Latest on Sainsbury's Local store plans for Crewe village

It will create around 20 jobs

A planned new Sainsbury’s Local which will create about 20 jobs has been granted a licence to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm every day. The new store, which is still going through the planning process, is earmarked for land south of Newcastle Road, in Shavington, close to the Shavington Park development.

Tuesday's meeting of Cheshire East’s licensing sub-committee was called because two residents, who did not attend the meeting, had objected to the company’s application for a premises licence. Robert Botkai, representing Sainsbury’s, said some of the objections had related to planning matters not licensing, and would be dealt with during the planning application process.

He told councillors there were fears from some neighbours the store would be open 24 hours a day, but he said there was no possibility of that. He stressed the licence being applied for was from 7am to 11pm.

One concern raised by the two objectors was about playgrounds being in the immediate vicinity. Mr Botkai said: “There are lots of Sainsbury’s stores that are close to schools and to playgrounds. It doesn’t necessarily present a problem.

“They’re concerned about vandalism in the playground. Again, there’s no evidence to suggest that a Sainsbury’s will result in vandalism. They’re concerned about litter, noise, loitering and general bad behaviour… but it’s without any evidence whatsoever this will occur in this location.”

Turning to concerns about children trying to buy alcohol, Mr Botkai said Sainsbury’s operated a strict Challenge 25 policy ‘so we’re well geared up for that’. Cllr Alison Heler (Haslington, Con) asked what the level of footfall is at similar stores between 10pm and 11pm at night.

Mr Botkai said this had been looked at in a similar location and it wasn’t the busiest time. “When we apply for these licences, people do think it’s going to be everybody piling in at 10.45pm but it’s just not what happens,” he said.

The committee agreed to grant the premises licence as per the application.

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