Sixth Reading store faces alcohol licence review

The crackdown on Oxford Road shops continues, with a sixth store facing a reivew of its alcohol licence.

Willis & Short Newsagents is the latest shop to be added to the list of off licences under review on the major Reading road.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) has asked the council to review the licence of the store on 341 Oxford Road, saying the business has provided insufficient measures to ensure due diligence and promote the licensing objectives.

It says inspections have revealed poor processes, lack of compliance, breaches of conditions and failure by the licence holder to address or improve these issues.

The other five Oxford Road shops that are also currently having their licences reviewed by Reading Borough Council (RBC) are:

• Anrish News, no. 102
• Today’s Express, no. 107
• I&R Convenience, no. 202
• Butts Convenience Store, no. 205
• K B Superstores, no. 337

Police reports show Reading shop under review often at receiving end of crime

According to local community leader Peter Bowyer, the crackdown is due to historic anti-social behaviour problems such as “urination and aggressive begging”.

The chairman of the Oxford Road Safer Neighbourhood Forum said: “Oxford Road and the surrounding streets have a history of problems with anti-social behaviour, much of which is attributable to the street population and coincides with alcohol and drug misuse.

“Problems such as rowdy and intimidating behaviour at all hours, aggressive begging and street urination are daily occurrences.

“The same individuals are regular customers of the drug dealers who operate overtly in our neighbourhood.”

TVP believe sales of super-strength cheap beers and ciders on Oxford Road is “fuelling incidents of alcohol related crime and disorder in the area”, and says it is “of extreme concern and a priority for the Oxford Road residents and community to resolve this issue”.

The council’s Licensing Applications sub-committee could hold hearings later this year or early next year to decide what action to take if there is no agreement beforehand.