Council says yes to petrol station’s alcohol plans

A council has awarded a new petrol station an alcohol licence after rejecting claims it would become a ‘focal point for drunkenness, littering and criminal activity.’

City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee approved an application for an alcohol licence for the proposed new Morrisons Daily at the Linthouse Lane Service Station in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton at a meeting on Thursday (April 2).

The application, which was submitted in February, had initially drawn concerns from a number of authorities including West Midlands Police, City of Wolverhampton Council and the city’s environmental health and public health officers. 

However, the objections made by the responsible authorities were all withdrawn ahead of the hearing after additional conditions to the licence were agreed. 

West Midlands Police said it had concerns over the long operating hours but went on to sign a mediation agreement with the garage owners that only pushed back the sale of alcohol by an hour from 7am to 11pm. 

At the hearing, Chris Mitchener from Licensing Solutions on behalf of the garage owners, said the application was part of the petrol station shop’s offer and was not an off-licence. 

He added that any concerns about anti-social behaviour would have been raised by West Midlands Police and City of Wolverhampton Council. 

A number of objections were submitted by concerned local residents who said the new shop and off-licence would become a “focal point for all kinds of anti-social behaviour including drunkenness, littering and criminal activity.”

While there were some concerns about selling alcohol until 11pm, the committee said it had been re-assured by Mr Mitchener that if any issues did occur, they would be dealt with swiftly as it was in the petrol station’s best interest to keep the licence.

The objections by nearby residents said junctions around the “very busy” Linthouse Lane were already congested – which had led to the council installing traffic calming measures nearby – and the Morrisons Daily plans would not include enough parking spaces. 

The lack of spaces would lead to parking in the road and problems for neighbours including noise, disruption and blocked driveways and pavements, the objections added. 

But rejecting the licence over parking concerns was not within its remit and said the possible increase in anti-social behaviour and littering, which was raised in objections by neighbours, were “generalisations” and they believed that issues would not necessarily arise just because alcohol was on sale.

Earlier this week, City of Wolverhampton Council approved a planning application to re-open the former Linthouse Service Station in Linthouse Lane in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, as a new petrol garage and Morrisons Daily convenience store. 

The work includes demolishing the garage’s canopy roof and removing an underground tank to make for a new canopy roof, lighting and two larger underground petrol tanks. 

A new shopfront and single-storey extension would also be built alongside a new cash machine and electric vehicle (EV) charging point.

The petrol station was last used in 2011 and has in recent years been used for car sales, servicing and a shop.