New Pinchbeck shop can sell booze - but will have restrictions

A new village shop will be able to sell alcohol after permission was granted by councillors - although it will face restricted operating hours and conditions.

A panel of South Holland District Council's licensing committee met to rule on an application for Pinchbeck Stores this morning.

The shop - at the former Paul Hammond and Sons building at 75 Church Street - won its bid for a premises licence.

However, the panel granted the licence subject to the premises operating between 8.30am and 5.30pm - and the supply of alcohol only being from 10am and 5.30pm.

A statement issued by panel chairman Jack Tyrrell explained: "The panel considered the number of objections from relevant representatives, namely increased crime and disorder due to the premises selling alcohol and increased risk of the sale of alcohol to minors, the location of the premises, the pedestrians and traffic usage of the road in front of the premises, particularly school children using the bus stop, issues of parking at the location and access and egress from the premises, neighbouring properties experience noise nuisance and the occupants children living near the premises and pub users causing disturbance at the shop.

"The panel considered that some of the above considerations were speculative, and had little weight in terms of the licensing objectives individually.

"However, collectively they had some relevance and in terms of public safety and prevention of public nuisance the panel considered that the conditions agreed with the police and the additional conditions (...) and the reduced opening times and supply of alcohol times would address these issues."

The shop will need CCTV and staff will have to be trained as a result of conditions suggested by the police.

The panel - which also included Coun Anthony Casson and Coun Michael Booth - also decided to impose further conditions to help with 'protection of public safety and prevention of public nuisance' relating to deliveries.

These state that deliveries can only take place during working hours and 'vehicles of appropriate size for the location' must be used. Low level lighting is also to be installed at the front, side and rear of the premises.