By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
Additional reporting: John Baron
A Pudsey petrol station has been granted an alcohol licence after bosses agreed not to serve customers 24 hours a day.
Objections were raised after Essar Oil applied for round-the-clock sales at Wharrels Service Station on Lowtown.
People living nearby complained over potential noise and anti-social behaviour if the licence allowed drinks to be bought through a hatch between 11pm-6am.
A licensing hearing was told the company decided to reduce the hours to 6.30pm-10pm.
Licensing consultant Gill Sherratt, representing the applicant, said measures would be in place to prevent nuisance behaviour.
She told councillors: “The main point you can take from Essar is they have a flawless record. They have significant experience and are a very safe pair of hands.”
Leeds City Council received 14 letters of objection, including Pudsey Conservative councillors Dawn and Simon Seary.
Cllr Dawn Seary said the Lowtown station was near two primary schools and two older people’s living complexes.
She said: “It’s surrounded by housing on all sides. The 14 objections represent every single person in that area.”
Cllr Seary asked that the licence decision was delayed while people were consulted on the revised hours.
She added: “The residents have objected to 24 hours. They weren’t presented with the shorter hours.”
The hearing was told an agreement had been reached with West Yorkshire Police over licence conditions.
The council’s Environmental Health team also recommended the reduced opening hours.
In a letter to the applicant, they said: “The premises is surrounded by residential properties, there is potential nuisance from comings and goings of vehicles through the night, radios, people loitering within the area, inebriated.”
Councillors granted the licence with amended hours and agreed conditions following the hearing at Leeds Civic Hall.
In March, planning permission was granted for a refurbishment of the service station.
Essar Oil said it hoped to proceed with the project, which includes demolition and extensions to the existing building, this year.
After the hearing, Cllr Simon Seary said on Facebook: “It is pleasing that the 24-hour alcohol licence has not been approved. However, it does raise concerns that the business did not properly engage with residents and only changed its position shortly before the meeting. This could and should have been resolved weeks ago, avoiding unnecessary stress and concern for local residents.
“A massive thank you to all the residents who raised concerns about the proposed 24-hour licence. Your objections helped ensure the alcohol licensing hours were reduced.”
Sponsored content
