CHIGWELL: Problem store has licence revoked (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

CHIGWELL: Problem store has licence revoked

12:30pm Tuesday 7th September 2010 in

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AN off-licence opposite a school has been banned from stocking booze after it sold alcohol to underage youths.

The Metro Store, in Chigwell Road, Chigwell, had sold alcohol to underage buyers on at least three occasions and regularly attracted crowds of nuisance youths, Epping Forest District Council's licensing sub-committee heard.

Nearby resident Michael Brooks, of Chigwell Road, said: “I've been there 28 years and I've never had such aggravation in that street from this shop.

“They all gather round- they're kids of 15, 16- smoking, smashing bottles. The aggravation goes on and on.

“One time they grabbed my van and they smashed the mirror. They ripped it straight off and chucked it across the road.”

Essex Police licensing officer Simon Fisher said he very much supported the decision to review the shop's licence and added the owner had already been served with two fixed penalty notices for underage sales.

Revoking the licence of the shop, which is opposite West Hatch High School, committee chairman Maggie McEwen said the evidence of public nuisance was inconclusive, but accepted the revokation on the grounds of potential harm to children.

No-one from Metro Store, attended the hearing.