An independent supermarket which has taken over the site of a former Co-op has been granted a licence to sell alcohol.
The ruling by Durham County Council means customers at Eco Supermarket, in Front Street, Langley Park, will be allowed to buy booze between 8am - 10pm seven days a week.
The business replaced the Co-op which occupied the site for more than 100 years before it closed down in March but because the previous alcohol licence was surrendered as a result and not reapplied for within 28 days, a new application had to be made.
Even though police raised no concerns, objections submitted by members of the public and nearby businesses claimed granting the licence could lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.
Speaking at this morning's (Thursday, August 22) meeting of the council's Licensing Sub-Committee, Ravinder Rai, of Langley Park Village Store, claimed her business was 'constantly accused' of selling alcohol to children before the Co-op shut.
She said: "Since the Co-op has closed down a lot of children who used to use it for alcohol and other riff raff in the village has just gone, people used to come to the village just for that shop."
A petition was also submitted opposing the licence application, but this was not accepted by the council's licensing department as acceptable evidence as it 'could not be validated'.
The objections were dismissed as 'vexatious' however by the applicant.
Jacqueline Roodbar Mohammadi told the meeting: "I think it is because of [the objectors'] own businesses that they are doing this.
"I think it's an infringement of competition, we're there to open a supermarket, a lot of people in the village have requested a supermarket and the supermarket that was there had been there for over 100 years."
The applicant also attempted to address concerns about anti-social behaviour by assuring the committee additional security cameras would be installed around the business.
Following a short debate in private, Coun Linda Marshall, who chaired the panel, said: "We've taken everything into consideration, but we're going to grant the licence.
"Thank you for negotiating [with the council's licensing department] and we wish you good luck with your business."
