A BUSINESSMAN has vowed to appeal a decision by councillors to refuse a liquor licence for his shop.

Randhawar Singh said he was shocked that Hartlepool Borough Council's licensing sub-committee turned down his application.

The Shop and Save store, in Cornwall Street, Hartlepool, has been empty for six years, and Mr Singh planned to open it as a general dealer's with an off-licence.

But following objections from Cleveland Police and 14 local residents, the committee blocked the application.

Mr Singh said: "They did not have a case as far as I could see. I do not know what grounds they turned us down on yet, but we will be taking it to an appeal."

Residents complained of broken bottles and discarded cans littering the street, and of fearing to go out at night because of the presence of gangs who gather to drink and play football.

The committee also heard from Sergeant Malcolm Suggitt, the licensing officer for Hartlepool, who said the Cornwall Street area was a hotspot for crime and disorder in the town, most of which was drink-fuelled.

He said: "It is my firm belief that another off-licence would increase the amount of anti-social and drunken behaviour in this area. It would be a magnet that would attract even more anti-social behaviour. From a policing point of view, tackling an empty property would be far easier than tackling the problems an off-licence would bring."

Mr Singh said he was prepared to tackle the problem of youths gathering outside the shop. He said he had already installed a £5,000 colour CCTV camera and would have anyone causing problems moved on by a security firm.

He said: "By working together, we can sort out these problems. All we are asking for is a chance."

Solicitor John Ellwood, acting on behalf of Mr Singh, said: "This is a little shop in the middle of a street. Is that really going to be some sort of attraction for people from outside the area? That's tommyrot."