A Brighton convenience store’s alcohol licence application has been turned down over concerns about past history, antisocial behaviour, drink-related crime and nuisance.
According to local reports, Councillors have turned down a specialist grocer’s application for a drinks licence for his new premises in Brighton.
R and A Global Store at 17 Preston Road, Brighton, wanted to sell alcohol from 9am to 11pm daily as part of a specialist offering for the African and Caribbean community.
Rigobel Fokou, 43, has a licence for his business AfrikMark, across the road at 4 Preston Road, but wants to merge the shops on to the larger site, reports said.
A Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel has rejected the application after a hearing last month.
At least three other licence applications for the premises have been refused or withdrawn because of its troubled history, including sale of illicit cigarettes.
Preston Road is in a part of Brighton where new off-licences are usually refused because of concerns about antisocial behaviour, drink-related crime and nuisance.
Fokou said that it was “unfair” to cite the previous operators’ poor record because he had no links with them.
“The main issue for the panel is whether a further premises selling alcohol will have a detrimental effect on the area … and whether exceptional circumstances have been shown to depart from the (council’s) policy,” reports quoted the panel’s statement.
The panel believes the concerns raised by the responsible authorities and local residents in relation to this application are extremely valid.
“A further premises selling alcohol for consumption off the premises is likely in our opinion to add to the problems of public nuisance and antisocial behaviour in the area and thus undermine the licensing objectives.”
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