A couple who run a ‘small empire’ of convenience stores have been given the go-ahead to sell alcohol at a new shop - despite previously being refused over a ‘history of non-compliance’. Ryan’s Newsagent Ltd - run by Gurinder Singh Sandhu and Monika Pyka - has been granted a premises licence for a former hairdresser's shop in Shaw Heath by Stockport council.
A town hall panel rejected the application in February after hearing the pair had failed to meet their legal obligations at their other stores - including displaying drug paraphernalia and not storing CCTV footage appropriately. But - despite the authority’s own licensing officers recommending a second refusal - councillors gave a new application the green light when they met on Monday night.
The decision of the three-strong licensing panel, chaired by Coun Alanna Vine, means the shop will be able to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 6am and 11pm every day of the week. Licensing officer Ian O’Donnell told the meeting his team still did not have confidence that Mr Sandhu - known as Gary - and Ms Pyka could uphold the licensing objectives.
READ MORE : Nursery 'stunned and disappointed' after being rated 'inadequate' in all areas by education watchdog
These include the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm. But Ian Rushton, representing the couple, argued they had demonstrated improvements at their other stores, and the new shop would be a ‘valuable asset to the community’.
He told the panel how the new application featured a ‘detailed and comprehensive set of licensing conditions’ - including a new ‘top of the range’ CCTV system, a ‘Challenge 25’ policy and a refusals book. ”It does speak volumes that none of the other responsible authorities are here today to oppose the application. In particular the police are crucial, they are your main source of information about crime and disorder in this locality and they are satisfied this application can be approved,” he added.
The panel heard that, after the application was made, licensing officers visited the pair’s Lincoln Towers store - where Ms Pyka is designated premises supervisor. The assistant was unable to answer questions about under-age sales or the purpose of the refusals book - something Mr Rushton put down to a ‘misunderstanding’, claiming he ‘froze a little bit’ as he was scared of getting answers wrong.
Further visits to the couple’s Penny Lane and Mottram Mini-Market stores were made earlier this month. Licensing officers noted an improvement but said there was still cause for concern. Mr O’Donnell accepted that matters had improved - but only after officers had objected to the application and visited the Lincoln Towers store.
“If we hadn’t objected then I’m not convinced there would have been any improvement,” he said. He added that, as officers had been invited to inspect, they would have expected improvements and felt staff had been ‘well coached’.
“While we recognise there’s that improvement we feel the current shops are getting there in terms of improvement and adding another premises, another shop, into this small empire, we don’t have that confidence they would be able to uphold the licensing objectives,” he told the meeting.
However the panel felt the pair had demonstrated an improvement across their shops and were happy to grant the licence. A further condition - that all staff must be given refresher training every three to four months - was added to the licence.
Stockport council’s licensing, environment a safety sub-committee A met at the town hall on Monday night (December 12).
READ NEXT:
