Why Westover Road businesses feel area is 'unsafe'

The anti-social behaviour outside some of the town’s high-end shops was outlined in opposition to a new store proposing to sell alcohol up until 3am every day.

Business owners and residents complained that the new premises licence for the Seafront Mini Market was likely to add to the problems. Eleven had formally objected including jewellers and the town centre Business Improvement District.

Objections had also come from Dorset Police which say additional alcohol sales could add to problems with young people in the Lower Gardens.

Roberta Boutique owner Catherine Gosney said that it was her business which was likely to suffer the most because her premises, next door to the mini market, is one of the few in the area which is unable to fit shutters to keep rough sleepers away.

She told a committee of BCP councillors, deciding the application, that problems occurred daily outside of the main holiday season with the police often having to be called.

Read more: What suggestions have been made for Westover Road

She told of a member of staff in her 60s being assaulted and pushed up against a window, of staff having to clear away drug paraphernalia and of drunks urinating in the shop frontage, although she said not all of the rough sleepers were badly behaved.

Mrs Gosney told the hearing that during some periods of the year the area felt dangerous and unsafe with the street, out of hours, populated by people with drug and alcohol problems.

She said that she and her female staff felt “uniquely vulnerable” and tended to get bothered more than men might.

“In the wet and cold months of the year the environment feels very dangerous. My customers don’t feel safe; I don’t feel safe and my staff don’t feel safe,” she said.

Dorset Police said in its objection that extra drink sales from the new shop were likely to exacerbate problems in the area which, they said, already suffered a disproportionate amount of street drinking and general crime and disorder which was “negatively impacting the community.”

Read more: 'Urban explorers' and homeless spark serious fire concerns at Bournemouth's old cinemas

The mini market owner, Elina Kadir, disputed that there would be problems. She said the family had a similar business in Old Christchurch Road and also operated in London, where they were used to dealing with problems and were experienced in restricting sales in a responsible way. She said that as a mother she would ensure there would be no sales of alcohol to young people.

She said that since the application had first been submitted she had subsequently offered to close earlier, at 1am, and to employ security staff on Friday and Saturdays until closing time and on Sundays preceding a Bank Holiday. She told the hearing that also offered was limiting beers and cider sales to 5.3 per cent proof and spirits to 40 per cent and restricting the quantity which could be sold to each person.

Read more: IN PICTURES: 10 images that show how Westover Road has changed

Tom Hollington, appearing for Mrs Kadir, said the Old Christchurch Road business had operated successfully for a number of years without any problems, and claimed that there were other businesses nearby already open until the early hours selling alcohol.

He said the new shop would help revitalise the Westover Road area where, he claimed, more than half the businesses were closed – providing a service for residents and visitors staying in the area.

Police licensing officer Louise Busfield described the area as “a hot spot” for problems which she said “would be perpetuated, exacerbated and compounded if this sub committee saw fit to grant this licence…we have really serious concerns” she said.

A statement from Police Sgt Scott Janes, a neighbourhood policing officer for the area, said he believed access to alcohol from the shop would increase the risk to young people using the Lower Gardens who were often tempted into anti-social behaviour by being given drink.

“In my experience of this area I do not consider that this premises would support our objectives and those of our partners in BCP Council to reduce the risk of harm posed to the young people that are being drawn to the Lower Gardens, which is immediately opposite the proposed store. Further availability of alcohol, in addition to the existing provision, will risk exacerbating an already serious problem and will undermine our objective as we continue to tackle this problem.”

A committee decision on the application is expected to be announced within five working days.