Maidenhead & Windsor

Residents are refusing to back down in their campaign to stop a Maidenhead garage selling alcohol.

An Esso Garage in Gringer Hill, Maidenhead, has shelved plans for a 24 hour licence to sell refreshments, including alcohol.

It has now modified the proposals, proposing to close at midnight, after taking advice from police.

But Maidenhead Cllr Humaira Javed, who has collected a 50-signature petition from residents, says this is not enough.

With round the clock drinking laws taking effect from midnight Wednesday, she said: "This piece of legislation has just not been thought through by the government.The people who will bear the consequences will be the local authorities and the police - who are already over-stretched - and residents."

An Esso spokesman confirmed this week that they had now modified their proposed opening hours from 6 am until midnight.

But Maidenhead Cllr Javed said: "I am just not happy about this. Once the precedent has been set they could apply again in a year, and extend if by an hour. They could then just go on and until they get what they want."

Maidenhead Residents worst fears about the possible effects of a 24 drinks licence were confirmed when there was a brawl involving a group out-side the Esso station on Saturday night.

Cllr Javed said: "The garage is well lit and it is bound to attract people at all times of the day. Residents are not happy about these proposals. As far as we are concerned the battle goes on."

A spokesman for Maidenhead Esso said: "We want to stress that the alcohol will be sold for consumption off the premises and the store manager at our site is trained to the british Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body's national level certificate for personal license holders."

The application from Esso is to be considered before the royal borough licensing committee on December 14. This is a public meeting so every who is concerned about this issue is invited to attend.

ic Berkshire ~ Maidenhead ~ Nov 25 2005