Wortley: Green light for store to sell alcohol despite concerns

By Don Mortlocal democracy reporter

A shop near the busy Five Lane Ends roundabout has been given permission to sell alcohol – despite objections from people who live nearby.

A license application for the premises at 145 Oldfield Lane, Wortley, was approved by Leeds City Council today.

The applicant, Loghman Ahmadi, applied for permission to sell alcohol daily between 7am and 11pm at the shop, which will be called Qwik Stop.

At a permit hearing it was reported that 21 objections had been received, mainly on the grounds of nuisance and public safety.

Concerns have been raised about the lack of parking and road safety issues at the nearby Five Lane Ends roundabout.

Opponents also said there were pubs and other alcohol retailers within walking distance of the shop, which is close to Five Lanes Primary School.

Nick Semper, representing the plaintiff, told the hearing on Tuesday (June 18): “There is no history of disturbances, noise complaints or indeed any other cause for concern.

“The applicant has no intention of selling alcohol to anyone who is drunk or anti-social.”

Councilor Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley and Wortley) was among those who made statements at the hearing.

He told councilors he had received a video of someone knocking down a council bollard near the shop.

He said: “It is absolutely not necessary for the behavior and it is not acceptable.”

But Mr Semper said the person in the video was not connected to the headquarters.

He said: “This man was not the applicant, the designated premises supervisor or an employee or agent of the applicant here today. They don’t know who it is.”

Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee granted permission, subject to conditions agreed with West Yorkshire Police.

These include keeping staff training records, weekly CCTV checks and regular checks of the outside area to avoid people congregating there at night.

The conditions also included the store’s name making no reference to alcohol and restrictions on interior window and storefront displays.

A 25 challenge policy will also be introduced to the store.

The store was most recently an ice cream parlor and was previously a car sales showroom

A separate planning application to convert the building into a shop was submitted last month and is awaiting review by Leeds City Council’s planning department.