Objections over Leeds corner shop’s alcohol licence application

Objections are being raised against alcohol licence application by a corner shop in Leeds, saying the crime will spiral in the area if it is granted.

According to recent local reports, health officials claim crime in the Hunslet and Beeston areas of Leeds will spiral if the convenience store  on Dewsbury Road is granted the alcohol licence.

City councilors will decide next week whether or not Kewmars Muhamed can sell booze from his shop on Dewsbury Road in the city. The local authority’s own public health team is lobbying against approving the licence, citing fears around the impact on local schoolchildren and their families.

The store has been operating under the trading name Park Side as an “international food” store in recent years. 

In a written objection lodged ahead of a hearing next week, Nicola Kelly-Johnson, from the council’s public health team, said more alcohol sales would “add to the burden” of maintaining safety in the area.

“Another off-licence on Dewsbury Road, selling low cost alcohol, will jeopardise the protection of children and young people from harm. The area close to the proposed convenience store has the highest number of young people not in education or employment (in Leeds),” Kelly-Johnson wrote.

Kelly-Johnson also pointed out said there was a high number of vulnerable youngsters in the Dewsbury Road area and their life experience will be skewed from the norm

“Furthermore, this road is a busy walking route of primary aged schoolchildren and their parents,” Kelly-Johnson wrote, adding that granting the licence will “further exacerbate crime and disorder in the area”. 

West Yorkshire Police also raised a provisional objection against the shop having an alcohol licence, although they’ve said they will drop it if the applicant agrees to a number of conditions including a working CCTV system, the enforcement of the Challenge 25 system, and a cap on the strength of booze being sold.