Two shops in Chepstow have been denied late-night alcohol sales amid police crime worries
Chepstow: So, two shops in Chepstow tried to get permission to sell alcohol late at night, but it didn’t go through. The police raised some serious concerns about crime in the area.
The shop owners, Alpeshkumar and Sangitaben Patel, wanted to keep their stores open until 2:30 AM on weekends. But Gwent Police said that would likely lead to more trouble, especially since there are already pubs and clubs nearby.
During the meeting, Councillor Tudor Thomas mentioned that a local resident also complained about the Welsh Street store. Apparently, someone had urinated on their doorstep, which didn’t help the shop’s case.
Police stats showed a lot of crime in the town center over the past year, with violence being a big issue. They were worried that late-night alcohol sales would just add to the problems.
PC Mark Williams pointed out that people would probably buy alcohol for immediate consumption, not for later. He also noted that the shop owners were mainly motivated by financial reasons.
There were concerns about the shops being close to a place where vulnerable people live. The police felt that these individuals could either become victims or get involved in crime themselves.
Mohamed Ismail, who represented the shop owners, said they were really struggling and needed to boost sales, especially on weekends. He mentioned that most of their customers were older folks.
Shop manager Michelle Frost added that they were losing customers to a nearby garage that sells alcohol late at night. They just wanted to keep up with the competition.
To address police worries, they suggested hiring security staff and using special bags for alcohol to prevent drinking on the way home. But the police were skeptical about how effective that would be.
In the end, the committee unanimously rejected both applications. It looks like those late-night sales will have to wait.
