Plan for new Asda Express in Redcliffe, Bristol, opposed over shoplifting and noise fears
The shop has been granted a licence to deliver alcohol 24 hours a day
A new Asda Express planned for a Bristol neighbourhood is being opposed by people who say it will worsen shoplifting in the area.
The shop is due to open in Redcliffe next summer, on the ground floor of Twine House on Redcliff Street.
It plans to open to the public until midnight and deliver alcohol through the night, which has prompted fears about noise.
People living nearby say the residential area already suffers from shoplifters at the nearby Co-op, as well as people drinking on the street and tailgating into apartment buildings.
Bristol City Council has granted a premises licence for the new shop.
It allows alcohol sales to the public until midnight, and delivery of alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Councillors on a licensing hearing also heard concerns from people living nearby on Thursday 22nd October.
Concerns raised at the hearing
Richard King, a caretaker who lives at Jessop Court, said: "The Co-op has a huge issue, and that causes a huge issue for us, because they're coming into the development with their stolen goods. I'm talking 10 times a day. You're going to have a very big problem in the store with shoplifting."
He added: "The issue with shoplifters is they create an awful lot of noise when they're being chased down the road, shouting and swearing. And then inevitably they sit down with their booty in our area, chuck it everywhere, and give me and residents a load of abuse."
The neighbourhood is close to the city centre, and blocks of flats line the waterfront of the Floating Harbour, with plenty of places to sit.
People living there said these qualities also attract street drinkers, and that there is a problem with public defecation.
Carol Lawrence, who lives at Buchanans Wharf, said: "We've got daily experience of people being drawn to the Co-op to shoplift alcohol and other high-value goods. Even all the metal baskets and trolleys have been shoplifted, and so you have to go in there with a bag. There's a well-worn path from the Co-op into the estate."
She added: "People settle down, and they also take drugs, which I've seen myself. When people drink alcohol and take drugs, apparently it's got this natural bodily function of encouraging defecation. So then we get poo all over the estate, which Richard is on the sharp end of picking up. The Co-op do their best but we have got this cultural change in the country of shoplifting."
Asda's response
It is unclear if and when security guards will be employed at the new shop, but Asda will carry out a risk assessment.
Alcohol will be stored as far from the front doors as possible, to deter theft.
Avon and Somerset Police's licensing team said they were content with the application, which councillors have to take into account when making their decision.
Asda also has a "dark store protocol" to stop delivery drivers on mopeds disturbing people who live next to its shops.
A dark store sells goods only through delivery apps, such as Uber Eats.
Under the rules, drivers must not idle outside the building while they wait to pick up deliveries, and cannot congregate outside the shop.
Richard Taylor, a licensing solicitor representing Asda, said: "If you're a young family in need of nappies, and maybe a bottle of wine because you're in need of nappies, in the middle of the night, then you can order those and we can deliver."
He added: "There's no congregation allowed outside, there's no engines idling permitted, and everything is done to make sure that the business can operate without any problems at all. We're in a position where we want to open, the police are happy with us opening, and the police are happy with the proposals of what we're going to be doing."
People living nearby asked why the dark store could not instead be based at the Asda supermarket in Bedminster, which is a short drive away.
Mr Taylor said the Redcliffe convenience store would mean deliveries are quicker.
What happens next
People living nearby were urged to report any future problems to Asda, or failing that, the council.
Green councillor Fi Hance said: "This is not a blanket 'wahey, off you go'. If there are any problems, we need to know about it. This is a slightly unknown quantity in your area, so we cannot refuse it on the basis of unknown unknowns."