A COUNCILLOR has said she is "extremely disappointed" that a petrol station has been granted a licence to sell alcohol despite the opposition of nearby residents.

The Grange Road Service Station, operated by Rontec Watford Ltd, will be able to sell alcohol from the premises between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The application, heard by Darlington Borough Council's licensing sub-committee, was strongly opposed by people living in the Grange Road area who feared an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour.

More than 38 people wrote letters against the application and Durham Police also made representations with concerns about a potential increase in crime and disorder and possible harm to young people.

The police representative raised concerns about the levels of staffing at the site, particularly the suggestion that one member of staff was sufficient to monitor the site and prevent thefts or crime.

The Director of Public Health in Darlington also opposed the application on the grounds that police incident data in the Grange Road area showed a the potential for alcohol harm to young people.

The application to sell alcohol from Grange Road Service station was the second to be submitted by Rontec after an earlier application in 2012 was withdrawn before the licensing hearing could take place amid complaints from residents and the police.

In the latest application the company had applied to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises as part of a proposal to make the petrol station forecourt store into a convenience store, with groceries and household products on sale, as well as alcohol.

Representatives for Rontec made a number of statements to the licensing committee and committed to installing additional CCTV to cover all areas of the site, ensuring sufficient levels of staff were in place and operating a Challenge 25 policy to prevent children buying alcohol.

Members of the licensing sub-committee granted the application for the sale of alcohol, subject to a number of conditions.

Councillor Heather Scott, ward member for Park West, which includes the Grange Road Service Station, said she was disappointed at the ruling.

She added: "The residents living nearby are going to monitor this garage very carefully to make sure the restrictions placed on it by the committee are followed because they are very concerned.

"Part of the problem is the Licensing Act itself which makes it very difficult for councillors to turn down these applications.

"It is a petrol station, why would they want to make it into a convenience store? The residents are certainly not interested in using it as a shop.

"If there is an increase in problems at this service station we will be straight on to the council to deal with it."