Licence for Co-op in Ipswich station approved in Suffolk town

Ipswich Borough Council's Licencing and Regulatory Sub-Committee sat on Wednesday to discuss the application from Co-op to open up at the railway station.

Before the meeting, an objection had been sent, with 21 signatories over concerns that the store wished to sell alcohol at the premises. 

The Co-op's chief property officer Stuart McDonald and his solicitor made the case that the objection was speculative, as they were not raised by the police.  

Additionally, despite council officers trying to contact the signatories three times, none had appeared at the meeting, which led the applicants to question how best they could respond. 

The solicitor said: "It is firstly not at all clear how it [the objection] was created, when it was created or who it was created by. It could be an objection by another operator of an off-licence facility.

"So we do not know how to respond to that objection.”

The Co-op will be placed at the site of the former ticket office. (Image: Newsquest)

The applicants further pointed out how they have opened similar venues with off-licences at railway stations in Chelmsford, Bishop’s Stortford and Norwich.

To this chair of the committee, councillor Stephen Connelly said that none of the other clubs are in the premiership, while Tracy Grant and Pat Bruce-Browne questioned security at the venue.

The applicants assured the council that they have other Co-ops across the country and have strong policies in place to prevent anti-social behaviour. 

Cllr Stephen Connelly chaired the committee. (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

This includes age detectors at self-service checkouts, not serving alcohol to those intoxicated, around-the-clock CCTV, monthly training for staff and security guards during match days for football teams.

Additionally, the applicants have already accepted Suffolk police's request to restrict customers to buy only four cans or bottles on Ipswich Town match days and add posters to warn against anti-social behaviour.  

Mr McDonald also stated that alcohol is a small part of what the Co-op is selling at the location, with the majority of trade being dedicated to on-the-go food. 

On these grounds, Mr Connelly said: “We are confident that the establishment will be run along the lines that the other Co-ops are run, and that we have decided to approve the licence."

The store will open in the former ticket office of the station and will operate between 6am and 11pm on Monday to Saturday, and from 7am to 10pm on Sunday.