Tesco granted alcohol licence for new store in Stroud

The store - which used to be Halford’s before closing in October last year - has been officially granted a premises licence to sell alcohol. 

It was revealed in a licensing hearing at Stroud District Council that the new Tesco is due to open in either February or March this year. 

During the meeting on Friday, December 15, concerns were raised by Stroud Town Council surrounding alcohol related anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

As a result, the town council asked for the licensing panel to allow Tesco to sell alcohol between 8am and 10pm rather than from 6am to midnight, as the supermarket had requested.

The meeting also heard that two nearby premises, the Co-Op on Slad Road and Iceland on Union Street, both have licenced hours until 11pm, but uses different opening hours.

Stroud mayor Stella Parkes said: “It's a difficult balance in a town centre, we’re encouraging people there.

“It will be very welcome to have a Tesco offering access to food. We don’t have a central supermarket apart from Iceland in the town centre at the moment. 

“I’m a councillor for this particular ward and I have to deal with a lot of distressed people who live in the town centre saying the noise and the anti-social behaviour keeps them awake at night. 

“It's not what they expect to have to experience when they bought or rented their flats. 

Work is underway for the new Tesco Express in Stroud - which is due to open in the old Halfords unit (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr John Jones (Conservative, Severn) asked whether the anti-social behaviour was definitely alcohol related. 

In reply, Cllr Parkes said: “I personally have experienced being shouted at in the most unpleasant way from a drunk in the town centre, and my colleagues at the town council also tell me it's happened to them. 

“It does not help the town centre when this happens, it puts people off coming in. 

“The town centre really needs all the assistance it can get.”

Cllr Parkes added: “Sadly I don’t think we have a strong enough police presence in the town to deal with all the problems that the town has.”

Hardish Purewal Licensing Manager for Tesco said that staff would work with the town council and the police to identify any people who may cause problems.

She said: “We’re looking to open in February and March time at the moment. 

“In regards to the store, we’ll be looking at taking on 20 people and they’ll be four managers, so there will always be a manager in the store when the store is open.

“If there’s no footfall or there’s not enough customers coming through the door, then we will review those hours. 

“There’s been no issues raised by the police on this application.”

Tesco Express is due to open in the former Halfords unit (Image: Dransfield)

Ms Purewal also stated that the new Tesco would have a manager who currently manages the Paganhill Tesco and who has a good working relationship with the PCSO for the area. 

She also informed the panel about Tesco's alcohol policing, which includes staff training, their 'Think 25' policy, proxy sales awareness, and in-store CCTV.

The panel granted the premise licence for everyday from 6am to 11pm with two separate conditions. 

This includes having a CCTV system which stores footage for at least 31 days and can be given to the police and council officers on request.

The panel also advised that the Challenge 25 scheme be adopted with signage displayed in the store advertising the scheme. 

For more information - you can view the full meeting here - tinyurl.com/32knmb83