Newly-opened Bexhill store secures booze licence

A recently-opened convenience store in Bexhill has secured a licence to sell alcohol.

On 9 July, a Rother District Council licensing panel considered an application to sell alcohol from the recently-opened Crown Express convenience store at 30 Western Road, Bexhill.

While no concerns were raised by police or local authorities, objections had been raised by local resident Andrew Crotty, who argued the sale of alcohol for a slight reduction in the hours sought (from 6.30am to 7am).

Speaking at the hearing, Crotty said his concerns were due to incidents of antisocial behaviour in Western Road.

This view was disputed by the store, however, which has committed to installing a CCTV system, ensuring staff have appropriate training and other policies intended to manage the impact of alcohol sales.

A legal representative for the store also argued that the applicant, Kokulan Gnanasundaram, had a great deal of experience in running licenced retail premises.

After hearing representations from both sides, the panel agreed to grant the licence as requested by the business.  As a result, the business will be able to sell alcohol from 6.30am to 11pm seven days a week.

The panel’s chairman Richard Thomas (Lib Dem, Bexhill St Mark’s) said: “Having heard in detail from the applicant’s legal representative, the representor and having taken everything into account  … we are satisfied on balance that the applicant has shown that he can uphold all of the licensing objectives and in particular … the prevention of public nuisance.”