An off-licence has been refused the right to trade after the applicant was told councillors didn’t feel he was “up to it”.
Adam Sutton sought to secure a licence for Baltic Bevies on Jamaica Street and had hoped to stay open until 4am on weekends. A Liverpool Council licensing and gambling sub-committee was told police, councillors and residents held concerns about the plans, with fears it could increase issues around anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Mr Sutton told the panel of three councillors that he was seeking to open the off-licence after moving his existing estate agent business from the unit on Jamaica Street. He said this had been a long-term desire and would seek to create a business unlike a “discount booze shop” and would provide “high end” stock.
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The applicant claimed the area was “crying out” for a business like the one he proposed and said he understood concerns raised by residents locally. Mr Sutton added that the nature of the off licence would most likely “drive away” people seeking a traditional off licence.
When asked by committee chair Cllr Christine Banks how he would deal with revellers leaving night clubs and bars seeking further alcohol, Mr Sutton said: “It doesn’t take me long to pick something up.” Cllr Billy Marrat said that people “would probably target” the off-licence after a night out.
Dawn Lawrenson of Merseyside Police said there had been 30 incidents of anti-social behaviour around Jamaica Street in the last six months and granting a licence until 4am would only “exacerbate” the problem and could become a “magnet for street drinkers and late night revellers.”
Ms Lawrenson added that Mr Sutton had also not been willing to negotiate over a 4am closing time nor had he engaged with local officers regarding the proposals. Cllr Hetty Wood told the committee she felt the proposals were “out of sync” with other businesses in the area nor were they appropriate.
Representations were also made by one resident - who asked not to be named - that detailed how they had been “inundated” by anti-social behaviour, including late night drinkers urinating in gardens, loud abusive language and bins being hit.
Mr Sutton told the committee that despite it being recommended by Merseyside Police, he didn’t “like the idea” of having to employ security guards at the premises but “wouldn’t want to play a part in any disturbance” and would shut down his business at the sight of any spikes in ASB. Cllr Marrat gave Mr Sutton an honest appraisal when he said he admired his plans, but “I don’t think you’ve gone about it the right way…I don’t think you’re up to it.”
Rejecting the application, Cllr Banks said the committee needed to have confidence that the proposals would not add to problems, which at this time it did not. She added that the committee felt Mr Sutton had “not given the serious thought it deserves” and she was not confident it would not give rise to further ASB or public nuisance.
