By Concerns over off-Licences flooding Scunthorpe street
Off-licences on a Scunthorpe street are beginning to worry locals over “antisocial” and “intimidating” behaviour.
Residents from Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe have raised concerns over the number of shops selling alcohol, suggesting booze-fuelled behaviour is blighting the street.
The reports came after another shop has been granted permission to sell alcohol.
The Lincolnite reported Viking Market, on the corner of Smith Street, will now be able to sell alcohol between 8am to 11pm, seven days a week.
However, the store will be required to maintain the street outside their shop, removing any glass, bottles, and cans after alcohol usage.
The owners must ensure that regular checks are conducted throughout the day. A minimum of six checks a day must be enforced.
According to the Lincolnite, a local resident against Viking Market’s alcohol licence presented a bin bag full of cans and bottles collected from the area to a North Lincolnshire Council Licensing committee meeting.
Another resident argued the area is already plagued with “intimidating” groups of drinkers, and the permission for another store to sell alcohol would intensify the situation further.
During the meeting, one local said:
“Once people would meet and drink in pubs and clubs – now they congregate outside off-licences with alcohol. They finish their drinks, leave them on the floor, buy some more and continue”
“With the longer and warmer days, they continue into the early hours. It’s sad to say that these areas become no go zones. I wouldn’t want my children to go there.”, they added.
“The police are too busy to deal with them, and members of the public risk getting attacked if they say something. The onus must be on the business owners to act responsibly and clean up after them”
Another person added:
“We are fighting a losing battle to keep the area clean. There is a direct correlation between the sales of alcohol and the litter and verbal abuse that residents get.
“I have witnessed sex acts taking place outside an off licence while a group watched. This has to stop”
At the meeting, councillor Mashook Ali said:
“When you drive along Frodingham Road, it’s lovely to see shops open but groups of drinkers are disturbing the good people, children and families in the area who can’t sleep for the noise. It is attracting criminals into the area, and people are concerned”
Humberside Police and Trading standards had originally objected to Viking Market’s request to sell alcohol from 5am until midnight. However, after the applicant adjusted the sales time frame and introduced additional security measures, the application was approved.
What are your experiences on Frodingham Road?
