A town council is objecting to an Isle of Wight takeaway selling alcohol, due to its residential location.
Eat Street, a takeaway that operates from a converted horsebox around the Island, has applied to the Isle of Wight council to sell alcohol with its food.
The catering business operates online, with orders placed by customers the day before and collection times selected from Island locations.
One day a week from Cowes
According to its Website, Eat Street operates for one day a week from a Cowes address on Mill Hill Road.
It is this address that has caused Cowes Town council to raise concerns that nearby residents may be disturbed by customers collecting orders.
Town council: “Could cause a public nuisance”
In an email to Isle of Wight council licensing officers, town councillors felt it could cause a public nuisance to neighbours if those collecting an order had already consumed alcohol.
Answering the concerns, Eat Street confirmed alcohol would only be sold with food, which had to be ordered the day before; it would not encourage the consumption of large amounts of alcohol through offers or promotions, and the nature of the business was that customers consume the food, and alcohol if approved, from the safety of their home.
No alcohol after 10pm
It would also introduce an age-verification process for all alcohol sales and operate a ‘Challenge 25’ policy.
It had also suggested changing the alcohol cut-off time from 10pm to 8pm.
Same time as local Co-op
However, the owners pointed out they were applying for the same time as the local Co-op store was allowed to operate — where patrons could buy a lot more for a lot less — and no one would be able to walk up and order alcohol.
Despite further correspondence with the Isle of Wight council and information provided by Eat Street, the town council’s objection remains.
Licensing sub-committee
The licence will now be decided by the Isle of Wight council’s licensing sub-committee on Monday, 4th October.
In a report to the committee, council officers highlighted responsible authorities such as the police and Environmental Health had not made representations against the licence.
No other comments received
They also said no other comments — made by anyone living in the vicinity of Mill Hill Road — were received.
Licensing officers have advised the sub-committee to approve the licence as per the application, with the last time alcohol sales would be allowed remaining at 10pm.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © Eat Street
