Petrol station in Middleton plans to sell alcohol 'round the clock'

Malthouse Retail Ltd have applied to sell booze at its Londis’ forecourt store at the BP garage, in Oldham Road, Middleton.

They want to sell alcohol – to be drunk elsewhere – 'round-the-clock' as well as serving ‘late night refreshments’ between 11pm and 5am.

Bosses have already agreed to a number of conditions – including the operation of a digital CCTV system, training staff on licensing laws and keeping a log of any incidents involving crime and disorder.

The entrance to the shop would be locked between 11pm and 5am, with any sales during these hours made through a ‘night pay window,’ according to the application.

But those living nearby say they still fear they would face problems if the licence is granted.

Darren Potts, landlord of the neighbouring Oddfellows Arms pub, has outlined Oldham Road resident’s concerns in a written submission to licensing chiefs.

It states: “We already have youths hanging around, this will just encourage them to try and get somebody to buy alcohol for them.

“The noise, arguments and disturbance this will cause to everyone close by is not fair. People already have options of where to go at night if they want to buy beer.”

And he adds that – as a landlord – he is ‘extremely concerned’ about under-age drinkers bringing alcohol into his premises and ‘pretending they have bought it from the pub’.

The publican also believes drinkers could begin using the side of the garage as a toilet, as it is ‘not in view of the cashier’ and no facilities are available on-site.

The applicant has confirmed the shop is ‘likely’ to be single-manned at night, and this is another matter which Mr Potts raises as an issue.

“This will not be sufficient,” he states. “If they are serving, how do they know what’s going on elsewhere? There is already a number of people using the garage at night – whether on foot or by vehicle – I think it will attract the wrong people and cause more trouble in and around the area.”

The application will be considered by a Rochdale Council licensing sub-committee at Number One Riverside on Monday 20 May.

The meeting begins at 10am.

MRH Retail declined to comment on this story.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter