Corner shop granted alcohol licence despite hundreds of objections

North Tyneside Council’s licensing sub-committee has approved the sale of alcohol at Glebe Road Convenience Store, Glebe Road, from 6am until 11pm, everyday. The decision comes despite a local petition against the application, totalling 494 signatures.

The petition stated residents were concerned about an additional business selling alcohol in the area on the grounds of worsening anti-social behaviour and public nuisance.

Speaking against the application at the meeting, Forest Hall resident of 57 years Graham Young said: “There are ten off-licences in Forest Hall plus nine public houses. There has been defecation in Forest Hall shopping area, urinating, people going into people’s gardens defecating and urinating. There are a lot of young children around and to me I don’t think it warrants another off-licence in Forest Hall.”

Mr Young also told the committee he has contacted Northumbria Police on several occasions due to anti-social behaviour in his area.

Fellow local Moira Dickson added: “My objection is that there should not be another premises that sells alcohol and I base my representations on the following licensing objectives, the prevention of public nuisance, the prevention of crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm.”

In response to the public concerns, the licensing consultant Naga Rajesh acting on behalf of the applicant said: “My client [Rajaganapathi Yagyanayanan] has a number of years of experience in the licensing trade and this is his first business and investment. He is a family-man with young children and all his life-savings are going into this business.”

Mr Rajesh continued: “This is going to be his family’s livelihood, the reason I mention that is this business is going to be depending on local residents, more importantly immediate neighbours, without them this business will fail.

“He is not going to undermine any licensing objectives or make his neighbour’s lives hell. That is not the purpose, he is investing in the business, this is his livelihood and he is going to rely on everyone in this room for survival and he is not going to jeopardise that.”

Mr Rajesh also made reference to a number of conditions within the application submitted, including the installation of CCTV, staff training, compliance with ‘Challenge 25’ and the registering of refused sales. The committee was also told that alcohol sales would make up around 10-15% of total sales within the shop, if the licence was granted.

The consultant also added that Northumbria Police, nor any other authority, had not objected to the application.

The applicant himself added: “My intention is to run a very very good family friendly shop. My intention is not to promote alcohol, it’s just part of the business and I want to do a great service to the Forest Hall community.”

Following a deliberation, the committee granted the licence to serve alcohol between the hours of 6am to 11pm throughout the week.