New Cannock Chase alcohol supplier granted premises licence

A new alcohol supplier can operate from a Cannock Chase garage after being granted a premises licence, despite concerns about public safety and nuisance.

Blind Shot Ltd is a new start-up company offering wholesale supply to business partners, festivals and pubs via an online ordering service, based at an address in Newbury Road, Norton Canes.

The company applied to Cannock Chase District Council for a premises licence enabling it to supply alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But the application met with four responses from residents.

Mark Stabler said: “I have serious concerns about the potential for Blind Shot Ltd being given a premises licence to operate as an online wholesale supplier of alcohol from what is clearly a residential property. Newbury Road is a cul de sac with only one point of entry and it would be a real nuisance to all neighbours if an online wholesale supplier of alcohol was allowed to trade in this road.

“I see a serious potential problem for public safety, especially along the top end of Newbury Road. The full length of this road has no footpath, is only 5.5m wide and cars are often parked on both sides of the road.

“There are many pedestrians that use this road walking from the estate and the wider Brownhills Road area to access the open parkland, public footpaths and the children’s play area. I don’t think they should be put at further risk by increasing the amount of traffic that uses this road, especially for the delivery and then distribution of alcohol.”

Mark Titley said: “Whilst the application contains reference to online sales I don’t understand how this will be controlled in terms of the licence granted. I feel that any retail sales from this residential property would be entirely inappropriate and undoubtedly create a public nuisance.

“How will the business ensure that sales in an online environment aren’t made to minors? What are the businesses policies to ensure deliveries/collections aren’t made to minors – how will this be managed when deliveries are made by couriers, the sole director or members of his family?

“The proposed licensing hours are 24 hours a day – this is a residential area and the ability to sell alcohol for these hours is undoubtedly giving consent for a public nuisance in this setting, which the council should carefully consider this when reviewing this application. Whilst I can appreciate that online orders can be placed or made at any time I would strongly encourage the council to carefully consider the full extent of what may be granted/permitted here, rather than the businesses plans at the outset, and should they be minded to grant a premises licence ensure that appropriate conditions are included within such licence to prevent a nuisance to neighbours.”

Two representations were later withdrawn after further information was provided by applicant John Theodoulou. He also agreed for conditions to be applied to any licence that may be granted, including no public collections, no delivery or collection vehicles larger than a 3.5 tonne van being used and ensuring all loading and unloading will take place within the private driveway of the address.

He added: “On the application we have requested 24 hours to allow orders to be placed online at any given time. However, this does not mean deliveries can be made at any given time.

“We have disclosed that deliveries will be made during standard working hours (between 9am and 5pm) to avoid school run hours and evenings. As it may not have been stated on the application, we will make sure this is adjusted accordingly.

“We will have a strict age verification software implemented on our website when released. As for deliveries, Royal Mail has their own policies regarding age restricted items and as for myself as the designated premises supervisor(DPS), I will hold all responsibility for checking age restrictions when delivering the products.

“If palatable sized orders are required, this will be done using external HGV companies where the distillery will deliver straight to them, avoiding the need to be stored at the premises. This will eliminate the traffic in the area.

He stated in his application: “The premises is a private residential property where a double garage / dedicated secure internal room is used exclusively for the storage and dispatch of sealed alcohol products. The layout consists of a shelved storage area within the garage and various space inside the house, which is used to pick and pack online orders.

“All stock is kept in a locked, climate-controlled environment that is not accessible to the public. The business operates strictly as an online-only delivery and dispatch service.”

“There is no physical retail presence at the address; the general public is not permitted to visit, browse, or purchase alcohol on-site. There are no collections by customers.”

Cannock Chase Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee agreed to grant a premises licence to Blind Shot Ltd, subject to conditions, following a hearing on Monday (April 13).