An application to sell alcohol 24 hours a day at a Bramley convenience store has run into opposition from local councillors.
The three Bramley and Stanningley ward members are objecting to the application from Kamala Food & Wine on Leeds & Bradford Road to extend the hours of opening and hours for sales of alcohol.
The store currently opens 6am-11pm daily and says it will put a raft of measures in place to ensure the extended hours run safely and smoothly.
These include operating a CCTV system and controlling the admission of customers via a security lock on the door between midnight and 5am. A ‘Challenge 25’ policy would also be in place, which encourages anyone who is over 18 but looks under 25 to carry acceptable ID.
Other measures feature prominent signs requesting customers to respect local residents when leaving the premises, along with ongoing training for staff.
But councillors Caroline Gruen, Jools Heselwood and Kevin Ritchie are concerned the extended hours will impact local residents. In a statement, they said:
“We believe the proposed opening hours will lead to noise nuisance, particularly affecting the adjoining neighbours in a residential area. Most visits will inevitably be by vehicle and the potential for noise nuisance from car doors opening and closing, conversation to and from the premises, as well as the entry/exit to the premises, is unacceptable on a 24-hour basis.
“In addition, there will likely be an increase in vehicle movement through the delivery of telephone orders throughout the night.
“There is already evidence of poor litter management on the forecourt of the premises with local volunteer litter pickers being left to tidy the area on a regular basis. Longer opening hours will only exacerbate this.”
The application can be viewed in full here. Comments – either in support or objecting – can be made until 1 July.
