ALCOHOL is to again be sold from a village store previously stripped of its off-licence for selling drinks to under-age youngsters.

Durham County Council revoked the off-licence of Lazer News and Video, on Broom Lane, Ushaw Moor, in July 2009 after it twice failed ‘test purchases’ by police-supervised under-age volunteers.

Residents claimed the store attracted anti-social behaviour including drunkenness, shouting and swearing, verbal abuse and youths urinating in nearby streets.

The store’s then-owner, Ajay Kumar Nayyar, withdrew an appeal against the decision in November 2009.

Last week, new operator Lokugamage Rohitha Jathunarachchi persuaded councillors to issue a new off-licence for the premises, now known as Ushaw Moor Convenience Store.

Durham County Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee granted a licence for the sale of alcohol from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.

The application attracted opposition from neighbours and a nearby business.

Twenty-five residents of High View signed a petition objecting to the bid, warning its approval would lead to problems of abuse and anti-social behaviour returning again. Ushaw Moor Action Group also raised concerns.

However, the committee, sitting in Chester-le-Street council chamber on Wednesday, September 7, granted a licence subject to a range of conditions, including: · CCTV should be fitted covering all public parts of the premises, including a rear yard and garage area; · All staff should be trained to ensure no alcohol is sold to anyone under age; · Staff should operate the ‘Challenge 25’ scheme; · An incident book should be kept and updated; · A refusal register should be kept and updated; · Signs should be erected asking customers not to consume alcohol around the store; and · Youths should be discouraged from gathering around the store.

Afterwards, John Booth, chairman of Ushaw Moor Action Group, said: "These people are renting this property from Mr Nayyar but we felt they should be given a chance.

"How could we say: ‘Don’t grant it again’, when these people are coming into the village and wanting to earn a living?

"If they operate the premises responsibly, they will have nothing to answer for."