Selling booze until midnight could lead to anti-social behaviour warn residents

OPPOSITION is growing to Tesco’s plans to sell alcohol until midnight from its new Seaton supermarket.

Residents fear an increase in anti social behaviour if the company is granted permission to sell booze so late.

Tesco is applying for an off-licence from 6am to 12am, six days a week, Monday to Sunday, from the Harbour Road store.

Now the town council has added its backing to local residents protesting at the planned hours.

It is objecting on the grounds of “noise nuisance and light pollution to nearby properties and wildlife in the area.

It also wants and to avoid an opportunity for late night purchase and consumption of alcohol in various places in the area, including the bus shelters on Harbour Road and the seafront and anti-social behaviour developing in these areas.”

The Tesco application will be heard by East Devon District Council’s licensing committee on November 8.

Town councillor Steph Jones, the member champion for Seaton on the district authority, will be amongst those addressing the meeting.

She told The Herald that in her official capacity should would be seeking to get what was “best for the town”.

But she will also make a personal submission, outlining her concerns as a resident.

She will urge the committee to reduce the hours to 8am – 10pm Mondays to Saturdays and 10am – 4pm on Sundays.

Emma Heesom, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “We are a responsible retailer of alcohol and operate a strict ‘Think 25’ policy. We know our customers lead busy lives. The hours requested for the sale of alcohol are to offer customers flexibility and to allow them to shop at their convenience with us.”