Plans to sell alcohol from a post office have been approved – despite fears it will result in a nearby village green becoming a gathering spot for drinkers.
The new owner of Wye Post Office Kanapathippillai Sritharan applied to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for a premises licence in order to expand the offering at his shop.
But the application sparked fears among villagers, with a total of 24 people putting their name to two letters sent in protest to ABC.
Concerns included the sales leading to an increase in anti-social behaviour and the “normalisation of alcohol consumption”, especially on the neighbouring village green.
In one letter, Dixit Patel said: “There are already two off-license premises in close proximity to the post office, which contribute to a high level of foot traffic in the area.
“The addition of a third premise would increase the potential for overcrowding and elevated noise levels, particularly in the evenings and weekends.
“An increase in litter from bottles and cans, which is already a recurring issue on The Green, especially during the warmer months.
“The area is a cherished public space, and it is frequently used by families with young children for recreation and picnics.
“The presence of alcohol-related litter poses a safety hazard and undermines the enjoyment of the space for families and raises concerns about anti-social behaviour and the normalisation of alcohol consumption in The Green.”
Objectors also raised public safety concerns, fearing the small internal layout of the shop could cause problems such as theft, despite the addition of CCTV.
The licence was up for debate at ABC last week.
At the meeting, Susan Powell, who has lived in the village for more than 50 years and also objected to the scheme, read a statement on behalf of Dixit Patel.
She said: “From my personal experience, post office staff are often occupied behind the counter with detailed tasks such as counting cash, dealing with high-value transactions or handling multiple services at once, which makes it difficult to keep an eye on everything at all times.
“Over the years, I’ve noticed that both teenagers and adults try to take advantage of these busy moments, testing the limits and occasionally attempting theft.
“Introducing alcohol into that environment would, in my opinion, increase the risk of theft and anti-social behaviour, especially when staff are distracted.”
Despite the fears raised, the committee voted to approve the licence, noting many of the concerns by residents were “what-ifs” or issues that did not relate to key license objectives, such as an oversupply of alcohol in the area.
With the approval, Wye Post Office will now be able to sell alcohol from 8am to 6pm daily.
It was also noted that the new owner is keen to support the village, even volunteering to regularly litter pick the immediate area outside the post office to ensure the neighbouring village green was maintained.
After the decision, Mr Sritharan said the main motivation for the application was to increase sales at the store, which he plans to open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with a half day on Saturday.
He said: “The post office doesn’t make a lot of money, so I needed to look at what I can offer in such a small shop.
“I know some people have complained about potential trouble and parking, but my primary concern is to increase sales because the previous owner only provided stationery items.
“But I want to use the space to provide a small shop as well as the post office.”
Mr Sritharan is planning a refit of the shop, and says he remains committed to keeping the area outside the store clean.
He acquired the business after long-serving postmistress Lynda Johnson retired to spend more time with her grandchildren after 26 years in the role.
