A CREDITON petrol station can now sell alcohol all day and all night. 

Mid Devon District Council’s licensing sub-committee granted the Asda Express Shell garage on the A377 Exeter Road a licence to sell alcohol for drinking off-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week when it met on Thursday, July 25. 

Since it is illegal to sell alcohol from premises used primarily as a garage under the Licensing Act 2003, Euro Garages Ltd told the council the site’s primary use is as a convenience store. 

It said 51 per cent of its customers currently use the petrol station “for convenience purposes” and expects this number to go up to 54 per cent in the next two years. 

The committee granted the licence but said the current figure was “not high” and the projected 54 per cent was “at best unproven”.  

It therefore asked to be given statistics quarterly for the next 18 months to make sure the petrol station’s primary use stays as a convenience store. 

A lawyer speaking on behalf of Asda, which owns Euro Garages Ltd, assured the committee the site would stop selling alcohol if it were to be used primarily as a garage in future. 

The council was also told earlier that if the licence were granted, staff at the petrol station would be trained, spirits would be kept behind the counter, miniature bottles of spirits would not be sold except in gift sets, and there would be a CCTV system in place alongside a Challenge 25 policy.  

A handful of local people raised concerns about noise, public safety and crime and disorder. 

Peter Whitby, who runs Taw Vale Bed and Breakfast on Station Road with his wife Sylvia, said the licence could create a “magnet effect” as the petrol station would be the only source of alcohol in the small hours. 

He told the committee he already faces problems with anti-social behaviour, litter, noise from people congregating near the B&B at night and even urination and defecation in its guest car park. 

But when the council contacted the police about the petrol station being given a 24/7 alcohol licence, the local neighbourhood policing team did not object and said it was “not aware of any real crime and disorder issues”. 

Robert Davies, who works at the petrol station, said he was “absolutely appalled” by the police’s response. 

“I have direct experience of working through the nights,” he said. 

“Most of the problems that occur for me are people who have come in intoxicated or sadly nowadays on drugs. 

“[The police are] forever having to come into Crediton onto the High Street after closing time, to sort out the people who are sitting on the streets. 

“I'm concerned that these people will migrate down to the garage.”

It was also suggested the licence only be granted from 5am until 11pm or midnight. 

But the council’s licensing sub-committee gave permission for the petrol station to sell alcohol 24/7, and told people to report any future concerns to the police and the licensing authority.