Residents of a historic area in Cornwall have opposed an application by a new gift shop to sell alcohol fearing it will lead to street drinking and antisocial behaviour. The applicant told a Cornwall Council licensing committee she would be selling quality wines and gin to tourists which would in no way “disrupt the peace and safety of the community”.
Sarah Barber applied to the council for a premises licence to sell bottles and gift packs of alcohol from a new “high end” gift shop at 1 The Digey, St Ives, which is currently a holiday let and used to be a home. The matter was brought to committee after representations from four people against the application.
The licensing committee heard yesterday (Wednesday, January 15) that Devon and Cornwall Police supported the licence after coming to an agreement with Ms Barber to replace and include extra conditions.
One opponent wrote to the council stating: “This type of of establishment will invariably lead to disruption to residents in the form of antisocial behaviour. During the summer months, tourists already abuse the town, urinating in doorways, littering, general disrespect and have no thought for the locals who actually live in the area.
“There is already an off-licence not more than 30 seconds away from where this is proposed. There is concern that alcohol purchased at this new application site will bring about disruption to the surrounding houses and lives of those that reside there.”
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St Ives town councillor Ken Messenger also objected: “It is in a completely inappropriate location and another off licence is only a few yards away. And it is in a predominantly residential area.”
Laura Hinton was also against the licence and spoke at the meeting on behalf of her elderly neighbours, who live near the premises. She said they experience a lot of antisocial behaviour. “I’m not saying that’s anything to do with any of the shops, but they experience things being put in their bins from people who have been drinking and they literally can’t leave their home to clear it up.
“The other point they are particularly worried about is once this has been granted it will be the gateway to other things. What then happens if the high end gift shop doesn’t work and it then becomes something else which impacts on them greater?”
Ms Barber told the committee the building was currently used as a holiday let, but she wanted to diversify and had previous experience of running bars and off licences. “We certainly wouldn’t be aiming at the sort of clientele that would sit around on the streets drinking. We are not doing anything which will disrupt the peace and safety of the community.”
She said there were already premises selling alcohol nearby and they don’t see street drinkers in the immediate area. She argued there were other commercial premises on The Digey, including a pasty shop, and didn’t think it was predominantly residential.
The committee granted the application, agreeing that the nature of the business and its opening hours would not impact negatively on the area and would not lead to street drinking and antisocial behaviour. The fact there are other off licences in the area was a business matter and not an issue for the licensing committee.
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