Plans unveiled to transform former Sunderland pub the Oddfellow Arms
A hearing is to be held over a bid to allow a planned new convenience store in Sunderland to sell alcohol until 11pm at the site of a former pub.
A licensing application has been submitted to Sunderland City Council for the premises at 19A North Ravensworth Street, which was formerly the Oddfellows Arms public house.
Proposals from Dinesh Ravikumar seek to gain permission for a planned new convenience store at the site to sell alcohol from 7am until 11pm.
Council reports note the shop will be under the Premier banner and will include groceries, confectionery, alcohol, tobacco products, pet food and household items.
Yet the application is scheduled to go before the council’s licensing sub-committee at a meeting on Monday, June 15, after concerns were raised by nearby residents.
Six objections were initially lodged over the scheme.
Worries voiced by the residents include the lack of demand for the shop and that it would increase anti-social behaviour, litter, noise nuisance and traffic issues in the area.
One response stated: “There is no need to have an off licence between those hours it will only attract anti-social behaviour and people hanging about making a noise.”
Yet the application stresses various measures will be taken to ensure licensing objectives are complied with and no issues arise at the store.
It notes: “We will train staff continuously with regards to Challenge 25 policy and also maintain a refusals ledger.
“Well-designed and suitably worded signage of the requirement to show evidence of age will be displayed.
“CCTV will be monitored and we will make every effort to avoid disorder, nuisance or hindrance to public safety or protection of children.”
Northumbria Police chiefs and the council’s environmental health team both confirmed they had no objections to the proposals after additional operating conditions were agreed to by the applicant.
A report from council officers confirms a planning application will also be required to change the use of the premises from a public house to a convenience store.
They added the applicant has made enquiries with the local authority’s planning team, however no application has been submitted yet.
Should those proposals be lodged there would be a minimum consultation period of “between eight to 10 weeks”.