A Chorley Old Road shop is not allowed to sell alcohol as a result of opposition from two councillors for the area.

Chorley Old Road Convenience is to be opened at a site between the junctions with Avenue Street and Lilly Street.

In preparation the manager Ali Ashraf, who owns a shop in Fallowfield, Manchester, already, applied for a licence from Bolton Council this year.

However there was opposition from two councillors for the area, Richard Silvester and Linda Thomas, concerned about alcohol use and drug use.

READ MORE: Smithills: Bake & Roast receives alcohol licence.

In an email to the licensing team, Cllr Silvester said: "My neighbour was on Chorley Old Road at 7.30am a couple of weeks ago in the area where this premises wishes to open and he reported to me two individuals were hanging around at the corner of Chorley Old Road and Marsh Fold Lane. 

"They were refused entrance into the Premier Store. 

"One guy said to the other 'I'll cut him up for it'. My neighbour crossed over the road to avoid any trouble.

"The two individuals were after alcohol at this time in the morning and my neighbour said they looked stoned."

Cllr Silvester suggested allowing Chorley Old Road Convenience to sell alcohol all day, every day would add to these problems.

But at a licensing meeting at the town hall last week Farooq Aziz, a solicitor, responded to his suggestions on behalf of Mr Ashraf.

Mr Aziz said: "Mr Ashraf is running a tight ship at his branch in Fallowfield. They ensure if they believe an individual is vulnerable they refuse to serve them.

"They have a lot of students and, during term time, if any of these students come in during the hours when they should be studying they refuse to serve them.

"This is someone taking steps above and beyond what is set out.

"The committee need to look at whether or not this individual is a responsible person and in my submission he is a responsible person."

READ MORE: Smithills: Cafe 'over the moon' with alcohol licence.

He added: "In Bolton there needs to be investment. I was astounded when I came in two weeks ago. I was shocked at the number of shops that are closed.

"When people are trying to invest in the area this should be encouraged. Once this business is established he is going to open another business in Bolton."

At the licensing meeting Cllr Grant, Cllr Newall and Cllr Taylor-Burke retired to consider whether to approve the application.

They refused the application and Chorley Old Road Convenience is not allowed to sell alcohol if and when it opens as a result.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.