NEIGHBOURING businesses have expressed concerns over a plan from a Tilehurst chippy to serve alcohol with takeaway meals.
Simi and Iqbal Sandhu had applied to sell alcohol between 11.30am and 1pm daily, from The Tasty Plaice in Park Lane.
Charanjit Singh, the owner of the Park Lane Off Licence and Ice Coffee and Cream, said allowing the sales would cut into his trade.
The alcohol sales application was discussed at a council meeting last week.
Mr Singh complained about delivery drivers causing a public nuisance by queuing up at Tasty Plaice, and provided photographic evidence of a moped being inappropriately parked and queues of people standing outside the fish and chip shop.
Mr Singh said: “There is a delivery issue and it’s causing a problem. Nothing has been done. There’s no sense of ownership of the issue, it’s just greed.
“This decision will lead to more problems in future for both of us. If I lose trade, I will have to do something in return, and that’s not a threat. There are many scenarios where they have done things and not thought twice.”
The Tasty Plaice owners were defended at the meeting by Bill Donne, of Silver Fox Licensing Consultants.
Mr Donne said the owners attempted to solve the issue by installing a delivery hatch to the side of their property. This is in an alleyway between The Tasty Plaice and The Water Tower pub.
The owners also agreed to a condition stating that delivery bikes and vehicles should be used, stored, or parked in a way that does not cause undue disturbance to neighbouring residents or businesses.
Mr Donne also alluded to a ‘falling out’ between The Tasty Plaice owners and Mr Singh.
Councillor Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) said: “In the interest of everybody, peace and love should break out here, but I can’t rule on that”.
Mr Donne suggested that objections to the licence were ‘vexatious’, whereas Mr Singh argued that allowing the application would negatively impact his business.
He said: “I don’t think there is any need for them to do this, their trade is very healthy.
“If they get a licence they’ll be able to eat trade away from us. From here onwards it will create a lot of conflicts.”
Mr Singh added that he would not ‘stab’ The Tasty Plaice ‘in the back’ by selling hot food, and that customers of the fish and chip shop often buy alcohol from him to the benefit of both businesses.
He said: “Currently, we have a healthy trade. How would they feel if we started selling fish and chips? How would they feel?”
Earlier in the meeting, Mr Donne clarified that all alcohol would be sold from a fridge to the rear of the sales counter, and that a Challenge 25 age verification policy would be enacted for all alcohol sales.
The licensing applications committee granted the alcohol sales licence on Thursday, November 16.
The decision was made by Cllr Woodward, Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) and Cllr Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood).
