A SHOPKEEPER has won a battle to extend her premises’ alcohol licence despite fears about it increasing antisocial behaviour.

Kando Convenience Store will now be able to sell booze for an extra six hours a day in Wivenhoe High Street.

The shop will also be extending its opening hours to 11pm after Colchester Council’s licensing sub-committee granted it permission to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm.

It comes despite criticism from the Wivenhoe Society, whose members fear the sale of alcohol later into the night will exacerbate anti-social behaviour issues the town is facing.

Gazette: Successful bid - Kando Convenience Store has been permitted to sell alcohol for six extra hours a daySuccessful bid - Kando Convenience Store has been permitted to sell alcohol for six extra hours a day (Image: Google)

But the sub-committee stated there is “no evidence” to suggest the problems are linked to the shop.

Kando owner Kalaivany Yogaratnam and her son told the hearing: “There hasn’t been any antisocial behaviour that has stemmed from our shop.”

Her son explained the family knows most of the customers and recognise when a customer is likely to be underage or looking to cause trouble.

“But everyone has respected the shop. Everything has gone very cleanly since we opened last year,” he explained.

Gazette: Concern - police officers engage with residents in Wivenhoe following a spate of anti-social behaviour incidentConcern - police officers engage with residents in Wivenhoe following a spate of anti-social behaviour incident (Image: Essex Police)

“Wivenhoe has taken care of us since we opened the shop and we have taken care of them.

“A lot of the customers that have come in have asked if we can sell [alcohol] earlier and we have restricted them for actually buying that.”

Mr Yogaratnam said he recognised the anti-social issues Wivenhoe has faced but stressed pictures of damage and vandalism took place before the shop opened.

Sub-committee member and Tiptree councillor Roger Mannion questioned why alcohol needed to be sold at 7am.

Gazette: Trouble - footage was captured of trouble-making youngsters at Wivenhoe train stationTrouble - footage was captured of trouble-making youngsters at Wivenhoe train station (Image: Submitted)

He said: “I like a glass of wine occasionally but I would not think about going in to an off licence and buying a bottle of wine or a bottle of beer at 7am. I find that concept difficult.”

Mr Yogaratnam said the application was “purely for convenience” for customers and he was happy to work with the Wivenhoe Society to address further concerns.

“Wivenhoe has accepted us really nicely, the locals have been very kind towards us,” he added.