NONE of the objectors to a proposal to sell alcohol from the Red Post Asda site off the A31 at Winterborne Zelston turned up to make their case at a licensing committee hearing in Dorchester.

Panel members heard that some residents and the parish council dropped their objections after an offer was made to stop alcohol sales at midnight.

Several had written to say they feared public nuisance issues from those visiting the site with some claiming there had already been problems with young drivers congregating in the rear car park.

At Tuesday’s hearing a solicitor speaking for the premises licence application said Asda had every intention of being a good neighbour, which was why it had already reduced the times to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight, with late-night refreshments after that limited to hot drinks, all to be served from a hatch after 10pm when the store closes the main door.

Solicitor Richard Taylor said, effectively, all that was being asked for was for the previous licence for the site, held by the Red Post garage and Little Chef, to be re-instated.

He said most of the residents’ objections had nothing to do with the Asda store, a company which weekly served millions of customers and had an excellent record for staff training and its responsibilities for selling alcohol.

“It certainly doesn’t fly as an argument that because you sell alcohol people will drink and drive. There simply is no evidence that granting this licence will cause any problems,” he said, – adding in his summing up to the panel: “You determination should be evidence-based, not supposition, or guesswork, just evidence.”

He reminded the panel that none of the statutory consultees, including the police, had raised an objection.

One of the objectors in a letter to the Dorset Council licensing committee said “There is genuine concern in the local community about this as there is already evidence young drivers are using the parking hidden away behind the store in the evenings, to engage in unlawful activities as there is no police presence there… It is extraordinary that there should be a proposal to sell alcohol to drivers here when most petrol forecourt stores stopped doing it years ago.”

Asda Express say their staff will be fully trained for the sale of alcohol and that spirits will be displayed only behind the counter with no sales of miniature bottles on the site. The store will be fitted with CCTV.

A decision will be made in the next few days.