Booze bid for proposed Marton Premier store challenged by objectors in meeting, tell me about this news in (https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/middlesbrough-council-booze-woodrow-marton-34622262)

Here is a summary of the news report regarding the alcohol licence application in Marton:BackgroundMiddlesbrough Council’s licensing sub-committee met on Tuesday, September 15, to consider a contentious application for a premises licence to sell alcohol at a proposed Premier convenience store located at 4 Woodrow Avenue, Marton. The applicant is Nishwanth UK, led by director Senthilkumar Thangavel.The Proposal

• Alcohol Sales: The licence would permit sales strictly for consumption off the premises between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM daily.
• Operating Hours: The store itself would close daily at 10:00 PM.
• Deliveries: Deliveries (other than newspapers) would be restricted to between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with one main delivery per week from Booker Cash & Carry alongside minor deliveries for bread and milk.
• Store Refit: A complete refit is planned, alongside staff recruitment and training, meaning the shop will not open immediately.
• Permitted Use: The site previously operated as a newsagents and is already permitted to operate as a convenience store without council approval; only the sale of alcohol requires council authorisation.

Resident Objections

• Crime and Safety: Over 30 formal objections were submitted prior to the meeting. Residents raised serious fears regarding anti-social behaviour, youth congregation, and theft targeting alcohol, vapes, and cigarettes.
• Past Incidents: One resident highlighted that a former off-licence operating on the same row of shops (at 2 Woodrow Avenue) had previously been targeted in a ram-raid.
• Existing Availability: Objectors noted there are already four licensed premises within a 0.4-mile radius, arguing that selling alcohol for 12 hours a day, seven days a week is unnecessary and detrimental to the residential area.

Current StatusThe applicant’s representative argued that the owner is an experienced retailer dedicated to being a responsible neighbour, questioning whether selling alcohol created any tangible difference compared to running a standard convenience store.Following the hearing, the committee went into a closed session to deliberate, with the formal decision scheduled to be published within five working days.