Oxford shop future decided as police come to agreement

On Monday, July 27, the city council approved a premises licence for Express Mart Retail Ltd to operate at 284 Cowley Road, the former site of the CBD Maniac store.

The ‘convenience store’ set between a bar and a pub had caused apprehensions for Thames Valley Police (TVP) and Public Health.

A licence application 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.”

A city council report described how TVP had not agreed with the applicant on its plans and said the shop would need “robust steps to ensure that shoplifting, sales to drunks, begging and harassment for proxy sale of alcohol do not occur”.

The Cowley Road – CBD Maniac is the site of the proposed shop (Image: Google Maps)

A member of the licensing committee has confirmed agreement was found around five minutes before the July 27 meeting was held and a premises licence has been granted.