A New Malden service station has applied for a license to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sparking concerns from local residents and councillors.
Motor Fuel Limited, operating Rose Cottage Service Station, a Murco Costcutter and Londis store at 159 Kingston Road, New Malden, has applied to Kingston upon Thames Council for a variation of their premises licence. The application seeks to extend the hours for alcohol sales to 24/7, remove existing conditions, and replace them with new ones outlined in section 16 of the application form and reflected in the Operating Schedule.
The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider the application on 15 July 2025. Currently, the premises is licensed to sell alcohol (off sales only) from 06:00 to midnight, Monday to Saturday, and from 07:00 to 23:00 on Sundays. It also has a license to provide late night refreshments from 23:00 to 05:00 daily.
While Trading Standards initially raised concerns regarding the protection of children from harm, they withdrew their representation after amendments to the operating schedule addressing these concerns. The specific amendments are detailed in the Operating Schedule. However, four valid representations from Other Persons
have been received, raising concerns related to all four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm. Copies of these representations are available in Annex 5.
Councillor James Giles, Leader of the Opposition on Kingston Council, has submitted a representation in his capacity as a Ward Councillor, objecting to the proposed 24/7 retail sale of alcohol. He argues that it would contravene licensing conditions related to preventing crime and disorder and would cause a public nuisance.
Councillor Giles cited past issues with a previous tenant, JET, who had 24-hour opening hours, leading to noise and disruption. He stated that the 24-hour opening attracted so much trouble in terms of noise and disruption that eventually the police ran out of patience with the number of times they were called to the premises and 24 hour opening was cut back to more regular hours
. He also referenced a recent report from Kingston University, which concluded that 59% of the Kingston University students that took part in the survey drank alcohol before going out and 83% of the nightclub members also pre- loaded alcohol before going out.
In this case, Motor Fuel Limited are in collaboration with Londis, which sells food and alcohol on the premises. Selling alcohol on a 24 hour basis will attract drunkards and those with alcohol issues at very unsociable hours, as well as the hundreds of students just a few hundred metres down the road at the purpose-built student accommodation at Arbury Court.
Councillor Giles further noted that the area is primarily residential and light industrial, with no need for a 24-hour service station selling alcohol, especially with a 24-hour Tesco superstore nearby. He also provided data indicating alcohol-related issues in the area. In 2017, there were 13 assaults within 500 metres of the premises, 3 reported incidents of head injuries, and 24 alcohol related incidents plus an additional 2 which were related to young people aged under 26 years.
He added that approximately 85% of the adult population in Kingston consume alcohol, with 33% drinking at levels that may result in alcohol-related harm. This equates to about 27,000 people in Kingston consuming alcohol at levels placing them in the increasing risk category, with a further 8,800 residents in the higher risk category. He cited data from the North West Public Health Observatory's 2012 Topography of Drinking Behaviours in England (online).
Further data provided by Councillor Giles indicated that in 2013-14, there were 1,780 admissions to Kingston Hospital with alcohol-related conditions as a primary or secondary diagnosis. Between April 2013 and March 2014, there were 984 alcohol-related ambulance call outs to Kingston. He also noted that in 2014/15, the Kingston upon Thames Public Health Department spent approximately £1,558,000 on substance misuse prevention and treatment services.
The Licensing Sub-Committee is reminded of its duty to consider the application in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State's Guidance, and the council's Statement of Licensing Policy. The agenda and reports pack for the meeting are available online.
