AN application for a new off licence attracted a near 200-strong petition objecting to it.

A licensing panel from Bury Council approved an application from Khalil Salim Ahmed who plans to sell alcohol from his shop, Bury Off Licence, 319 Bolton Road, which was formerly a Coral betting shop.

The application stated a desire to supply alcohol from 7am to 11pm, Sundays to Thursdays, and 7am until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The council received a petition containing 183 signatures, along with four other objections, which referred to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance.

The petition, said: “The area currently has sufficient shops selling alcohol and cigarettes.

“Adding another with later opening hours will only have a negative effect on our local area.

“Should this licence be approved it will only cause issues, once the Wellington pub is reopened it is likely that people will go to this premises to purchase more alcohol or cigarettes after leaving the pub.

“This will cause residents further disturbance and noise nuisance and also an added risk of violent crime and a drain on the police.

“Another off licence will also increase the anti-social behaviour and youths causing annoyance in the area.”

Representing the applicant, June Clarke, said: “This is the second successive application for the licence.

“The first was annulled after someone deliberately removed the public notice from outside the premises.

“Mr Ahmed is working full time at the shop and has three years experience working in a similar shop in Bolton.

“He is hoping to introduce additional services for the community such as parcel drop-off and collection.”

She added that no evidence of any current crime or disorder in the area had been found.

Mr Ajay Java runs the Booze Box, another off licence which is just two doors away from the premises.

He objected at the meeting, represented by his solicitor Mr Robson.

He said there were issues in the area and the granting of permission for another licensed premises could add to to those.

He said: “His concern is borne out of his knowledge of the area over the past five years and a problem with issues with attempted under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour.

“He’s worked very hard to make sure that those issues to not impact on his premises and that if an operator comes in who is not responsible, that may encourage or bring back such issues, particularly with underage drinking.

“The petition shows the strength of feeling in the area.

“With regard to the public notice being taken down.

“My client believes it was taken down by the applicant when he was painting the outside of the shop yellow and he forgot to put it back.

“So therefore the removal was not malicious.”

The panel granted the application and saying they were satisfied that the licensing objectives had been met.