Off-licence would bring 'more disorder' to village

Residents say an off-licence on the site would bring more crime and disorder

A proposal to turn a fish and chip shop into an off-licence has prompted more than 500 people to object - fearing that it would bring crime and disorder.

If the application to Rotherham Council is approved, the former Clay Pit Lane Fish Bar in Rawmarsh would become a shop called Happy Local that would sell alcohol seven days a week from as early as 07:00 BST.

Residents have petitioned the council over their concerns that the change of use would lead to noise, anti-social behaviour and crime.

They said street drinking was already a problem in the area and alcohol misuse was often witnessed by children walking to school in the morning.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Rawmarsh had already experienced issues with "disturbances" linked to the number of licensed premises.

The petition for the council to refuse the Happy Local plans has 563 signatures and there were a further 19 written objections.

One comment said that "drunks and drug dealers" were involved in local burglaries and that a passageway near the building could be used by drinkers who had bought alcohol from the shop.

Another claimed that the Clay Pit Lane area was already experiencing anti-social behaviour from as early as 08:00 BST.

Meanwhile, a Rawmarsh shop owner said they had to lock themselves in their premises one morning when two ‘very drunk men’ tried to kick the door in and fight with a father dropping his child off at school.

If the application is approved, the licence holder would have to agree to a number of conditions, including operating a CCTV system and a Challenge 25 scheme, keeping a refusals register, providing staff training and displaying signs requesting that customers leave quietly.

Rotherham Council will consider the application on 23 July.

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