FIRST successful steps have been taken by supermarket giants Morrisons to open a convenience store in the Red Deer pub in Brighton Road, South Croydon.
Croydon Council's licensing sub-committee has granted the company a licence to sell alcohol in the proposed store from 7am to 11pm every day of the week.
Sub-committee members heard from council licensing officer, Michael Goddard, yesterday (Thursday) that there were no objections to the licence from police.
And in granting permission they rejected objections from Croham ward councillor, Michael Neal and local resident, Kathleen Garner.
Ms Garner said: "There at least five shops in the area which sell alcohol. This licence will affect these shops and could well leave them empty."
Cllr Neal said cheap alcohol was already readily available in the area and he and residents feared that another outlet could lead to crime and disorder.
He urged Morrisons to help alleviate the possible problem by restricting the sale of alcohol to between 9am and 10pm.
Richard Taylor for Morrisons said: "We have talked to the police and they have no objections to our proposals."
He said the store would employ 20 people, six of whom would hold personal alcohol licences.
Commenting on Cllr Neal's call for restricting hours, Mr Taylor told the sub-committee: "We want to be able to sell our full product range at all times we are open."
Agreeing to the licence, sub-committee chair, Councillor Tony Pearson said members did not feel the proposals would cause any increase in crime and disorder.
It is understood negotiations between Morrisons and the Red Deer's owners have still not been finalised and there is no indication yet when the new store will open.
Croydon Council's licensing sub-committee has granted the company a licence to sell alcohol in the proposed store from 7am to 11pm every day of the week.
Sub-committee members heard from council licensing officer, Michael Goddard, yesterday (Thursday) that there were no objections to the licence from police.
And in granting permission they rejected objections from Croham ward councillor, Michael Neal and local resident, Kathleen Garner.
Ms Garner said: "There at least five shops in the area which sell alcohol. This licence will affect these shops and could well leave them empty."
Cllr Neal said cheap alcohol was already readily available in the area and he and residents feared that another outlet could lead to crime and disorder.
He urged Morrisons to help alleviate the possible problem by restricting the sale of alcohol to between 9am and 10pm.
Richard Taylor for Morrisons said: "We have talked to the police and they have no objections to our proposals."
He said the store would employ 20 people, six of whom would hold personal alcohol licences.
Commenting on Cllr Neal's call for restricting hours, Mr Taylor told the sub-committee: "We want to be able to sell our full product range at all times we are open."
Agreeing to the licence, sub-committee chair, Councillor Tony Pearson said members did not feel the proposals would cause any increase in crime and disorder.
It is understood negotiations between Morrisons and the Red Deer's owners have still not been finalised and there is no indication yet when the new store will open.
