A PETROL STATION in East Reading is seeking a licence to sell alcohol non-stop.

The application from BP Weldale Connect has been met with objections from Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing team, Thames Valley Police, and a local resident.

The Wokingham Road business is currently open 24 hours a day, and has a licence to sell alcohol from 8am until 11pm.

The application will be considered at the council's licensing sub-committee at the Civic Offices on Thursday, September 6.

Resident Martin George warned of a potential breach of the peace and wasteful use of police time.

He said: “My concern is that it is essentially a residential location.

“The selling of alcohol late into the night will encourage drunk persons to go to the premises to buy more alcohol.

“I foresee that groups of drunkards will congregate near the petrol station and carry on drinking.”

He added that area would likely be used for urination, shouting and aggressive behaviour people who ask them to be quieter.

Licensing officer Peter Naracic was concerned at the lack of suitable measures to promote public safety and prevention of crime and disorder.

He stated he will withdraw his objection if the applicant agrees to a number of conditions, including a challenge 25 policy, staff training and CCTV.

Police licensing officer Declan Smyth called for the same measures, which also included not selling super strength beer or cider.

The application will be considered at the council's licensing committee meeting at the Civic Offices on Thursday, September 6.

The committee will also hear from an off-licence which had its licence revoked on March 29, 2018, for breaches including employing an illegal worker.

The licence holder appealed to Reading Magistrates’ Court and is permitted to sell alcohol pending the outcome.

Local Food and Wine is seeking a new premises licence from 7am to11pm.

Declan Smyth said he believed the application will undermine all four licensing objectives.

He said: “Due to the history of this site and nature of the previous incidents leading to that review it is imperative that these criminal activities and wholesale failures are not repeated.”

He called on the committee to ensure the application, from Jasnoor Singh Vadwah, is genuinely new before approving it.

Licensing officer Peter Narancic echoed Mr Smyth’s concerns that the licence may be new in name only.

He called for a number of conditions, including that the previous licence holder be excluded from any involvement in the business.