A CORNWALL Council meeting has heard fears that a proposal to open an off licence called The Booze Bay in St Austell will exacerbate the town’s street drinking problem.

A licensing sub-committee met yesterday (Wednesday, August 26) to hear an application by Kirsty and Ghofran Elsayed, who run a shop in Ascot, Berkshire, to open an off licence and convenience store selling vapes, cigarettes and groceries called The Booze Bay in Fore Street.

Councillors heard that Devon and Cornwall Police had suggested further conditions to the premises licence proposal, including CCTV, staff training, that no alcohol above 6 per cent ABV or single cans or bottles should be sold, and all spirits must be stored behind the serving counter, not on the shop floor.

The police suggested the additional conditions because “St Austell experiences a problem with alcohol-related anti-social behaviour which can, in part, be linked to street drinking.”

The application had received six objections, including from St Austell Town Council and St Austell BID, the town’s business organisation, who all cited the possibility of an off licence in the town centre exacerbating anti-social behaviour and crime in a town which, it was pointed out, has been landed with the nickname St Awful.

Mrs Elsayed said she was happy to undertake the police recommendations as she was aware that St Austell has a high crime rate. She added that everything would be put in place to ensure the shop is run within the law, stressing that alcohol would not be sold to under-age customers or people who are intoxicated.

Cllr Jackie Bull, representing St Austell Town Council, gave a passionate account of why her council felt the introduction of an off licence in Fore Street would be a bad thing for the town.

She told councillors: “The Police and Crime Commissioner, the BID and the town council have found it necessary to fund security in the centre of St Austell for some time. St Austell has both a problem and a reputation for excessive street drinking and the gathering of drinkers and addicts in the very part of the town this proposal covers.

“Cornwall Council’s own document Safer Cornwall reports a 115 per cent rise in anti-social behaviour, street drinking, begging and drug litter. The proposed site would be very close to the main congregating areas around the church, Cemetery Park and Market House steps.”

Cllr Bull added: “Residents, honestly and sadly, already perceive the Market House and church, close to the proposal, as too intimidating and the proposal would exacerbate this as well as providing more temptation in the path of vulnerable addicts.

“The name of the establishment speaks for itself and its raison d’être. St Austell has several hostels and premises catering for those with addiction issues. They are both part of the solution and part of the problem.

“St Austell is already, sadly, a town under pressure on these issues. The proposal can only worsen the difficult balance.”

She said there was already enough provision for the sale of alcohol with shops like Iceland and Co-op trading in the town.

“We want children, in particular, but the whole community to be able to walk through our town centre without being subjected to fearsome swearing and loud, drunken behaviour.”

Sub-committee member Cllr Nicky Chopak pointed out that the police had not objected to the application. Cllr Bull responded that the town council was “gobsmacked” by the police’s reaction to the proposal.

“The local nickname for our town now is St Awful because of the fear that people have and the discomfort of walking through the town,” added Cllr Bull.

Mrs Elsayed replied that she understood the concerns of the objectors. She said: “We aren’t dismissing any of it, that’s why we’re putting extra things in place to ensure we are safe for everyone that comes into St Austell.”

Following a period of private deliberation, the sub-committee approved the application, noting the additional conditions that had been agreed.

Members accepted that there were existing issues in St Austell with street drinkers, drug taking and other anti-social behaviour. However, they noted this was a new application and believed there was insufficient evidence to show that The Booze Bay would have a negative impact on licensing objectives.