A MINI-SUPERMARKET has been granted a licence to sell alcohol despite local opposition.
The licence allowing the sale of alcohol at Bond's of Shirley, in Wickham Road, between 8am and 11pm on Monday to Sunday, was approved by the council's licensing sub-committee.
Objections had been received from Jonty Clark, the executive head of Beckmead School in Wickham Road, who feared older pupils might be tempted to buy drink. He also said the school had suffered from patients from nearby Bethlem Hospital loitering and urinating on the school fence while under the influence of alcohol.
Councillor Maria Gatland, chair of the sub-committee, said: "We had sympathy with the school but there was no evidence that a supermarket selling alcohol would make conditions worse."