Councillors are considering whether to approve an application for a new off licence.
The shop in Bramley would be at 44 Lower Town Street, replacing the former William Hill bookies.
There is already an off licence next door. The Local owner Muhammad Sajid said: “There are 11 venues within walking distance in Bramley that sell alcohol, we don’t need another one, but the other aspect is that all the antisocial behavior in the centre would move on from the center to the new premises.”
In the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting, Councillor Kevin Ritchie said if the application is denied he would prefer a different sort of business.
He said: “As a local ward member we are crying out for more restaurants, a a nice bistro would be nice.”
Residents of Bramley at the meeting said the new shop would add to public disorder and cause road traffic accidents due to the lack of parking.
A spokesperson for the applicant Mohamad Delshad Enayati asked why the objectors thought this new off licence would cause problems despite the fact that Mr Sajid said there has only been one police incident in the 15 years that his shop has been there.
Sajid said: “We’ve been there over 30 years and we know how to handle it and we’ve handled it well, but whereas a new premises owner, from a different nationality, will have difficulties in coping with this new generation.”
One resident who objected thinks that there are already too many off licences in the areas. She said: “I have been accosted outside a number of these shops by youths to buy them alcohol.”
The police originally contested the application but later withdrew their objections.
Mr Sajid said: “They’re understaffed and sending a representative to a meeting is taking a police officer of a scene for a couple of hours, and I believe they believe they can just take it back and then deal with whatever happens at the time.”
Mr Enayati has stated that he would make sure the shop and the surrounding areas are clean and he would add CCTV but many of the residents who objected did not find this to be enough of a solution to the problems that could be faced in the future.
Over in Bramley, resident Dean Hart said it would be unfair to the owner of The Local as it would be so close to it and since they plan on opening till late it will cause public disorder. He said: “It’s already been knocked back once, so I think it will be knocked back again.”
Councillors will now deliberate for five days before making their decision.