or authorities, and said concerns raised by objectors had to be supported by evidence. “Respectfully I would say we have not heard such evidence,” he added. “Authorities are perfectly happy with the application – they have scrutinised it to death.” The panel decided in a private session to grant the licence, subject to conditions including effective CCTV, keeping the shop and public access free from litter, keeping noise to an “acceptable level”, and staff training before authorising alcohol sales.
