TWO shops in Chepstow town centre have been refused permission to sell alcohol into the early hours of the morning after objections from the police.

Shopkeepers Alpeshkumar Patel and Sangitaben Patel wanted to extend the licensing hours of their stores, at Welsh Street, and Beaufort Square, so they could sell alcohol until 2.30am and 2am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Gwent Police objected to both applications over concerns it would lead to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour in the area where there are pubs and clubs already open into the early hours.

Councillor Tudor Thomas, who chaired the Monmouthshire County Council licensing committee, which considered both applications separately at the same meeting, said there was also an objection from a local resident to the Welsh Street Stores extension.

Council solicitor Julien Saunders said: “Evidence put forward by the objector referred to one person urinating on their doorstep.”

Gwent Police crime figures showed from November 2023 to the same month last year there were 476 offences in the town centre area and after shoplifting was discounted “violence without injury” was the most common offence, with 95 reports.

There were also 60 public order offences, 51 of “violence with injury”, 39 of criminal damage and arson and nine drugs offences.

PC Mark Williams told the hearing: “We believe any purchases would be made for immediate consumption otherwise people would wait for the day time to purchase the alcohol.”

The officer had also said it had been confirmed, during a mediation meeting with the applicants, the motivation for extending the licensing hours is financial.

Police also said they were concerned both shops, that are within a few hundred yards of each other, are near to a property housing vulnerable people. PC Williams said they could be at increased risk of either being victims, or perpetrators, of crime and some of those housed suffer from addictions to drugs or alcohol.

Mohamed Ismail, who runs the shop and represented the applicants at the hearing, said: “We are really, really struggling. We have to increase our sales and the sales we get are at the weekends, the weekdays are very quiet.”

He also said “most” of the customers at the Welsh Street shop that currently opens to 3am, but cannot sell alcohol after midnight, are older people in their 40s.

Shop manager Michelle Frost said it is feared the shops are losing out on passing trade, from customers already in the town centre, who are travelling to a garage on Newport Road as it has a late licence where they can purchase alcohol as well as other items.

She said the intention is to close the Beaufort Square shop, at 2am: “The footfall is already there. We are not encouraging more and will be closed and have gone home way before kicking out time for the other venues.”

Other steps proposed in response to police concerns were to have two licensed security staff at both sites and sell alcohol in woven bags sealed with zip ties to prevent customers from drinking before they get home.

Mr Ismail said scissors would be needed to cut the cable ties and the bags cannot be torn open by hand.

PC Williams said the force appreciated the applicants “thinking outside the box” but said: “The bags won’t be anti-rip, they might state that they are. My body armour says it is anti-slash but it still slashes. I can get around the cable tie with my key, most people have a key key on them.”

Both applications were rejected by the committee unanimously.