Guisborough store gets go-ahead for later alcohol sales

A Guisborough convenience store has been granted permission to extend the hours it can sell alcohol despite concerns from local councillors about anti-social behaviour and noise.

Samy Limited, which operates Budgens, in Enfield Chase, will now be able to sell alcohol up to midnight each day.

The store, which replaced Sainsbury’s last November, has an existing licence to supply alcohol from Monday to Sunday between 5.30am and 11pm and is already able to open until midnight, although it currently closes an hour earlier.

Councillor Peter Berry, who represents the Belmont ward on Redcar and Cleveland Council, previously said surrounding residents would have their peace disturbed by the move, while Councillor Alma Thrower, from Guisborough Town Council, said it would encourage youths who already congregated outside to stay longer.

A three member panel, chaired by Councillor Stuart Smith, from Redcar and Cleveland Council, has now agreed to the extension.

Conditions were agreed with Cleveland Police which said all staff must be trained with regards to alcohol sales and training records kept at the premises and made available for inspection when requested.

CCTV covering the front, side and rear of the premises, which was to be maintained in good working order, was also deemed necessary.

During the licensing hearing Robert Botkai, for the applicant, said there was no evidence to suggest problems incurring inside or outside the store, or to refuse the extra hour.

He said: “The store wishes to open until midnight and the Government’s guidance is that stores should be allowed to sell alcohol to match their hours, unless there is good reason, backed up by evidence in order to support a refusal.”