Tesco in alcohol licence bid for proposed new store at church site

Tesco has applied for a licence to sell alcohol at its new proposed branch in Newbridge.

The supermarket giant is preparing to convert the former Methodist Church, on Bridge Street, into a Tesco Express store.

Planning permission for the change of use was approved in September, and it now transpires Tesco is set to take the reins there – although it could be late 2025 before the new shop opens.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s licensing committee has heard concerns about the potential impact alcohol sales at the premises may have on nearby residents, however.

Environmental health officer Gareth Jones said his reservations about the plan for 6am to midnight booze sales daily were “not a slur against the professionalism” of Tesco but were “about the location” of the proposed store.

“This is a very quiet little part of Newbridge”, he told the committee, adding that the church had been “closed for a number of years”.

The opening of a new shop there “is going to hit the residents who live opposite quite hard”, he claimed.

Mr Jones instead proposed the committee approve shorter alcohol sales hours of 7am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 10pm on Sunday.

Jeremy Bark, representing Tesco, defended his client’s record on responsible alcohol sales, telling the committee the company had pioneered several policies around age checks in the UK.

He said alcohol sales were a “small but important part” of the offer at Tesco Express stores, and the vast majority were part of wider purchases of other groceries.

The firm keeps a “rogues’ gallery” of troublemakers and has extensive training for staff, Mr Bark explained.

“We would rather be too restrictive than the other way around,” he said, adding Tesco is “incredibly responsible in everything we do”.

Mr Bark also said national legislation and the council’s own guidance suggested shops like a Tesco Express would “normally” be granted licensing hours to match their opening hours unless there is “good evidence to restrict” those times.

The committee heard Gwent Police had offered no objections to the company’s original licensing application for the site.

But following Mr Jones’ arguments, Mr Bark offered a “compromise” to the committee, of licensable hours of 6am to 11pm daily.

Cllr Mike Adams noted the location was “100 yards from a secondary school”.

Mr Bark said Tesco worked with schools and communities to ensure there were no problems linked to their stores.

Cllr Shane Williams, chairing the meeting, reminded those present that the licensing committee was only responsible for considering licensing matters – and not for other potential changes to the community brought about by the building’s change of use.

No members of the public offered objections to the licensing bid during a recent consultation period, the meeting was told.

The committee retired to consider the case, and will publish its decision in the coming days.