Southall Shop Given Licence Despite Met's Objection

The police raised concerns about street drinking and antisocial behaviour in the area. Gurjas Food & Wine, which is registered at the same address as Sapna Express, will now be able to sell alcohol daily.

Despite objecting to the application outright, the police did request a number of conditions in the event the committee granted the licence. These were agreed by councillors, meaning the shop cannot sell alcohol all day, instead only during permitted hours.

Monday through Thursday, alcohol can be sold from 8am until 11pm. On Fridays, Saturdays, and bank holidays between 10am and 11pm, and on Sundays between 11am and 10.30pm.

Additionally, all alcohol must be stored in a lockable shutter outside of licensed hours. All additional stock of alcohol must not be stored on the shop floor, but in a lockable stock room.

The Metropolitan Police also cited concerns that the area is “already saturated” with off-licences selling alcohol. Objecting to the application, the police said, “If this application is granted it will only increase antisocial behaviour in the area and will lure more street drinkers to it, rather than deter them, and the licensing objectives will not be promoted.”

This area of Southall falls within an Ealing Council ‘special policy area’. The council introduces a special policy area if somewhere is affected by crime and antisocial behaviour at levels higher than elsewhere in the borough.

In these instances, the onus is on the applicant to prove that granting a licence will not add to existing problems, and exceptions must be “genuinely exceptional”. The police did not consider any part of this application to be exceptional.

The applicant told the committee it does not intend to sell strong beers [over 5 per cent], nor will it sell to street drinkers. When asked why the shop should be allowed to sell where “alcoholism is a problem”, the applicant said as his store is larger than others, selling grocery items, he intends to create a one-stop shop for residents.

According to a council licensing report, Southall Green has the highest number of licensed premises in Southall, with 60 already operating. The report also found that hospital admissions are 36 per cent higher in Southall than the nationwide average.

Returning the decision, Councillor Julian Gallant told the committee that councillors were confident the applicant will uphold licensing conditions. The shop will also be forced to adhere to all conditions requested by the police.

Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter