A VALE Council committee has granted alcohol licences to Sainsbury’s and One Stop for planned stores in Barry - angering many residents who have campaigned against the plans.

Sainsbury’s has been granted a premises licence, following its application to sell alcohol at its proposed Park Crescent store in Barry.

The supermarket giant will be able to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm, seven days a week, should its bid to establish a ‘Local’ outlet in the town's West End be successful.

Members of the Vale Council's licensing sub-committee last week (Friday) gave the go-ahead for the licence, ahead of any decisions made by Vale planners, after police and environmental health officers reported the retailer had satisfactorily addressed their concerns.

Sainsbury's withdrew its application to sell late-night hot refreshments and said it would install digital CCTV, display appropriate signage, and strictly implement its Challenge 25 scheme coupled with a 'No ID/No sale' ethic in relation to all age-restricted products. More than 4,500 people have so far signed a petition objecting to the supermarket giant’s bid to locate in the area, but committee chairman John Thomas told members of the public present at the meeting that the committee would only be able to consider issues relevant to the sale of alcohol at the site.

Iltyd ward councillor Janice Charles, opposing the bid, told the committee that when people had signed the petition against the development, they had believed they were also objecting to the sale of alcohol.

Jenner Road resident Leanne Sokolski, also opposing the application, added: "This is pretty much going to be a 24-hour operation in a quiet residential area." The committee also granted an alcohol licence to One Stop Stores Limited, for premises on Broad Street.

A One Stop shop, set to be located on the current New Broad Street Motors site, will be allowed to sell alcohol between 6am and 11pm.

Some 654 people signed a petition against the licence including Clive Kerslake, who said: "We really feel disappointed.

"I thought they would come down with a reduction of hours, which would have stopped One Stop from going any further forward."

Russell Wells, a Broad Street resident, added: “It’s disappointing, as they didn’t listen to the residents.

"Why have a licensing committee if they are never going to turn anything down?”

Another resident added: "I’m angry that they have paid no attention to public opinion."

But Cllr John Thomas, chairman of the committee, said: "The sub-committee has taken into account the concerns of residents, but as there are no objections from the police and Environmental Health, we feel we have not got enough evidence that the sale of alcohol will increase anti-social behaviour in the area."

Michael Cooke, trading law manager of One Stop Stores Limited, attended the meeting on behalf of the company and said: "There is no evidence to suggest that we will increase any illegal behaviour or problems that already exist in this area."