Wivenhoe Kando shop bids to extend alcohol licence

Kando Convenience Store has applied to sell booze for an extra six hours a day from its premises in Wivenhoe High Street.

The shop’s current licence lets customers purchase alcohol from between noon and 10pm every day.

Owner Mrs Yogaratnam wants to extend these hours to between 7am and 11pm Monday to Saturday, with a 9am go-ahead on Sundays.

Mindless - vandals have caused fire damage to a table tennis facility on King George V playing field (Image: Wivenhoe Society)

Anti social - a tent left with litter outside of it (Image: Wivenhoe Society)

But her bid has been criticised by the Wivenhoe Society, whose members fear the sale of alcohol later into the night will exacerbate anti-social behaviour issues the town is facing.

A member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There are already places where people can buy alcohol without having to make another place.

“This has been a difficult application to object to but there are issues we are facing here.

“There has been irresponsible behaviour and last summer we saw problems with drug use in public places.”

Trouble - footage was captured of trouble-making youngsters at Wivenhoe train station (Image: Submitted)

Causing chaos - the trouble-makers in the churchyard (Image: Submitted)

Essex Police ramped up its patrols in Wivenhoe in April amid reports a group of about 20 young people were harassing residents and damaging property in the town.

The concerned society member said last summer newspapers were taken from outside the shop and set fire on top of the table tennis tables on King George V playing field.

Rubbish is “regularly” left behind by people across the town with broken glass and fire damage to the grass becoming recurrent problems.

The perpetrators are also said to have been verbally abusive to people who have confronted them.

Charred - grass damaged by a disposable barbecue (Image: Wivenhoe Society)

Concern - police officers engage with residents in Wivenhoe following a spate of anti-social behaviour incidents (Image: Essex Police)

“We are very lucky in Wivenhoe that we have some groups of people who regularly walk around with dustbin bags and litter pickers and pick everything up,” added the resident.

“But why should they? They shouldn’t need to do this. If people can take their stuff out with them then they can cart it home.”

Kando Convenience Store’s application is now set to be considered by Colchester Council’s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday.

Members are expected to hear the shop will be told it must continue to operate a “comprehensive, digital colour CCTV system”.

The shop will be asked to have reminders asking customers to leave “quietly and respectfully” following any purchase.