RESIDENTS have voiced concerns after the owners of an off-licence unveiled controversial plans to sell booze throughout the night.

Bosses at Jan & Phil’s, in Barrack Street, Colchester, have asked Colchester Council to grant them permission to sell alcohol 24-hours a day.

Customers are currently only able to legally purchase alcohol from the newsagents until 12am, while the sale of late-night refreshments is only permitted until 11pm.

The application is scheduled to be scrutinised and considered by a Licensing Sub-Committee on Thursday before a decision is made.

Read more:

Nearby residents fear anti-social behaviour and noise disruption will increase if the proposal is granted.

One said: “We are always very negatively affected by any problems concerning unsocial or disruptive customers of late night trade.

“We suffer the frequent disruption and noise of vehicles being driven, I regularly find discarded drink cans and food containers thrown into my garden and along the road.

“The prospect of such disruption extending beyond the current hours is horrific to those of us wishing a good night's sleep.

“Such hours would also encourage increased vandalism when the street lights are extinguished, and miscreants know they cannot be identified.

“I urge you to understand the problems we as neighbours will be forced to endure, and that you will refuse this application.”