Residents war against Best One licence

FRATTON  residents have applauded the decision not to allow the Best One shop on Fratton Road to extend its alcohol license to 3am but are incensed by the decision to allow the shop to serve alcohol first thing in the morning.

Shop owner Sebastiampillai Jeevanayagiam  sought  to extend the licensing hours for the premises from  8am to 3am. after losing his 24 hour license in 2008, but on Wednesday Portsmouth City Council Licensing sub-Committee gave permission for the license to run from 8am-12pm

The decision was reached after a formal representation was made by the Chief Officer of Police due to fears that a late license would create a nuisance for residents and would lead to a resumption of the alcohol related crime that plagued the area before the 24 hour license was revoked.

Fratton Residents Association also lodged petitions against the extended license signed by hundreds of residents, insisting that it would lead to the return of disorder and anti-social behaviour that once plagued the streets around the convenience store.

Residents originally formed the association four years ago to campaign against the 24 hour license  held by the shop which then traded under the name of Brothers.

The group became the only residents association in the UK to successfully have a license revoked when the Licensing Committee ruled in their favour in 2008, slashing the store’s license to the hours of 10am-12pm,.

Marian Stone, chairwoman of the association said; ”we fought tooth and nail for two years to challenge the license because drunks were roaming around the streets all night causing mayhem and criminal damage. There were gangs on the streets the police were called on numerous occasions when cars were vandalised and fights broke out.”

The owners of JW Dance estate agents on Fratton Road said: “It got so bad that on one occasion a drunk male urinated inside the shop.” said Mr Dance.

One unnamed resident complained that the store was serving alcohol to under-age customers and that people would come down from guildhall walk after the clubs closed to carry on partying all night: “Things have been so much quieter the last two years so it would be a disaster if they were granted another late license,” he said.

But Mrs Stone said residents are still worried by the decision to allow the early morning extension of the license: “There is a new nursery opening soon and children will be dropped off there first thing in the morning. The last thing we want is drunks hanging around and putting the children in danger.

“We don’t want the store to go out of business and we respect the fact that the owners have to earn a living,” she said, “but as far as alcohol is concerned the gloves are really off now. We will be watching the store very carefully and will appeal at the first sign of trouble. We have to protect the quality of our lives.”

The shop owner was unavailable for comment but workers at the store who refused to be named said that the shop would not appeal against the decision because it would be too difficult to put the necessary measures in place for late license, such as doormen and CCTV coverage.

Councillor Luke Stubbs defended the committee’s decision saying: “The morning extension was granted in part because of the widespread availability of alcohol after 8am in the Fratton Road area,
whereas the late night extension was refused in part because alcohol is not
generally available there.”

He also said that a CCTV condition was added to the license which the store will now have to abide by.

The news comes at a time when many fear that late night drinking  in the city centre   is getting out of control  because of the controversial  licensing Act of 2003 which allows 24 hour opening and the decision to close down the night strip in Southsea.

Question local residents and shop manager and councillors