Thames Valley Police (TVP) have objected to plans for a Tesco in Green Park Village.
The police and Reading Borough Council (RBC) have both submitted objections to the licensing application for a Tesco Express at Retail Unit 2, Block H/4, Green Park Village.
RBC’s Licensing committee will decide whether to approve the application and what conditions should be placed on the licence if it is to be approved, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, at 9.30am.
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TVP and RBC have called for a series of conditions to be placed on the licence which would include a ban on sales of beer and cider which is 6.5 per cent or above.
If Tesco agrees to the proposed conditions, TVP and RBC said they will withdraw their opposition but there is currently no agreement.
TVP licensing officer Declan Smyth said the current measures put forward by Tesco are not robust enough to ensure the promotion of the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm.
He said: “There is a general concern surrounding the provision of the supply of alcohol, specifically within this challenging area as the premises is located in a residential area.
“There is a significant issue in Reading with persons identified as street drinkers purchasing single cans of high strength beers and ciders from off licences.
“This has led to issues of anti-social behaviour in local communities.
“Most off licences in Reading have voluntarily agreed to stop selling single cans of high strength beers and ciders.
“Some have agreed to only sell packs of four whilst others have agreed not to sell these products at all.
“This has led to a reduction in the number of incidents of street drinking.
“Thames Valley Police and Reading Borough Council would expect all licence holders and potential applicants to have regard to this initiative and include measures to restrict the sale of high strength products in single quantities or to not sell them at all.”
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Tesco expects the new store to open in 2022.
Last month a Tesco spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We’re always looking at the best opportunities to serve customers and we plan to open a new Express store in Green Park Village in autumn 2022.”
The nearest Tesco is currently a Tesco Express on Shinfield Road.
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