Police have vowed to stop a service station in one of Thanet’s most trouble-hit areas from selling booze round-the-clock.

LSA Retail Ltd, which has just taken over the licence of the garage in West Cliff Road, Ramsgate, is seeking permission from Thanet council to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Currently the business, previously known as Family Shopper, is open 6am to 11pm, during which it can serve off-sales of alcohol.

Police are highly critical of the plan and say if they can prevent the increased hours, they will.

In documents sent to the council’s licensing sub committee, Kent Police’s licensing officer says the premises is located within the problematic Central Harbour ward.

“This area experiences one of the largest concentrations of anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the Thanet district, alongside Eastcliff ward which neighbours the area,” the officer said.

“The ASB stems from a mixture of youth-related offending and nuisance caused by a cohort of rough sleepers.

"If you were given the 24-hour licence this will only encourage that alcohol consumption..."

“Alcohol is a key factor in their offending behaviour.

“I feel that if you were given the 24-hour licence this will only encourage that alcohol consumption, making it more readily available and potentially increase the risk of underage alcohol purchases.

“This places more pressure on police resources during these times when call demand is already high.”

The officer says if booze was sold every day, all day, it could mean higher consumption of alcohol among young people.

“This can also result in the NHS experiencing hospital admissions from children on a regular basis that have consumed too much alcohol and have put themselves at risk,” they added.

“If we can prevent this then we will.”

In its application, LSA Retail Ltd also wants to add the provision of selling hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am, at which time sales will take place via a night hatch window.

The firm says issues on the forecourt will be dealt with by a tannoy system or calling the police if this is not effective.

But the police and Thanet council’s environmental health team warn using a tannoy in the early hours of the morning will be a nuisance to nearby residents, of which there are 20 homes in a 50-metre radius.

“Opening at night will attract a portion of customers who are often the most noisy and least aware of their own potential to disturb others,” the environmental health officer said.

“Taxis and cars carrying occupants en-route home from a night out will also stop for the same reasons and this too adds noise from car doors, engines being left to idle and the possibility of audible car sound systems - all within metres of neighbouring residential windows."

“There are also no adequate controls that can be put in place to prevent these impacts and the suggestion that staff within the shop will resolve matters by using a tannoy to speak to customers will only make matters worse.”

The application was due to be discussed by the council licensing sub-committee on Tuesday but was adjourned.

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