Councillors concerned over plans for Bilston market to sell alcohol from 8am every day

A council’s bid to allow the sale of alcohol at Bilston Market until 11pm has raised objections from local councillors.

City of Wolverhampton Council applied to change its licence for the newly revamped Bilston Market to allow the sale of alcohol from 8am to 11pm every day.

Bilston North councillors Linda Leach and Leigh New both raised objections to the proposed changes to the sale of alcohol from 8am to 11pm.

Cllr Leach, who had no objections to the other proposed changes to the market’s licence, said: “I am concerned that allowing alcohol to be sold from the premises for such an extensive period, including from early morning, could potentially contribute to increased incidents of anti-social behaviour, public nuisance and alcohol-related disorder within the market and the surrounding town centre.

Cllr Leach said the council’s licensing committee should look at whether the extension to 11pm was “appropriate.”

“Bilston town centre is a busy community area, and the market is used by a wide range of residents, including families, older people and vulnerable members of the community,” the former Labour mayor said in an objection.

“I would therefore be concerned about any increase in alcohol-related behaviour that could negatively affect their experience of using the market and surrounding public areas.

Cllr Leigh, who also represents Bilston North and sits on the council’s licensing committee, shared concerns the long hours could add to crime and disorder and public nuisance.

The council has also applied to change its existing licence to allow live and recorded music, dance and other similar live performances during the same hours.

Bilston’s outdoor market re-opened in July after £9m improvements and an eight-month delay. The improvements included a new events space.

A hearing will be held on September 28 to decide whether the licence can be revised.

Bilston High Street, the town’s Church Street and market and the nearby Morrisons supermarket make up a ‘cumulative impact zone’ because of higher crime and disorder rates and the ‘density’ of pubs, clubs, late-night venues and takeaways.

This means that new licence applications are subject to stricter conditions and presumed refused with the onus on the applicant to prove their business will not add to existing issues.

The council has rejected licensing applications in the past due to concerns over the sale of alcohol within cumulative impact zones including in Bilston and Wolverhampton city centre.

In its application, the council said all events at the market would be subject to the appropriate risk assessments involving the emergency services and including noise, crowd control and litter following an initial objection from Wolverhampton’s environmental health officers.

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