Bid to open new Hartlepool convenience store at Fens Shopping Centre

A licensing bid has been lodged to open a new convenience store at a shopping parade.

An application has been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council for the currently empty property at 394 Catcote Road, in Hartlepool, which forms part of the Fens Shopping Centre.

It wishes to allow a new convenience store to open and sell alcohol between 6am and midnight each day.

Submitted by Pahitharan Sribalarasa, the application states they are “well experienced locally in licensed retail” and the store will be named The Fens Local.

A new convenience store could open on the site of Hartlepool's former Phone Box shop, on the Fens estate.placeholder image
A new convenience store could open on the site of Hartlepool's former Phone Box shop, on the Fens estate.

It adds: “This will be a great addition and benefits the local customers with choice and cost.

“The store will be fitted to high standards.”

It also notes the store will join a retail group “to offer choice of products for customers”.

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The premises was last used as a phone shop named Phone Box and is located between Fens Hardware and Roy Blyth Family Butchers.

The application adds numerous steps would be taken to ensure they comply with the four licensing objectives of public safety, protecting children from harm and the prevention of both public nuisance and crime and disorder.

Measures would include a comprehensive CCTV system, a Challenge 25 policy, keeping a refusal record and ensuring all alcohol deliveries are undertaken by people over 18 and in locations not visible to customers.

A staff training scheme will also be in place for all new employees and those dealing with alcohol covering underage sales, handling any incidents, preventing crime and disorder and spotting and preventing proxy sales.

Residents can comment on the application by contacting the council licensing team on (01429) 523354 or [email protected].

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