A corner shop in Canterbury is facing strong opposition to its plan to introduce 24-hour alcohol deliveries amid fears it could fuel antisocial behaviour in the city. Canterbury Wine Mart, located on St Dunstans Street, has twice been refused similar applications in the past, in 2015 and 2017, after concerns were raised about street drinking and “intimidating gatherings”.
The new proposal, submitted to Canterbury City Council (CCC), seeks permission for alcohol to be ordered through delivery apps such as Deliveroo and JustEat and dispatched by electric scooter riders after 23:00 GMT. While the shop’s existing hours for in-store alcohol sales would remain unchanged, the business would “be open 24 hours for general sales, take-away hot beverages and alcohol deliveries”.
Putrathingan Sivashankar, the licensing agent for the store, said the application reflected changing consumer behaviour. “Since Covid-19 people’s habits have completely changed – delivery is now the way most people order stuff,” he explained. According to documents submitted to the council, there would be a minimum of two staff members on site between 23:00 and 06:00, and delivery drivers would not be permitted to congregate outside the premises.
Despite these assurances, local authorities and residents have voiced opposition. Kent Police licensing officer PC Danielle Rolfe urged the council to reject the proposal once again, citing “concerns of nuisance, street drinkers and general concerns for the impact on the locality”.
Canterbury City Council’s own licensing enforcement officer, Diane Attenborough, also objected, describing Westgate Ward as an area with “a history of antisocial behaviour reports, crime and theft”. She warned that extending alcohol deliveries through the night could worsen existing issues.
Local councillor Pip Hazelton agreed, saying that allowing 24-hour alcohol deliveries would cause an “inevitable disturbance” to the surrounding residential area.
In response, Mr Sivashankar defended the proposal, emphasising that only one delivery driver would approach or wait at the premises at any time. He also noted that Canterbury Wine Mart has operated for nearly 15 years without major incident.
Canterbury City Council’s licensing panel is due to make its decision on the application on the coming Wednesday.
