A COUNCILLOR has spoken out against a city centre coffee shop’s plan to sell alcohol until late at night.

Coffee shop and cafe Black and White in Foregate Street in Worcester has asked for a licence to sell alcohol from 8am until 11pm but city councillor Lynn Denham has said the plan should not be allowed to go ahead.

Cllr Denham, who represents the city’s Cathedral ward on Worcester City Council, said allowing late-night drinking at the coffee shop would most likely increase the risk of disorder and nuisance to nearby residents.

She also said a coffee shop opening until the early evening was an entirely different proposition to a late-night venue selling alcohol.

The coffee shop in Foregate Street is also in the city centre’s cumulative impact zone (CIZ) - which looks to protect areas which have a high density of licensed bars, restaurants, clubs and takeaways from crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour - and would also be part of the council’s city centre public space protection order (PSPO) which means fines could be handed out for anyone found drinking in the street.

If bars or restaurants in the city centre want a late-night alcohol licence, the onus is on the applicant to prove selling alcohol would not contravene the council's main licensing objectives which are preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, ensuring the prevention of public nuisance and ensuring children are protected from harm.

Cllr Denham said opening later may affect residents living in the Hopmarket and would be close to an area suffering from anti-social behaviour.

“The area outside the premise on The Foregate is subject to a PSPO regarding street drinking,” Cllr Denham said in an objection to the council.

"The premises are close to the city centre area which suffers high levels of public crime and disorder and requires intense police presence at times, particularly late evening.

"This was part of the evidence for the PSPO.

"The rear door of the premises opens into the courtyard of the Hopmarket. This is a residential building for social rent with 42, potentially vulnerable, households.

"The courtyard gates are locked overnight to protect residents from external crime and disorder in the city centre."

Worcester City Council’s licensing subcommittee meets virtually to decide on the application from 10.30am on Tuesday, July 21.