ST HELENS Council's Licensing Sub-Committee will decide whether to grant a licence for the sale of alcohol at a convenience store this Friday (March 31).

What is the licence application for?

The Star previously reported after an application was lodged for a licence to sell alcohol at a convenience store in Toll Bar which won planning permission.

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

Applicant Aravendan Kanthanathan seeks a premises licence for the convenience store, under the trading name ABI Mini Mart.

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

However, documents in the agenda for Friday's meeting, state this since has been amended to between 8am and 8pm as "the applicant entered negotiations with both Merseyside Police and the Licensing Authority and reached agreement with both parties".

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

Residents in the area have expressed strong opposition to the licence application.

What options does the committee have?

The agenda ahead of this week's town hall meeting says that "the application has been referred to the Sub-Committee as it has attracted representations which have been judged to be relevant pursuant to the Licensing Act 2003".

The commitee can either modify the conditions of the licence; reject the whole or part of the application; or grant the premises licence in accordance with the application. 

What are the objections residents have raised?

Numerous representations have been made against the plans by residents. These include that  "the sale of alcohol will cause a noise disturbance to all the residents", and that it will cause "a public nuisance and disturbance".

Worries have also been raised that granting the licence will "cause noise by loitering on the street which is already evident".

Crime concerns were also among those which have been raised.

One resident told the Star: "We people in the area have also objected to this application but we feel that nobody is fighting our corner."

St Helens Council's Licensing Sub-Committee will meet at 10.30am on Friday, March 31 at the town hall.