A business is able to sell alcohol despite concern it is in a "flashpoint" for anti-social behaviour in Bolton Town Centre.

Applicant Awele Ezeamaka applied for an alcohol licence for Dorelson, on Deansgate, towards the start of this year.

Mr Ezeamaka applied for the business to be able to sell alcohol from 8am to 8pm every day, down from 8am to 10pm every day after a conversation with the council, but despite the change to the opening times there was opposition from PC Ben Brookfield, of GMP Bolton, and Garry Lee, of Bolton Council.

PC Brookfield and Mr Lee addressed a licensing committee of councillors Andrea Taylor-Burke, Maureen Flitcroft and David Grant at the town hall this week.

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PC Brookfield said: "This is a flashpoint for anti-social behaviour. It is a big concern the night-time economy is driving anti-social behaviour from a young age up to adulthood.

"The threat is not going away and there are issues in the town centre. There was a dispersal order over the weekend so we are using all of our powers to tackle these issues."

(Image: Bolton Council)

PC Brookfield and Mr Lee said if the application were to be approved there should be a condition stopping unsupervised under 16s using the store after 8pm.

The applicant's agent, Geoff Dixon, said Mr Ezeamaka was in agreement with all conditions apart from this condition.

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Mr Dixon said: "If all the licensable activities cease at 8pm why the condition for under 16s to be restricted after 8pm? 

"After 8pm this is not a licensed premises so if under 16s wanted to try to buy alcohol they couldn't try to buy alcohol."

Mr Lee said: "There is another off-licence around the corner [on Bradshawgate] and the condition of 16-year-olds being accompanied has been there for at least 10 years.

"This is not new and it is what we suggest as standard."

After consideration by Cllr Taylor-Burke, Cllr Flitcroft and Cllr Grant the application was approved subject to conditions including the condition stopping unsupervised under 16s using the store after 8pm.

Mr Ezeamaka is able to appeal against this condition.

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