A plan to open a new Tesco on Newport High Street could fuel public disorder if it is given a midnight alcohol licence, it has been claimed.
As the national supermarket giant looks to open up another store on the Island, it has asked the Isle of Wight Council for permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 6am and midnight every day. It is also asking to sell food from the former Laura Ashley and current H. Samuel stores from 23:00 to midnight every day.
During the consultation period, 1 resident lodged “the strongest possible objection” to the application, saying the bad behaviour in Newport had led to police action on several occasions. He said to grant the application and allow the sale of alcohol would fuel public disorder.
To prevent crime and disorder, as part of its licensing conditions, Tesco wants to install CCTV and have a management team member present at all times, who will be the point of contact should any issue arise. The Police Licensing Unit also made no adverse comments.
The negative view of the objector still stands though, so the licence will be determined by the council’s responsible committee on September 28.
In a report being sent to the committee, officers are recommending the licence be approved as it is, in part due to the proven track record Tesco has for staff training. Officers highlight national guidance which says supermarkets should normally be free to provide sales of alcohol consumption off the premises at any time unless there are good reasons, based on the licensing objectives, for restricting the hours.
The report says there is no evidence to suggest other retail outlets in the town selling alcohol on the same terms have any bearing on incidents of anti-social behaviour.
A planning application has also been submitted by the national chain to install signage on the High Street building.
No other work has started yet but a question mark has been raised over the future of the H Samuel store as plans reveal Tesco is proposing to take it over.
Why do Tesco even want such long opening hours? Newport is hardly full of shoppers at any time. Most of those hours will probably see no shoppers at all. And they want to sell food for one hour between 11pm and midnight – crazy.
Much of the goods will likely be pilfered away as five fingered discount is a growing issue here now we have so many ‘new’ people here.
Also, what about all of that peskey shelf filling and stock rotation and all of that paper work that comes with it,
And not forgeting all of the cleaning that is involved ect ect.
You are the crazy one……..imo.
What has any of that got to do with the opening hours? Surely the things you mentioned would be easier done during the time the shop was closed, not open.
He said to grant the application and allow the sale of alcohol would fuel public disorder.
…
utter drivel – no one “starts drinking” at midnight – they are all hammered by around 11pm after starting around 7pm and are engaged in anti social behaviour at about 11pm
A rich company who can send large thank you cards will always get their way here
With all the kids carrying knives machetes and pedalling drugs outside McDonald’s, I’d have thought this would be the least of anyone’s worries!
BS !
Back to school on Monday………x
1 resident lodged “the strongest possible objection”?
One?
One person in a town of 26,000 people raises an objection about a new shop and that’s news?
Seriously?
You obviously don’t live in the town centre then, having to put up with noisy drunks every weekend all through the night!
Then why did only one person object if it is such a big issue?
Was it you?
If not, why did YOU not object if you feel so strongly about it?
People living in town centres should be entitled to peace at night.
I never understand why late off licences are granted.
Drink is a curse when consumed in excess and causes mayhem in every town and city late at night
I am not against responsible alcohol consumption but who needs to be able to buy it up until midnight
All off sales should be limited to 7pm.
Tesco are being irresponsible and greedy
The public can vote with their choice of where to take their trade in future .
So according to you, people who work shifts that might finish at say, 10pm, should not have the option of buying alcohol after their shift if they feel like it? And surely the majority of people who buy alcohol in supermarkets do so to take it home to drink, not to drink outside the shop.
I live right in the middle of the town, and apart from kick out at Slug and Lettuce, noise/drunk people really isn’t that much of an issue.
It sort of come with the territory of living in what is predominantly a commercial district, if licensed businesses aren’t allowed to operate in the town centre, then where are they meant to operate?
I live in town centre but it’s a choice you make. it’s not the countryside. If I wanted the sound of wild life I’d live there. As it is you get a bit of urban noise & yes, a few shouty people are part of the package.
I dont see how this story is even news- central,price cutters and asda all have late licences so why would one more make any difference
Oh, ok then…..So if i read this right ?
Every other Tescos/and similar stores on the mainland are allowed to serve alcohol whilst the store is open.
But some plebs on the Island (whom are scared of their own shadows) , are worried that a very small minority of youngsters can not be policed by our own population.
Grow up and grow a pair !
THE SILENT MAJORITY, GETTING SCREWED OVER AGAIN BY THE MOUTHY MINORITY WHO DO NOTHING BUT BITCH AND WINDGE AND ON MOST OCCASIONS DO NOTHING, APART FROM STATING THE FCUKING OBVIOUS ! (imo)
Thought most local convenience stores closed at 10pm or sometimes at 11pm. Certainly before the pubs are throwing out.
I don’t know any stop that sells alcohol at midnight. They all close by then. Who needs alcohol at midnight? And in sleepy Sandown? No, it’ll never happen. .
Great idea! I often want to buy alcohol after 11pm.
Give a provisional license, then withdraw it if anti-social behaviour gets too bad.
Why ask a question when everyone knows the answer – YES. Issues in Newport now are either drug or alcohol related as are most crimes on the Island. So much for helping residents, it will be the death nail in the coffin for Newport to have a cheap off licence operating in the town centre as such late hours. Just watch all the other struggling businesses move out.
To be honest,i would never want a tesco in town centre,especially with drink licence,as samuels are not going anytime soon,i think its the big boys trying to run the system.So council should immediatley stop all plans o let tesco build in newport,we dont need another supermarket and downright dangerous to allow drink all day,SO STOP PLANS IMMEDIATLEY
Yes boss, no boss, can i have a wee wee boss, sorry boss, dead town walking boss.
Brain fart?