The new owner of a post office has been granted a drinks licence after agreeing to enhanced security and shorter hours.
David Isaac, 51, who bought Hove Post Office, in Church Road, in August, told a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel last month that he needed the drinks licence for the business to be viable.
Mr Isaac plans to keep the post office open while turning the rest of the shop into more of a convenience store, with 25 per cent of business coming from alcohol sales.
Sussex Police, the council licensing team and neighbouring Budgens objected to the application which is in a part of Brighton and Hove where there are restrictions on new off-licences.
The restrictions were brought in because of the level of alcohol-linked crime and the “saturation” of other outlets selling alcohol.
At the licensing panel hearing, on Thursday 30 October, council licensing official Emma Grant said that the location of the premises in Church Road was inside the area that had been designated a “special stress area” (SSA) by the council.
This was because of the cumulative effects of licensed premises in the area and drink-related crime and disorder.
Mark Thorogood, from the Sussex Police licensing team, said that more than 400 crimes were recorded within 500 yards of the post office over the past year.
They included 27 sexual offences and eight robberies, almost 200 violent crimes, almost 80 public order offences, 73 incidents of criminal damage and more than 40 drugs offences.
Mr Isaac wanted a licence to cover the hours from 8am to 11pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 7pm on Sundays.
But the panel of three councillors – Kerry Pickett, Paul Nann and Ivan Lyons – decided that alcohol sales should end at 10pm from Monday to Saturday.
Mr Isaac’s licensing agent, Nick Semper said that Mr Isaac was an experienced licensee – “a highly capable and competent individual who was a trusted postmaster” – with no intention of selling alcohol irresponsibly to anyone.
Mr Isaac also runs a similar business, Maxi’s, a post office and store with an off-licence, in High Street, Shoreham, as well as the post office in Blatchington Road, Hove.
And he previously ran a convenience store with an off-licence in Station Road, Portslade, until he sold the business.
The panel recognised that there were already several nearby businesses selling alcohol but felt that the shop’s main business would be as a post office.
The council decision letter said: “There is, to an extent, enhanced security associated with post offices and the applicant has agreed to some robust conditions proposed by the police, including a back up mobile support unit and membership of the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership.
“The panel consider that it is necessary and appropriate … to impose the condition relating to no advertising of promotions or deals and the no alcohol delivery service which was agreed in any event.”
The panel decided that it was appropriate to limit the sale of alcohol to 10pm from Monday to Saturday.
The council’s decision letter added: “This is earlier than some of the other premises in the area.
“While this cannot properly be considered exceptional, the panel has confidence in the applicant that he will run these premises responsibly as he has relevant and extensive experience.”
Great. Let’s hope the business will be viable and the Post Office will continue to function. We need it.
Give it 6 months before the application for variation of hours is received. ” Without it ….the business is unviable.. close the premises… resulting in loss of amenity and jobs….”
What is the point of a special stress area is when all they do (the council) is grant drink licenses .along church road hove & western road are shops within yards selling booze & it’s getting worse 😔
Of course Budgens appealed 🤣 but the good thing is that at least the Post Office has a chance to survive with the additional revenue stream
Get the beers in!!!, snort the Malibu, all the lads are cheering, get the bloody beers in.
Why is it still called a newsagent? It does not sell them.