CONTROVERSIAL plans to sell alcohol at two shops based at petrol stations will be decided by Councillors later this week.

A licensing application to sell alcohol at a filling station on Barkerend Road has attracted dozens of objections, while another to sell booze at a filling station in Saltaire has raised concerns of added anti-social behaviour and public urination.

Both applications will be discussed by Bradford Council’s Bradford District Licensing Panel at a meeting on Thursday.

The application for the MRH Arkle Filling Station at 262 Barkerend Road was submitted by Malthurst Retail Ltd, and would allow the Spar store at the station to serve alcohol to be consumed off site for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

An almost identical application has been submitted for the Shell Station on Bingley Road in Saltaire.

Two petitions have been sent to Bradford Council in an attempt to block the Barkerend Road licence.

One, signed by 32 people, says: “We as residents believe that if alcohol is sold in this petrol station it would be for the worst.

“When alcohol is sold here it would be easier for people to get hold of it.

“This will have a negative effect as when people get hold of it the number of scandals can increase.”

Another, signed by 37 people, says: “We believe that if alcohol were to be sold here it can cause a lot of chaos and havoc in the area.

“This will not be healthy to the community, and it is not a good social effect for the area.

“Youngsters who get alcohol may become drunk and disturb everyone, and they may go to destroy and vandalise things in the community.”

Councillor Hassan Khan, who represents Bowling and Barkerend, criticised the licence plan for the Barkerend filling station, adding: “This is a residential area, and we already have a few off licences and supermarkets that sell alcohol nearby, and sometimes cause trouble for residents.

“Barkerend Primary school is only around 50 yards away, and children wouldn’t be safe with drunk people around. It will lead to more anti-social behaviour and litter. I’m strongly against this plan.”

Two people have objected to the Saltaire plan, which has been submitted by Shell UK Oil Products Ltd. One letter of objection says; “There are already a high density of licensed premises locally, namely The Hop, Salt Beer Factory and the Rosse. There are already issues relating to disorder and public nuisance that occurs at closing related to these premises.

“There are a number of customers of the garage who insist on using areas of Park Grove as a public lavatory. It would be reasonable to assume this would increase following an increase in customers.”

Another objector said alcohol sales 24/7 could lead to public nuisance, adding: “This will not only make life more unpleasant for residents of Park Road, but will make the whole area less safe and less attractive as a visitor destination.and economic asset for the Bradford District.”

The meetings start in City Hall at 10am, when the Saltaire licence will be decided. A meeting to discuss the Barkerend Road application takes place at 11am.