Post office will sell alcohol despite objections

The licence will allow the Post Office to sell alcohol until 10pm

A post office will be allowed to sell alcohol, despite councillors raising concerns.

Sandeep Singh, who runs the Castletown Post Office in Sunderland, plans to run a convenience shop from the site.

His request for an alcohol licence was opposed by councillors representing the Castletown ward, who expressed concern over a potential rise in alcohol-related harms.

But Sunderland City Council's licensing sub-committee approved the application after Mr Singh said he would ensure he complied with all licensing objectives.

'Asking for trouble'

His plans were resisted by all three councillors in Castletown, but faced no opposition from police or other authorities.

The councillors, Allison Chisnall, Stephen Foster and Denny Wilson, had concerns including a potential increase in crime and alcohol-related hospital admissions.

Ms Chisnall suggested the shop could attract people barred from other stores, adding: "There's going to be a lot of elderly people using the post office who are going to have to walk through the main shop.

"People inside could be watching them to see what they're doing as they're carrying cash."

Mr Wilson said: "We think that selling alcohol, from a very small post office, is just asking for trouble."

More conversations should have been had with councillors before the proposals were put forward, according to Mr Foster.

Promises to comply

At a meeting of the licensing sub-committee, Mr Singh promised to comply with licensing objectives around public safety, child protection, crime prevention and public nuisance.

He said: "I will give my full concentration on the post office premises. I will follow the objectives, I’m fully qualified.

“I give you my word, I will give my 100% in this shop.”

After hearing concerns from objectors and Mr Singh's case, councillors on the committee approved the licensing application.

They added conditions that will see Mr Singh install signage to discourage loitering and noise and restrict the number of unsupervised children in the shop.