A PETROL filling station will be allowed to serve alcohol 24 hours a day – despite fears it will increase crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. 

An alcohol licence for School Service Station on Leeds Road, Windhill, was granted by Bradford Council at a meeting on Wednesday morning.

During the meeting, members were told by a resident that the area was plagued by drug dealing, and that their lives were blighted by cars and taxis playing loud music in the filling station’s forecourt.

A letter objecting to the licence said: “Youths already congregate around the station and by extending hours this will likely increase the amount of crime and disorder.

“Quad bikes are a known issue in the area, being open during the night increases the likelihood of noise due to the ease of being able to fill up quads with petrol any time.”

Nakendram Piratheepan of Sterling Petroleum had applied for the licence, and the application went before the Council’s District Licensing Panel, when members were told Suryateja Nallamouthu would be the designated premises supervisor.

Naga Rajesh, agent for the applicant, told the panel that the store could already open 24 hours a day without the need for a licence.

The licence was only needed to allow the store to serve alcohol, he added.

He said: “The applicant has over 50 sites across the country, almost all have a 24/7 licence.

“This will be a massive investment, so we don’t want to create any trouble. This isn’t going to be a wine shop – it is a small scale convenience store at a petrol station.

“We won’t be getting people drunk on the premises.”

Late night/early morning sales would be made through a window, with the store closed to customers and a member of staff fetching items.

Referring to concerns about people congregating on the forecourt – he said company policy is not to allow anyone to “hang out” on the forecourt area.

A Mr and Mrs Hodgeson live near the filling station, and had objected to the licensing bid.

Mr Hodgeson said: “I’ve lived in this property for 30 years. I’m not objecting to them selling alcohol, but if you’re selling it 24 hours then I object.

“I’ve had my windows smashed, my garage broken into 10 times. Selling alcohol 24 hours a day will be like pouring petrol on the fire.

“I just want a nice, quiet life.”

He said he could regularly hear customers at the filling station when his windows were open, and a later licence would lead to noise throughout the night.

After a short deliberation, members voted to approve the licence.