The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to review an application for a premises licence variation for Mags Newsagent. The applicant, Mr Pankajkumar Raojibhai Patel, was seeking to extend the hours during which alcohol could be sold and to modify a condition relating to the strength of alcohol sold at the premises. Objections to the application had been received from both the Licensing Authority and the Police.

Application to Vary a Premises Licence - Mags Newsagent

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application made by Mr Pankajkumar Raojibhai Patel to vary the premises licence for Mags Newsagent at 63 Chippenham Road, Romford, RM3 8HL.

Mags Newsagent is located in a parade of commercial units near the Hilldene shopping parade. The report pack noted that the area is a cumulative impact zone (CIZ) designated by the Licensing Authority, and that there are residential properties above the premises, making it a mixed-use area.

Currently, the premises licence allows the off-supplies of alcohol from 08:00 to 19:00, Monday to Saturday, and 08:00 to 15:00 on Sunday. Mr Patel applied to extend these hours to 08:00 to 21:00, Monday to Sunday.

Mr Patel also requested to modify condition 6 of Annex 2 of the licence, which currently states:

No high strength beers, lagers or ciders above 6% ABV shall be stocked or sold at the premises.

The applicant wished to increase this limit to 8% ABV.

Additionally, Mr Patel proposed adding a new condition to the licence:

Cans and bottles will be labelled with the address and name of the premises so as to enable tracing of any street drinking, littering or other anti-social behaviour that may be tied to alcohol purchased from the premises.

Objections from Responsible Authorities

The report pack noted that while no objections were received from residents or neighbouring businesses, representations against the application were submitted by the Licensing Authority and the Police.

Oisin Daly, representing the Licensing Authority, objected to the proposed increase in alcohol strength, citing concerns about crime, disorder, and public nuisance. Mr Daly referenced the council's special cumulative impact policy for Gooshays, noting that Harold Hill, where Mags Newsagent is located, is the most deprived area in the borough, which can lead to increased substance misuse.

Mr Daly stated that while the Licensing Authority did not object to the extended hours, the increase in ABV was a point of contention. He referred to studies indicating that selling higher strength beers, lagers, and ciders can negatively impact the licensing objectives. He also cited guidance from the Local Government Association (LGA) on Reducing the strength schemes, which suggests that lowering the ABV in an area can help reduce the risk of undermining the licensing objectives.

Mr Daly argued that high-strength alcohol attracts those dependent on alcohol, leading to street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour. He also noted that the existing premises licence had only been in force since May 2025, and that the 6% ABV condition was initially offered by the applicant.

While Mr Daly acknowledged the applicant's proposed condition regarding the labelling of products, he argued that it would be impractical and would not effectively address the issue, as it focuses on identifying offenders after an offence has occurred, rather than preventing it.

PC Ellis Grote, Licensing Officer, also objected to the proposed increase in the permitted strength of cider for sale, citing concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance. PC Grote noted that Chippenham Road is located within the Gooshays Cumulative Impact Zone and experiences issues with street drinkers, particularly during the summer.

PC Grote stated that stronger alcohol at affordable prices would have a negative effect on the local community, as street drinkers often use stronger and cheaper alcohol to become intoxicated, leading to anti-social behaviour and other issues.

PC Grote also expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of the proposed labelling condition, stating that it appeared labour intensive and was not a preventative measure.