AN alcohol licence has been granted for a corner shop in Harnham despite residents’ fears over anti-social behaviour and parking.

The convenience store at 1 Harnham Road replaces a furniture shop and is on the site of a grocery store which closed around ten years ago.

The applicant, Fatma KayaCifci, had wanted to sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm at the shop in addition to food and other household goods.

But objections were raised by ten residents including division councillor Ian Tomes who claimed the area had suffered from alcohol-related problems.

“This area is very residential with terraced houses facing straight onto the street and is quite dense,” he said.

“Any extra incidents of antisocial behaviour would be unacceptable and I believe that a licensed premises in this location, of any type, would cause just that.”

Rev Canon Michael Goater, from St Nicholas Hospital, said the area already suffered “persistent” anti-social behaviour with beer cans tossed into gardens and the river.

“The nuisance typically comprises minor vandalism, shouting, car engines revved excessively and occasional trespass,” he said. “Two properties owned by the hospital have been targeted, together with the hospital itself.”

But former Salisbury MP Robert Key, who represented the constituency for 27 years, backed the return of the corner shop, writing that it had been an “important focus of community life”.

“I believe it would be of great benefit to the whole community if this property could once again become an asset benefitting the whole community – especially the elderly,” he said.

“I know of no evidence that the granting of an off-licence would have on the prevention of crime and disorder. The premises caused no crime and disorder that I am aware of in the last 100 years or so. I have lived here for 19 years. I was a regular user of the shop and I never heard any complaints of public nuisance connected with the shop.”

The Southern Area Licensing Sub Committee agreed to grant a licence subject to a CCTV system being installed.