Residents ‘appalled’ as Manchester shop labelled ‘a beacon of badness’ allowed to sell booze until 4am

A shop surrounded by student accommodation in Manchester will be allowed to sell alcohol until 4am every day despite strong opposition from neighbours.

Residents of the Aquarius and Loxford estates in Hulme have branded the Spar, which already opens until 2am on Saturdays, as a ‘beacon of badness’.

They fear the later opening hours means they will be woken up by loud drunk people from outside of the neighbourhood looking to buy booze late at night.

A town hall hearing held last week heard that the area already suffers from anti-social behaviour such as street drinking, littering and late night noise.

What was said about the shop at the licensing hearing?

Speaking at the licensing hearing on October 10, one resident reported that people regularly urinate in the garden that is directly next door to the shop.

Residents were concerned that extending the licence for the store in Stretford Road would only exacerbate these existing issues – and the police agreed. Even Manchester Metropolitan University objected to the application saying it would undermine efforts to ‘promote responsible behaviour’ among students.

However, speaking on behalf of applicant Rajinder Singh at the hearing, barrister Sarah Clover argued that the council’s licensing officers failed to produce evidence that extending the hours to 2am last year led to any issues. Manchester City Council granted permission for the shop to open until 4am all week, saying there was no evidence to warrant rejecting the application.

Despite recognising ongoing problems in the area, councillors on the licensing panel concluded that none have been identified as being linked to the store.

What was said after the licensing hearing?

Sally Casey, who represents residents on the Aquarius estate, says she and her neighbours are ‘appalled’ and ‘really, really upset’ about the council’s decision.

She said: “We’ll be watching that shop like hawks. We know what’s going to happen. It’s wrong. I’m not condemning students. But it’s like a beacon of badness.”

Emma Cooper, who lives in Epping Street, was equally disappointed with the decision, saying the local authority has ‘just let them get away with murder’.

She accused the shop of ‘pandering’ to people who do not live in the area at the expense of ‘the real people who belong in the community’ and who ‘already have to put up with drunk people from 2am shouting on the street’.

Karen Welsh, who lives in the Loxford area, said she feels ‘let down’. She said: “We as residents suffer the effects of this opening late and we’re just not looking forward to more of the same of what we’ve had.”

Responding to the residents’ comments about the shop, premises licence holder Rajinder Singh said: “It’s a beacon for goodness because the police have never had to come out to the shop. There’s no issues whatsover. That’s the reason the licensce has been granted.”