Residents Oppose Easington Colliery Shop’s Bid to Sell Alcohol
Local residents are rallying against a new shop’s alcohol license application, citing safety concerns for the community.
Easington Colliery, Durham, Alcohol License, Community Safety, Crime
Easington Colliery: The Seaside Lane Minimarket wants to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm daily. Sounds like a regular convenience store, right? But not everyone is on board.
Durham County Council will look at the licensing application on January 24. The owner, Krishnakumar Ampikapathy, claims the shop will be a top-notch convenience store, filling a gap in the area. He mentioned that the place has been empty for about ten years.
Before this, it was a DIY hardware and computer repair shop. But here’s the kicker: two locals, Mr. D Sadler and Ms. L Dodds, are leading the charge against the alcohol license. They’ve even gathered around 200 signatures from fellow residents.
They’re worried about the safety of vulnerable folks living nearby. In their statement, they pointed out that the area already has six licensed stores, and adding another one could make things worse. Easington Colliery has had its share of issues with violence and crime, and they fear this new shop could just add fuel to the fire.
They also highlighted that the shop is right across from homes of older residents, which raises serious safety concerns. More licensed places could mean more trouble, they argue, and they’ve seen the negative effects of easy alcohol access firsthand.
In their words, “We believe our community deserves better.” They want Easington Colliery to be a safe haven for families and the elderly, not a hotspot for crime. Mr. Ampikapathy will face the licensing committee next week to address these worries.