A SERVICE station in Burnham has been granted permission to have a 24-hour alcohol licence despite fears it could lead to drunkenness and unruly behaviour in the town.

Sedgemoor District Council’s licensing and gambling panel granted Burnham Service Station in Oxford Street permission to extend its alcohol licence, despite objections from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council and a number of residents who wrote letters to the authority.

A Sedgemoor District Council spokesman said: “In considering the evidence the panel was mindful of the fact that both the government guidance and council policy stress that premises offering sales of alcohol for consumption off the premises should generally be free to do so at any time the retail outlet was open unless good reasons based on the licensing objectives existed.

“Most of the objectors raised concerns that were either not relevant to the licensing objectives or were matters of speculation, such as an increase in hours would result in increased anti-social behaviour.

“The panel was mindful of the fact that the applicant could not be held responsible for general anti-social behaviour after customers had left the premises.”

Police initially objected to the scheme but withdrew their concerns after conditions were added to the application.

One condition for approval was that the premises installs a CCTV system which must record at all times it is open.

A staff member must also provide police with footage if asked to do so.