Decision delayed over alcohol licence for shop in Grangetown area of Sunderland
Uncertainty still hangs over the future of a Sunderland shop after a meeting to rule on its future had to be adjourned.
Samarth Gakhar, director of North Shields based SRR Stores Limited, had applied to Sunderland City Council for a premises licence, including the sale of alcohol, for an empty shop in Ryhope Road, in Grangetown.
Mr Gakhar, whose business is described in Companies House documents as dealing in “retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating”, had originally sought permission to sell alcohol from the premises between 6am-2am, seven days a week.
This was later reduced to 8am-11.30pm, Monday-Thursday and 8am-12.30am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, which council officers described as a “significant reduction from those previously applied for”.
The application added goods would be served through a serving hatch from 11pm-11.30pm Monday-Thursday and from 11pm-2.30am the rest of the week.
Following the amendment of the application to reduce the proposed opening hours, Northumbria Police told Sunderland City Council it had no objections to an alcohol licence being granted.
Despite this, the application has continued to prove controversial and has met with opposition from nearby residents and businesses.
The city council’s licensing department has objections from a pharmacy on the same street concerned about the sale of alcohol and “alcohol-related gatherings” at a nearby bus stop, but has no issue with the premises operating as a convenience store.
Other objectors have voiced similar concerns about anti-social behaviour, noise, drunkenness, litter and people parking on the pavement while they use the shop.
Opponents also point out that there are already off-licences nearby, including a Premier shop across the road and a large Asda supermarket in Leechmere.
The Ryhope Road shop was recently a Turkish barber’s and has previously been a tanning salon, a foot spa business and a health & beauty shop.
The application promised store bosses would “work closely with the police” to prevent antisocial behaviour, including refusing service to drunk people and “those that are recognised as street drinkers”.
Sunderland’s Licensing Sub Committee had been due to decide on the application on Friday, November 6, but the meeting was cancelled after the agent acting for applicant Mr Gakhar was unable to attend due to illness. It is expected to be rescheduled to be held at a later date.