Decision day looms for businessman who wants licence to sell alcohol from his garage

Councillors will rule today (Friday) on whether a Littleport businessman will be allowed to sell alcohol 24 hours a day from his garage.

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s licensing sub-committee will discuss whether to approve an application from Damian Trojak that could allow him to sell alcohol to consumers from the garage of his Woodfen Road home.

Mr Trojak says that the garage will be for the storage of alcohol only, and that all alcohol sales would be via the internet, telephone or using a ‘take away’ service.

He has applied for permission to sell alcohol 24 hours a day and seven days a week, with the business open to the public from 4pm-10pm daily.

Karen See, environmental health officer for the district council, raised concerns about the application, saying: “I have concerns with respect to potential disturbance from customer traffic flows, car parking on the road and on the gravel drive.”

And Sgt Ruth Sheehan, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, added: “I have strong concerns about the security of the premises for storage of quantities of alcohol at an address which will be known to the public.

“Whilst many people may use their garage to store alcohol personally this address will be used as a shop and there is little or no added security to prevent this garage being a target for burglary.”

Littleport councillor Neil Morrison also highlighted his fears about the impact of the business on the village.

All three have called for strict conditions to be imposed on any permission granted, including banning any deliveries being made by people under 21, banning the sale of any goods to people under 18 – including soft drinks - and greatly improved security.

The application will be heard by a panel of three councillors, Conservatives Allen Alderson, Michael Allan and Tony Parramint.