By John Baron
An application to sell booze 24 hours a day at a New Wortley convenience store have been withdrawn before councillors could make a final decision.
As previously reported, Booze Plus, on the junction between Tong Road and St Mary’s Close, had applied for a round-the-clock premises licence from Leeds City Council.
But West Yorkshire Police and the council’s public health and environmental health teams both objected amid fears of increased anti-social behaviour and street drinking.
And one local resident had called for the application to be dismissed, saying: “Who really needs to buy a six-pack and a bottle of vodka at 3am? And would you want them hanging around your house at such a time?”
The application was due to be decided by councillors sitting on yesterday’s licensing sub-committee, which met at Leeds Civic Hall. But shop owner Saqib Ahmed withdrew the application from the meeting.
He had promised a long list of measures would be adhered to to protect the general public, including stringent CCTV conditions, a pledge to operate ‘Challenge 25’ to address the risk of underage sales and running a refusals register.
Booze Plus’s current hours of selling alcohol – 8am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays – will continue.
The application was originally due to be decided last month, but the licensing sub committee meeting was postponed due to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
