Petrol station wins go-ahead to sell alcohol (From Daily Echo)

Chickenhall Service Station wins go-ahead to sell alcohol in Eastleigh

12:50pm Monday 20th August 2012 in Eastleigh By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter

A petrol station has been given the goahead to sell booze – despite fears over vandalism and under-aged drinking.

Dozens of residents, including about 30 from the same road, signed a petition in a bid to block moves to stock alcohol at Chickenhall Service Station in Eastleigh .

But their efforts were in vain after a panel of four Eastleigh borough councillors gave the scheme the green light at a licensing hearing.

The Esso station in Bishopstoke Road already stocks food and drink in its convenience shop section.

But an application was submitted to sell booze from 6am to 11pm every day of the week.

Shop operators say they will train staff, install a CCTV system and operate a policy where anyone who appears to look under 25 will be asked to provide identification.

A “refusals book” would also be operated logging instances where staff decline a sale.

But in a letter opposing the application, the owner of nearby Bob ‘n’ Lynn’s Newsagent, Robert Fieldsend, said he was worried about people “gathering and drinking” by the wall opposite his premises.

He added: “Youngsters used to congregate there until 2am drinking and then there would often be trouble. The road is now quiet and usually trouble free at night and we would like it to stay that way.

“We are a small business and feel that Esso, as a global company already making a huge profit from petrol, does not need to take potential trade away from us in this way.”

Another resident in Dutton Lane wrote: “The idea now is to stop so many problems with alcohol abuse. The saying is ‘don’t drink and drive’ – putting it in a garage will not help especially being sold from 6am to 11pm.”

Nearly 50 people from nearby Barton Road, Dutton Lane and Bishopstoke Road signed a petition urging panel members to reject the idea.

But the application was granted in full at a hearing held at Eastleigh Borough Council’s Civic Offices.