Alcohol licences agreed

The Tesco Express store is to open in the ground floor of a student development on Corporation Street, Kelham Island.

The supermarket giant originally applied to sell booze from 6am to 11pm seven days a week.

But Sheffield Council's licensing board agreed to allow the store to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm following objections from residents Jo Cairns, who is chairwoman of Sheffield Alcohol Advisory Service, and her partner Richard Westaway.

The couple, from Rutland Road, were concerned the availability of booze in the area would increase binge drinking among prostitutes, students and under age drinkers.

They also said the new store would generate increased litter and antisocial, drink-related nuisance.

But Paddy Whur, acting for Tesco, said the store would do its best to be a good neighbour and took its licensing responsibilities seriously.

He said staff were regularly trained to ensure licensing objectives were met.

After the hearing Jo said she was pleased with the outcome.

She said: "It's a much as we could expect, but if we hadn't come along then Tesco would have been selling alcohol from 6am so I suppose it's a bit of a result."

The Dove and Rainbow pub at Hartshead has been allowed to extend its opening hours until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays and 2am from Sunday to Thursday. Conditions which ban under 18s in the bar were also lifted – to allow band members aged under 18 to perform at the venue.

The Boardwalk on Snig Hill was granted an extension to its license and will now be able to open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.