Street drinking and rodent concerns over new Leicester corner shop bid

Street drinking and increased rat problems are feared by residents over plans for a new corner shop in their street. Some 13 people living in Tudor Road, in Leicester's Fosse ward, have signed a letter calling on Leicester City Council’s licensing team to reject the proposed store.

Awat Ghaderi is seeking permission from the council to operate the “Tudor Mini Market” from 8am until 11pm, seven days a week. It would be based in a former letting agency office, with homes on either side. While no objections have been raised by the police or the council itself, residents have a number of concerns over the proposal.

The new shop, which would sell alcohol, would create a “street drinking” environment, they fear. They added they are concerned customers will sit on the steps of the building opposite to consume their purchases.

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Residents also fear it could add to existing problems with people drinking outside another store in the street, with worries people might also lean on the houses next to the proposed store. Concerns the store could also “exacerbate” an existing “rat problem” if rubbish is left at the back of the shop have been raised too.

Further issues in relation to the store's proposed opening hours have also been flagged. The requested late-night hours would create “additional noise nuisance” in the street, they continued. Meanwhile, the 8am start would coincide with school commute times, with residents saying it is already “difficult enough” for them to traverse the pavements in the area.

Ultimately, they fear the new store will “disrupt” their quality of life, and claim it is “not needed”.

Leicester City Council has suggested a number of conditions be attached to the licence, should it opt to approve it. These include details around the use of CCTV and the retention of footage, staff training, keeping spirits behind the counter. The conditions also call on staff to “use their best endeavours to prevent any customers of the shop loitering outside the premises” and to ensure that people “refused entry or ejected are asked to leave the vicinity of the premises”.

The authority’s licensing committee will meet next week to debate the licence. Committee members will have to decide whether to grant the licence, refuse it, or grant it subject to modification.