A SHOPKEEPER has hit back at claims his new convenience store will create booze-fuelled antisocial behaviour on the streets.
At a Kirklees Council licensing panel yesterday, Gurdeep Singh Tung successfully defended his application to sell alcohol at a new Costcutter store soon to open on Huddersfield Road in Mirfield.
Mr Tung, from Fartown, had applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 7am to 10pm, but the panel heard that people living nearby fear this will worsen bad behaviour from local louts hanging around the streets.
In a letter to the licensing committee, residents Graham and Elizabeth Hardwick said they had seen “a great deal” of antisocial behaviour in the area over the years.
The letter said: “We believe much of this behaviour, generally perpetrated by groups of teenagers, ranging in size from a handful to several dozens, has been fuelled by alcohol.
“This seems to be bourne out by the quantity of empty vodka bottles, beer cans etc, we find in the area around our homes.”
The Costcutter store will be sited between two other licensed premises on Huddersfield Road – The Co-op and Bargain Booze – and the Hardwicks are concerned another shop could make problems worse.
However the store’s licensee Mr Tung, 49, told the Examiner another store wouldn’t make any difference.
“The problem is already there and selling alcohol from our shop isn’t going to create more,” he said.
“I have over 30 years experience in retail and I have run shops in Beaumont Park and Bradley.
“I am a firm believer in being an active member of the community and have experience in putting in place measures to keep antisocial behaviour to a minimum.
“We are a family-orientated business and we will not be selling alcohol to anyone under age or anyone already under the influence of alcohol.”
Mr Tung said he has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from as early as 7am as a convenience for local people leaving for work early in the morning and unable to buy booze later on in the day.
The panel, which approved Mr Tung’s application, heard from West Yorkshire Police that they would like to see a CCTV system installed in the shop. This was agreed by the applicant.
