A defunct food court is set to be replaced with a new convenience store in Reading town centre, despite concerns being raised about street drinking and safety.
A defunct food court on Oxford Road in Reading is set to be replaced by a convenience store, despite worries about street drinking and safety in the town centre.
The Food Court, opposite Broad Street Mall, once offered food from Oodles Chinese, Tuk Tuk Pizza and Burger Base but closed after the building was taken back by its owners in March. The premises has since been taken on by Singh Pal Molotr of Muskaan Enterprises.
Muskaan applied to Reading Borough Council to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Objector Alexandra Novikova warned the licence could worsen crime and street drinking. She wrote: “I am concerned that granting a licence to sell alcohol will increase incidents of crime and disorder in the Oxford Road and Cheapside area.
“Central Reading is already known for issues relating to antisocial behaviour, particularly in the evenings and weekends.
“Police incident logs show frequent reports of disorder and alcohol-related disturbances within the town centre area.
“Granting another premises licence risks adding to cumulative impact, especially if alcohol is sold for consumption off the premises, which can contribute to street drinking and public nuisance.”
She also argued Muskaan Enterprises had failed to provide evidence demonstrating how it would prevent alcohol sales to underage drinkers and people who are already intoxicated, and raised concerns that a new alcohol-selling outlet could add to pavement congestion and pedestrian safety risks.
A council licensing applications sub-committee heard the objections. It emerged the business will operate as a convenience store rather than a restaurant, Mr Molotr clarified at the meeting.
Mr Molotr’s legal representative, Marinder Kaur, offered reduced hours at the hearing — 7am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 7am to 10pm the rest of the week — and confirmed any alcohol sold would be for consumption off the premises. Thames Valley Police and council licensing officers raised no objections.
The sub-committee granted the licence with those reduced hours on Thursday 11 December. The decision was made by councillors Paul Woodward (Labour, Church), Ama Asare (Labour, Thames) and Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood).
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
Mental Health Key Cause of Council Absences
