Residents living close to a proposed new convenience store on one of Dorchester’s housing estates have objected to its likely late opening due to its alcohol sales up to 11pm.
According to local reports, objections are being raised against Manor Park Convenience Store, in Mellstock Avenue in Dorchester. The store has yet to start trading and it is feared that it is likely to add to night-time nuisance from anti-social behaviour since it has been granted licence to sell alcohol until 11 pm.
Some say the site is too close to schools to be selling alcohol with the likely opening hours not fitting in with an next-door takeaway which shuts at 9.30pm.
A letter sent to Dorset Council said, “This is a totally inappropriate location, adjacent to local schools, for the Licensing Authority to permit the advertising and selling of alcohol. Within the commercial centre of the town there are cameras and a police presence to monitor behaviour, which does not exist in this residential area."
Another letter pointed out how late sales would encourage people to loiter and cause a nuisance on the grassed area outside the shop.
“A shop in a residential location selling alcohol until 11pm every day…will blight the lives of people living in close proximity. I urge you to deny the licence for such unreasonable hours.”
The application for a premises licence comes from Srinikasrii Ltd which has a registered office address at Chickerell, Weymouth and was incorporated as a private company in February 2023.
Unless all the objections are withdrawn, a hearing into the licence application is expected to take place at County Hall, Dorchester on Wednesday (17).
