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| 24/7 filling station… for
drinkers |
Neighbours oppose licence bid
A PETROL station in Chalk Farm could become an unlikely place
to buy beer around the clock under a new booze application being
considered at the Town Hall.
Only one venue in Camden has so far managed to secure a 24-hour
licence – The End disco in Holborn – since government
reforms scrapped fixed opening times.
Even in booze hotspots such as Camden Town and Covent Garden, few
pubs are closing later than 2am.
But the Esso Snack Shop in Chalk Farm Road is ready to test the
new law by bidding for permission to sell alcohol round the clock
all week.
Petrol stations are not normally allowed to sell beer, wine and
spirits but a legal loophole means many can skirt around the rules
by classing themselves as convenience stores or mini-supermarkets.
The Esso Snack Shop has tabled a new licence application which would
lift restrictions on when staff can sell booze to adults.
Under the same request, the company has asked for the right to sell
hot pies and soup until 5am.
The company insists it can be trusted with the landmark licence.
An Esso statement said staff would be fully trained and an alarm
system with panic buttons was in place along with a fully-functioning
CCTV camera. Spirits would be stored behind the sales counter.
But the safety measures have not convinced residents living nearby,
who, fearing the round-the-clock licence will spell trouble, have
sent a petition to the Town Hall.
Jean McIntyre, chairwoman of Hartland Road and Harmood Street Residents
Association, said: “The staff at the service station already
have problems with abusive and violent customers. Providing them
with the facility to be drunk as well makes no sense.
“There are generally only one or two members of staff at the
service station, how will they be able to cope?”
Objector David Hughes, of Hartland Road, said: “On Hartland
Road we already have problems throughout the night with drunken
and loutish behaviour, particularly at weekends, although it is
becoming common for this to continue throughout the week.
“Staff at the service station may be able to stop customers
consuming alcohol and food in their shop but they certainly will
have no control once customers have left the service station.
“The obvious place for these items to be consumed is outside
homes like mine.”
Another objector, Andrew Reynolds, also of Hartland Road, warned
that staff would struggle to cope with aggressive drunks.
He said: “I am aghast that Esso should even consider putting
their staff in such a difficult and potentially dangerous and volatile
situation.”
Councillors are due to meet tonight (Thursday) for their final deliberations. |
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