A new convenience store in Hanley has been given the green light to sell alcohol between 6am and 11pm each day – despite objections from nearby residents.

Hanley Supermarket has already secured planning permission to open at Lichfield Street, just outside the city centre, at the former Querty print unit.

But an application for a premises licence sparked concerns from two nearby residents about public nuisance. June Turner, 88, said in her submission to Stoke-on-Trent City Council: "How much sleep will us residents get if you allow the application to go through?

"Cars will be stopping virtually outside my front door, the noise and disruption will be unbearable for the residents of this quiet street. We already have to endure people using the entry next to me as a public convenience – what will it be like if you allow them to serve alcohol until 11pm each evening?"

TC Chung said: "The area is just outside of the current BID (Business Improvement District) 'borders' and so has seen an increase in antisocial behaviour. Our premises in particular, consistently suffers from people blocking entry to both my home and business by congregating on our steps.

"We regularly have to request people, often in groups, often drunk or under the influence, to move aside to allow business to continue – often to be verbally abused and on occasion physically attacked. The rear entryway to our properties should be gated but aren't due to supposed fire restrictions – so I've been told -and so this creates areas for substance abuse and other antisocial behaviour.

"The current road and parking conditions are atrocious. Markings and road condition have deteriorated to such an extent that no one parks within markings as they've all but disappeared and the surface seems similar to a cartoon Swiss cheese.

"The entry to the service area is a constant RTC (road traffic collision) hotspot as is the junction of Lichfield Street/Regent Road."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council received no objections from authorities such as Staffordshire Police however. And on Monday (March 10) members of the council's licensing sub-committee granted the premises licence as applied for.

The applicant and objectors did not attend Monday's hearing. But a statement from the applicant's agent was read out, which said that residents would have had an opportunity to raise issues such as locals roads in response to the planning application – and members were also told that the site had a car park.

"It seems as though no issues were raised to the (planning) application", the statement added. "Environmental Health and police made no representation on any occasion to object to the proposals.

"The client wishes to start a new venture. The business will not be offering alcohol consumption on the site or in its boundaries.

"There is antisocial behaviour within the area but this is the case in many other parts of the city too. The client is willing to support the local neighbourhood by having 24 hour CCTV recording and monitoring, which helps to deter troublemakers from the area."

---------

READ MORE: Man dies and another in hospital following 'serious assault' in Stoke-on-Trent

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.