Fears petrol station would be street drinking 'magnet' if booze sold all night

A petrol station in Manchester has been refused a 24-hour alcohol licence after police expressed fears it would become a 'magnet' for street drinking. The Premier food and fuel shop off Bury New Road asked for permission to sell alcohol using a hatch through the night – but the application was rejected.

Unique Convenience Store in Waterloo Road, which is located opposite Cheetwood Community Primary School, already serves alcohol until 11pm. Owner Summaiya Nabeel, who also runs a Nisa store in Higher Blackley, said she wants to grow her business, but without creating problems in the area.

But licensing officers at Manchester council said the petrol station would attract 'late night city centre revellers' who would disturb local residents. Speaking on behalf of GMP at a licensing hearing, PC Alan Isherwood said police are already facing issues with street drinking in the Strangeways area.

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He said: "We're concerned about exacerbating these problems. It could become a magnet for people who want to street drink, that are perhaps drink dependent.

"They'll see it as somewhere where they can get alcohol around the clock."

PC Isherwood also raised concerns about drinkers hanging around the petrol station in the early hours of the morning as children start to arrive at school. Licensing Out of Hours officer Lauren Connell told councillors that noise from people at the petrol station late at night may disturb residents who live nearby.

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She also claimed that late night alcohol sales could contribute to litter and waste – a 'particularly well known problem' in this part of the city, she