Residents try to stamp out booze plans
DOZENS of residents are fighting plans to sell alcohol at a Post Office.
Hitesh Bokhiriya has applied to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for a premises licence at Beverley Drive Post Office and Community Store, Bentilee.
Mr Bokhiriya wants to sell alcohol between 5.30am and 11pm from Monday to Sunday, in line with the current opening hours of the business.
But a petition signed by 104 people against the idea has been submitted to the city council.
Neighbours say the area already suffers from anti-social behaviour and believe selling alcohol at the shop will make matters worse.
Alan Joinson, chairman of East Bentilee Residents' Association, is opposing the application.
The 53-year-old, who lives in Chelmsford Drive, said: "The opening hours from 5.30am to 11pm are just silly. We have a lot of anti-social behaviour in this area and, there is a pub next door to the shop and there are already too many off-licences on the estate.
"There is a children's play area opposite the post office and youths drink there most nights, breaking bottles and making it unsafe for kids to use.
"This licence would just cause more anti-social behaviour and public nuisance in an area which is already experiencing these problems."
And Hereford Grove resident, Elaine Barlow, aged 71, who is also opposing the application, said: "I am deeply concerned about the disruption this could cause us, especially in the evenings.
"We already get a lot of young people on the green opposite the shop, drinking, fighting and throwing glass bottles.
"We feel the situation will worsen if this licence is granted."
Staffordshire Police has also objected to the sale of alcohol at the shop.
In a letter to the council, PC Graeme Owen, of Staffordshire Police, pictured, writes: "We acknowledge the applicant has offered to install a CCTV system, but we would require this to form part of the conditions on the new licence.
"CCTV must be installed and cover public areas both inside and outside the premises.
"The system must be maintained and be fully operational 24 hours a day.
"All images should be kept for 28 days so they can be produced to the police, trading standards or the local authority. There should be notices stating CCTV is in operation displayed."
The application will go before the city council's licensing committee on Monday.
The owner of the shop declined to comment.
20 Comments
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by Mark, Norton
Saturday, March 20 2010, 8:01PM
“Hahaha - topic de-railed by racist commentary and assumptions again. I don't see why there should be a problem here at all. Go back a few decades and look at how many pubs there used to be. Anyone remember off-sales? They were everywhere. Anti-social behaviour isn't the sole domain of our teens either. I see plenty of so-called adults, both male and female, behaving like their dysfunctional offspring - the old addage - 'like father, like son'.
I don't see why Staffordshire Police should object either because, as reported, there are other off-licences in the area and under-age drinkers have no qualms about a quarter mile walk. The way housing estates are policed, although another issue, is paramount and I applaud the effective use of CCTV 100%.
We've lost so many post offices lately so why jeopardise another by justifying a licence refusal on the grounds of a problem which already exists? Mr Bokhiriya has every right to try and diversify his business.”
by LD, somewhere
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 3:43PM
“Where's the muslim thing come from? There's no mention of his religion in the story. Typical thick Stoke, Asian name, got to be a muslims. Likewise if the owner was white this story would be in the middle pages because The Sentinel know that any negative story about Asians will sell in the most racist city in England. Oh, and Hitesh is a hindu name, so guess what, maybe he isn't a muslim, so the stuff about them not drinking but being happy to sell is a load of old bull too.”
by anon, hanley
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 8:19AM
“Isn't it strange that "any" criticism of Muslims is instantantly turned into "Muslim bashing" but Christians are fair game?
I'm a christian and as far as I'm concerned Muslims are not free of criticism.”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:18PM
“Alan; Staffordshire:
I hope they mark it up as 'Hal-al cruelty killed meat'.... And don't pull the 'wool' over our eyes?
And Raymond:
If it's ok to bash Catholic Paedophile Practising Priests -what's wrong with bashing hypocritical immoral Muslim Businessmen?
Can we have a cultural/religious level playing field here please. That's all I ask -fair play to all concerned.
I'm sure if there are any Muslims reading these free-speech 'non-abusive' positive criticisms -then they can speak up for themselves no?
Stop patronising them. They can look after themselves ..they're not duds -like many on here.”
by Raymondo, Bone idle Dole-ite
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:09PM
“Here we go, Muslim bashing, Why? its a shop wanting to sell alcohol, not ram religion down your throat....Why change it into a race issue?”