Thurrock News

Half measures for Grays off licence

By Melissa Hills

3:36pm Friday 19th March 2010

A GRAYS off licence has been given half measures after being told to stop selling alcohol 24 hours a day.

The Graceland Store and Off Licence in Clarence Road was dealt the blow at a licensing sub-committee meeting on Thursday.

Thurrock Council originally issued the licence in 2009 but councillors went back on the decision and suggested the shop should only sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm.

A meeting was due to be held in February into the licence after cllr Carl Morris was contacted- he acted on behalf of residents and requested a review. It did not happen due to a technicality on the paperwork.

Meanwhile co-owner of the shop, Kelly Anthony, 25 said: “By cutting the alcohol selling hours I don’t think it will take the noise and the youths will still keep coming here. We don’t even sell that much alcohol and the noise was here when we moved here. We will still be open at night to sell other goods.”

Committee chair Rob Gledhill said after the meeting: “We came to the decision after hearing some very good arguments from residents. The anti-social behaviour happens during the early hours with people hanging around outside the shop and cars pulling up late at night.

“The measures are not immediate and the off-licence can appeal. But they did not clearly demonstrate a need to sell alcohol until 1am. The residents were pleased with the new measures.”

Other conditions put on the licence include all staff going on a course to obtain a qualification to sell alcohol, a crime and anti-social behaviour policy must be put together and a refusal to serve policy if customers are underage or drunk must be made.

Cllr Morris spoke on behalf of residents at the meeting.

After the meeting cllr Morris said: “I am really pleased the licensing committee agreed with the residents. It was crazy that a 24 hour off licence ever opened in a quiet, residential road. I very much hope this and the alcohol free zone in Grays will significantly reduce anti-social behaviour in the area. It goes to show that councillors and residents can do good working together.”

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