Future of Oxford shop to be decided amid police fears

Tonight, July 27, the city council will consider whether to grant Express Mart Retail Ltd a premises licence to operate at 284 Cowley Road, the former site of the CBD Maniac store.

The ‘convenience store’ proposal would see the shop open, sell alcohol and food from 6 am until midnight, seven days a week.

The plans said: “The premises will be a convenience store, where all types of convenience products will be sold including fresh and frozen food, toiletries, household, newspapers etc.

“Other services will also be offered to customers such as the ability to pay bills and collect/send packages.

“Alcohol is not the intended focus of the business there is an expectation that alcohol sales will have a limited impact on the area as local people are expected to on the whole purchase alcohol along with other products.”

Thames Valley Police (TVP) raised several concerns and objected to licencing application amid fears for crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety, and protection of children from harm.

A city council report said: “TVP have a number of concerns regarding the proposed business and the promotion of the four licensing objectives, both in terms of how the venue will impact on the area, but also vice versa given some of the inherent challenges of the geographical location.

“We had put forward some changes that would mitigate these matters.

“However the statutory deadline has been reached and TVP are still unsatisfied that the appropriate steps are not in place.”

The concerns included fears that smokers outside nearby Heat Bar, as well as those refused entry or ejected, would likely be “loitering in the area”.

In a statement, the police force said: “In that scenario, someone that is seeking yet further alcohol will likely attend the shop in lieu of being able to do so at an on-site establishment.

“It is also important to factor in the proximity of St Mary’s and St John’s churchyard.

“This location is frequented by those engaged in alcohol and drug related anti-social behaviour.”

The force added that the shop would need “robust steps to ensure that shopliftings, sales to drunks, begging and harassment for proxy sale of alcohol do not occur”. it said this had “not been provided by the applicant”.

Public Health authority also shared an objection with concern that “any increase in the availability of alcohol has the potential to contribute to existing alcohol-related harms within the community”.

It noted a number of homelessness support services are in new proximity, stating “there is a well-established association between homelessness and higher rates of alcohol dependence, acute intoxication, alcohol-related morbidity, mental ill health, and multimorbidity”.

The authority said: “As a result, individuals experiencing homelessness may be disproportionately affected by changes in alcohol availability in the immediate area.

“This may increase the risk of street drinking, anti-social behaviour, exploitation, violence, and other alcohol-related harms.”