Fears that Manchester petrol station would be a street drinking ‘magnet’ if booze sold all night

A petrol station in Manchester has been refused a 24-hour alcohol licence after police expressed fears it would become a ‘magnet’ for street drinking.

The Premier food and fuel shop off Bury New Road asked for permission to sell alcohol using a hatch through the night – but the application was rejected.

Unique Convenience Store in Waterloo Road, which is located opposite Cheetwood Community Primary School, already serves alcohol until 11pm.

Owner Summaiya Nabeel, who also runs a Nisa store in Higher Blackley, said she wants to grow her business, but without creating problems in the area.

But licensing officers at Manchester City Council said the petrol station would attract ‘late night city centre revellers’ who would disturb local residents.

What did the police say about the alcohol licence bid?

Speaking on behalf of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at a licensing hearing, PC Alan Isherwood said police are already facing issues with street drinking in the Strangeways area.

He said: “We’re concerned about exacerbating these problems.

“It could become a magnet for people who want to street drink, that are perhaps drink dependent.

“They’ll see it as somewhere where they can get alcohol around the clock.”

PC Isherwood also raised concerns about drinkers hanging around the petrol station in the early hours of the morning as children start to arrive at school.

What did licensing officers say?

Licensing out-of-hours officer Lauren Connell told councillors that noise from people at the petrol station late at night may disturb residents who live nearby.

She also claimed that late night alcohol sales could contribute to litter and waste – a ‘particularly well known problem’ in this part of the city, she said.

The council officer also said, if the licence is granted, this petrol station would be the only premises within a five minute drive to sell alcohol 24-hours-a-day.

She said: “We’ve got concerns that people coming and going, mainly late night revellers from the city centre leaving the premises, we will be providing them a destination that operates through the night for alcohol sales.”

What was the conclusion at the licensing panel over the alcohol licence bid?

Chairing the licensing panel on Monday (4 July), councillor Paul Andrews explained why the application for a 24-hour alcohol licence was refused.

He said: “We believe this is a sensitive location, especially close to a school.

“Having looked at the application, there’s no condition put forward by the applicant that would give us the confidence that the licensing objectives would be upheld.”

The applicant can now appeal the decision through the magistrates’ courts.