Bridgwater could soon get a new post office on its ‘celebration mile’ after councillors agreed to grant an existing shop a new licence.

Saravanan Thayananthan applied for a new licence to sell alcohol from Scoops Newsagents, on St. John’s Street.

Somerset County Council’s public health team objected to the licence, claiming it would “add to already significant levels of alcohol harm” in this part of Bridgwater.

But Sedgemoor District Council overruled these concerns, with the new proprietor promising the revamped store would also include a new post office for the town.

The issues were discussed when the council’s licensing and gambling panel recently met in Bridgwater.

Patrick Burke, representing Mr Thayananthan, said: “My client has run similar businesses for many years without issue. He’s got three other premises, including a restaurant.

“This particular premises has been run by a family for over 35 years, but the couple that are running it are retiring. 

“My client is looking to spend quite a lot of money on the premises, turning it not only into a general store but into a post office, providing many benefits to the community.”

Mr Thayananthan is currently listed on Companies House as being a director of the Sweet Box on Cornhill in Bridgwater town centre, as well as a director of the Knife and Fork Cafe in Bristol and the Exmouth Mini Market.

Mr Burke said that the store could continue to open between 5am and 11pm daily – though alcohol would not necessarily be sold throughout this time.

He said: “The premises have been open from 5am for the past 35 years, so it would be very difficult to stop doing that. We would, however, be willing to reduce the hours for the sale of alcohol.

“We don’t generally know what the breakdown of sales between general goods and alcohol is – for my client’s other businesses, alcohol appears to be around 15 per cent, a small but vital percentage for the success of the business.”

The county council has identified the Central Eastover area of Bridgwater as one of the worst in Somerset for alcohol-related harm, based on data from the NHS, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and other sources.

The area ranks as one of the worst in Somerset for alcohol-specific hospital admissions, alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, drink driving and alcohol-related violence – as well as having one of the highest concentrations of off-licensed premises in the county.

Stewart Brock, the county council’s public health specialist, told the panel: “We felt that another off-licence premises in this locality is going to add to already significant levels of alcohol harm. This premises has not had an alcohol licence before, so there is no track record to look at.

“If you do licence this premises, we would expect the level of alcohol harm to increase.”

Mr Burke responded: “My client has a wealth of experience within this type of business. There are no objections from the police with regards to crime and disorder in this area."