AN APPLICATION has been lodged for a licence to sell alcohol at a convenience store which won planning permission.

Convenience store approved

Plans to convert the former Independent Methodist Church on West Street, Toll Bar, into a shop were approved by St Helens Council last December.

Planning officers had ruled the proposed shop "avoids negatively impacting neighbour amenity and no objections have been raised by Environmental Health".

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Applicant Aravendan Kanthanathan has since submitted proposals for three air cooler units to be installed at the back of the upcoming shop, located on the residential street, at the junction with Carlow Street, to which nearby residents have made objections.

Alcohol licence application

Mr Kanthanathan has also submitted an application to the Licensing department at St Helens Council.

This seeks a premises licence for the convenience store, under will be the trading name ABI Mini Mart.

The application seeks permission to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm every day, to be consumed off the premises.

What residents have said

Some residents told the Star that they had not been made aware of the initial plans to convert the former church, and believe that more objections would have been lodged if they had known about the proposals.

They also claim the shop is “not necessary” given other nearby premises.

A notice for an alcohol licence had appeared at the site has been put up. 

St Helens Star: A notice for the alcohol licence application at the siteA notice for the alcohol licence application at the site (Image: Submitted)

"We people in the area have also objected to this application but we feel that nobody is fighting our corner," one resident said.

Numerous residents have also raised objections to the plans for the air conditioning units which they believe will cause huge problems over noise which will disrupt their lives 24 hours a day.

One said: “Our homes are supposed to be a place where we can relax and feel content, this project will be completely destroying that. No consideration has been made for the safety and wellbeing of the neighbours who live in very close proximity to the property”.

It is understood residents plan to make representations against the air cooler proposals before St Helens Council's planning committee later this month on March 14.