Concerns are being raised that alcohol-fueled violence in Walsall town centre may get worse once the planned new store becomes operational, stated recent reports.
Local reports on Wednesday (25) stated that West Midlands Police have raised concerns about the Leo Shop convenience store potentially opening in an empty unit in Bridge Street and the impact it would have on the area and their resources. The premises sit within a designated cumulative impact assessment area with lots of licensed premises in the vicinity, reports said.
Walsall Police, however, has pointed out that Walsall town centre is unfortunately experiencing an increase in violence, this violence is impacting greatly on the police.
“Allowing an additional licensed premise in an already concentrated area of such premises does have the potential to impact on crime and disorder. We also do have street drinkers in the town centre, by having this additional premise allowing sales of alcohol, on the balance of probabilities could displace them which is a concern and would undermine the public nuisance licensing objective,” reports quoted Jennifer Mellor, licensing and regulatory services officer at Walsall Police, as saying.
The application, submitted by Gina-Camelia Pirvu, will be heard by Walsall Council’s licensing sub committee on June 6, reports said, adding that the applicant has already set out a number of conditions to ensure the new store would operate correctly and keep people safe from harm. Conditions proposed by applicant Gina-Camelia Pirvu include operating a strict Challenge 25 Policy and having CCTV to cover both inside and directly outside the store.
All staff will be trained, incident and refusal log books will be kept while notices will also be posted urging people to keep noise down to avoid causing nuisance to neighbors. There is also a commitment to refuse service to anyone who is or appears to be drunk.
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