Petrol station booze decision on hold after council failed to invite locals to meeting

The owners of a petrol station shop on the edge of Trethomas will have to wait another six weeks to find out whether they can start selling booze, owing to an admin error.

More than 100 people reportedly signed a petition opposing the plans, but were not given due notice they could attend a council meeting to decide the issue.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s licensing committee met on Wednesday June 19 to hear the application for the Asda Express shop on Newport Road.

The firm has applied to sell alcohol, for off-premises consumption, between the hours of 6am and 11pm, seven days a week.

Asda Express has also asked for permission to sell takeaway hot drinks between 10pm and 6am.

Council documents show the applicant has since rowed back from an original bid to sell alcohol there 24 hours a day.

Residents of nearby Graig y Rhacca lodged more than 100 “identical objections” with the council during a recent consultation period, via a “document which appears to be in a form of a petition”.

Those who signed raised concerns about public safety, litter and antisocial behaviour, according to a council report.

And a council environmental health officer has also flagged concerns booze sales could cause problems relating to the “prevention of public nuisance” – but did not object to the plans.

Gwent Police and the council’s own licensing officers have been more positive, however.

A specialist licensing officer for the police said the force was “happy” and “satisfied” with the conditions of the proposed licence, and a council licensing officer also raised no objection with the revised plans.

At the committee meeting, the council’s licensing manager, Lee Morgan, told members an error meant local residents had not been given due notice to attend and make representations.

He proposed rescheduling the meeting for Tuesday July 30.

“We will ensure the new papers are circulated in advance of that hearing date,” Mr Morgan added.

Committee chairman Cllr Shane Williams said he and his colleagues accepted the adjournment request.

Cllr Jan Jones told the meeting: “Procedures have to be followed, and that’s that, otherwise objections could be filed later on.”