A licence review will take place into the business on Marybone
A licence review will take place into the business on Marybone
Merseyside Police is to investigate conduct at a Liverpool city centre shop as it launches a probe with the city council. Liverpool Council has confirmed a licence review is to be held into RPK Vauxhall All in One on Vauxhall Road in Marybone.
A review can be called by a responsible authority – such as the police or trading standards – to ensure a business is compliant with the relevant objectives. It was confirmed by the city council that Merseyside Police is now looking to do so with the convenience store which has been operating under the supervision of Kasippillai Ravichandran since 2022.
Documents released by the council’s licensing department have now confirmed a special committee will take place after concerns were raised by the force. These relate to the Vauxhall Road shop’s ability to prevent crime and disorder.
Additionally, issues have been brought to officers regarding public safety and prevention of public nuisance. A licence was granted to the shop – situated on the edge of the city centre – four years ago permitting it to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm from Monday to Saturday.
Cllr Nick Small opposed the licence application
Sales must be complete by 10.30pm on Sundays. Additional sales can be made on Christmas Day and Good Friday under the terms of the agreement.
A bid had been lodged by Mr Ravichandran last month to operate the business for 24 hours a day. This was met with concern by Cllr Nick Small who has formally objected to the application.
Cllr Small, who represents the City Centre North ward, said: “This licensing application is highly irresponsible, it will cause massive problems locally and runs the risk of jeopardising all the good work we’ve been doing with the police and other agencies. Vauxhall Road is the main route between Leeds Street and the city centre.
“There are many vulnerable residents in the area, including people living in temporary and supporting housing with drug and alcohol issues.
“The concern that I’ve got is that there are already issues with street drinking, drug dealing, drug use, anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder.
“I fear that opening this retail unit 24 hours a day, with alcohol sales until 4am will make these issues worse and really affect the quality of life for residents living in Marybone and Westmorland.”
When permission was awarded to use the units on Vauxhall Road as retail sites in 2000, this came with the stipulation that it must not operate beyond the hours of 8am and 11.30pm.
This was to ensure that nearby occupiers were not adversely affected by the development.
The premises licence review will be held at a date as yet to be confirmed by the city council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee.