Petrol station shop fails in bid to start round-the-clock booze sales

A Rhymney petrol station shop will not be allowed to sell alcohol around the clock, councillors have decided.

Members of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s licensing committee agreed unanimously to reject the proposals for the Londis shop on Victoria Road, after hearing complaints from neighbours about noise and antisocial behaviour.

One nearby resident told the committee neighbours “want to just live in peace” and claimed their lives were already affected by “boy racers” visiting the garage.

The shop is currently allowed to open 24 hours a day but can only sell alcohol between 7.30am and 11pm.

Speaking at a committee meeting in late June, council environmental health officer Victoria Woodland said late-night alcohol sales could be “very impactful” for nearby residents “trying to sleep”.

She also said “alcohol-fuelled individuals bring about public nuisance”.

Suresh Kanapathi, representing applicant Atlas UK Groups Ltd, challenged some of the local concerns about “constant” noise and “rowdy” customers, and said alcohol would be “a small part of the premises”.

He added the current premises manager had ten years’ experience and had taken over the shop in March.

Gwent Police offered no formal objections but said the applicant had agreed licence conditions proposed by the force.

However, the committee heard there had been five incidents linked to the premises since March, including two involving customers who had been refused alcohol in the early morning.

The committee refused the 24-hour alcohol proposal and another request to sell food and hot drinks at the premises late at night.

But they approved a third proposal to extend the premises, creating what Mr Kanapathi said would be “like a supermarket” for the area.