A SEAFRONT convenience store insists it will have “appropriate security” when it starts selling alcohol after concerns were raised by a nearby pub.

JK Drinks, at 50 Marine Parade, Southend applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm in a seafront area that is part of a no drinks zone.

Southend Council licensing sub committee heard there had been six objections, including from the Falcon Pub, also on Marine Parade, which raised concerns about adequate security.

Duncan Cray, acting as agent for owner Jasvinder Kumar, said if approved stringent conditions would apply to the licence, including keeping an incident log and refusals register, ensuring staff training, adoption of the challenge 25 scheme, signage and CCTV.

Mr Cray said because of the no drinking zone, no alcohol would be delivered to people in the vicinity of the premises.

Speaking at the meeting yesterday, Mr Cray said: “It’s not going to be an off licence per se. At least three quarters of the display space will be given over to other products.

“There were six objections. Three of them are fairly generic. People are entitled to raise concerns but it’s a case of evidence being important. Much of what is contained within these objections is speculative. A lot of the objections are generically based around concerns in the area.

Mr Cray added: “My client has expressed a desire to have security at appropriate times. This is a well-structured and relatively heavily conditioned licence with enforcement conditions and with two experienced and responsible operators looking to invest in the city and uphold the licensing objectives.”

Kessi Rose from the Falcon pub, said her concerns had been addressed. “I think with the conditions I think it’s fair. We want good businesses along the seafront and to work together. The main thing for us is security and everybody works together to keep it safe.

“We’ve got a couple of pubs along the seafront. We’ve also got arcades, ice cream shops and chip shops. We’ve got an in-house security team where we have ten on peak and four to six on non-peak from noon every day until 4am.

“They look after our business but they have had to assist others. You can never predict when something is going to go wrong surrounding antisocial behaviour.”

The licence was approved.