A WATERSIDE housing estate will get a new convenience store despite local worries that it will lead to more drinking in the area.

Worcester City Council’s licensing committee has given permission for the Diglis Express shop near the Anchor in Diglis Dock Road to sell alcohol.

Businessman Harj Minhas said the shop would fill a gap in the market in Diglis, as the nearest shop is currently at the Commandery petrol station in Bath Road.

But resident David Sillitoe objected to the shop selling alcohol, claiming there was a risk that anti-social behaviour would rise as a result. There were no objections from the police.

Mr Minhas said he had 15 years’ experience in the trade and had helped his father run the Broadway Stores in Dine’s Green.

“I know the rules and regulations about selling alcohol and would be completely above board,” he said.

He said the store would enforce Challenge 25 – in which customers who look younger than 25 are asked for identification if they try and buy alcohol.

The shop will open from 8am until 8pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and from 9.30am until 6.30pm on Sundays.

Asked by councillors if he felt opening would cause noise or anti-social behaviour problems, Mr Minhas replied: “I will cater for people who are back from work. We aren’t going to have people hanging around the shop.”

He said the store would have CCTV inside and out.

Mr Sillitoe, of Diglis Dock Road, said there had been problems with anti-social behaviour in the area.

“We do get groups of people hanging around, in my experience causing disturbance and anti-social behaviour,” he said.

Asked by councillors if he thought alcohol was a factor in any problems locally, Mr Sillitoe said: “On October 2 we had a some kind of party in the park. They were all very drunk.

“It wasn’t long before there was a significant police presence and the police helicopter was out.”

He said police seemed to have cracked down on problems over the past year, but added: “I don’t want a situation where the alcohol sales start up and we’re back to where we were a year ago.”

Councillor Alan Amos said: “The logic is that locals will be the ones buying [and] they’ll go home to drink.