Convenience store objects to 'over-saturation of alcohol retailers' in Old Windsor

An application to license a new convenience store in Old Windsor is under council consideration following an objection by a nearby retailer.

A Premier convenience store could soon replace Leo’s Hardware at 44 St Luke's Road after 23 years in the area.

Applicant AV Retails Ltd has applied for a licence to sell alcohol, as well as provide lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines, a pay point and a pay zone.

One written objection was received to the plans, which involve off-premises alcohol supply from Monday to Sunday, 6am to 11pm.

“Notably, the premises previously operated as a local convenience store several years ago,” said the applicant at a licensing and public space protection order subcommittee on Wednesday.

Councillors learned the applicant applied to join the Premier retailer network, and their application was recently approved.

Moreover, the designated premises supervisor, Kathirvel Jegatharan, has five years of retail industry experience.

“We have five Premier stores and two independent stores, so we have done all this in all other shops,” the applicant told Councillor Suzanne Cross after enquiring about their history of running similar businesses.

Police licensing officer Debie Pearmain said Thames Valley Police wouldn’t object if the applicant agreed to conditions placed on the premises licence alongside those already offered.

CCTV recordings would need to be kept securely for 31 days and made available to Thames Valley Police, and the DPS would be trained on the CCTV system.

Meanwhile, fair trading officer Rajinder Mann from the RBWM Trading Standards and Licensing Team said they were ‘happy with some of the conditions proposed’ but added a ‘Challenge 25' policy, age verification checks, training for proxy sales and logging sale refusals.

No other authorities objected to the application.

One written objector spoke of the ‘over-saturation of alcohol retailers’ in Old Windsor, including Lyndwood Food and Wines, Co-op Food, Budget Supermarket and M&S Simply Food.

“With four retailers already covering alcohol sales in a very close vicinity, there is absolutely no justification for another off-licence in such a small village,” they wrote.

The objector, who owns Lyndwood Food and Wines at Lyndwood Parade in St Luke's Road, said granting this licence would be ‘detrimental’ to the local economy, public order, and community wellbeing.

“If this licence is granted, it will put more pressure on local policing and enforcement resources while threatening the sustainability of existing independent businesses like mine and harming the progress made by nonprofits tackling alcohol-related harm in Old Windsor,” they added.

Reporting officer Craig Hawkings informed panel members that Co-op Food recently amended its trading hours to 6am to 11pm, which reflects the same hours in this application.

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, Jeskem Singh of Rehmat Enterprises said the application would ‘disrupt the balance of the local economy’.

His business, Lyndwood Food and Wines, has operated in the area since December 2022, and a petition started by Mr Singh garnered 71 signatures opposing the application for St Luke's Road Premier.

“The applicant really hasn’t demonstrated why this off-licence is needed when existing businesses are already meeting demand,” he added.

Councillors in the licensing panel sub-committee, Cllr Clive Baskerville, Cllr Mandy Brar and Cllr Suzanne Cross, will deliberate the application and provide a response in five working days.